Smoked Fish Solyanka, a much loved Russian Smoked Fish Soup, is a semi hearty soup, with a full on sour, smoky and a touch hot, flavour.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What is Solyanka?
Solyanka or Soljanka refers to soups that are made with salted cucumbers, that, along with the capers, give these soups their characteristic sour flavour. The heat comes from the peppercorns that we drop into the soup. As you are eating it, every so often you’ll bite into one for a wonderful burst of peppery, fruity hit.
Solyanka comes in different forms; besides today’s Smoked Fish Solyanka, there is Meat Solyanka and Vegetable Solyanka, which is mushroom based. The word solyanka means “salty” in Russian, from the word salt (соль).
Is Solyanka Healthy?
This is a pretty healthy soup too, with not much added fat, especially if you don’t have it with any additional smetana/crème frâiche. And you know all that fish and those vegetables are good for you!
Once the cold weather comes around, it features quite frequently on our dinner table, despite the fact that my oldest hates fish (he gets a piece of grilled chicken!)
It’s a straightforward soup, and made in just about 30 minutes, even more reason to make it frequently. Any leftover is kept in the fridge, and heated up gently for lunch the next day.
Fish Solyanka Ingredients
Let’s take a look at some of the ingredients in our Russian Smoked Fish Soup.
The Fish
Some people make this with just regular fish, some add a little smoked fish to the soup. I love using a variety of fish: salmon, some white fish and a little smoked fish for a hint of smokiness.
Salted Cucumbers
Salted cucumbers are a very common ingredient and snack item in Central and Eastern Europe. They are not the same as pickled, as they are only preserved in salt water, not vinegar. You should be able to find these easily if you live in, or are near to, a big town. Supermarkets ought to stack them. As always, Amazon is bound to stock them too.
Failing that, you can use gherkins or cornichons as substitutes. Of course, if you are up to it, you can always make your own. We always have some homemade in autumn and early winter from our mini cucumber harvest. Sorry, but it’s one of those tutorials, that despite its simplicity, I’ve not got around to posting! Soon, soon!
Smetana
This is just soured cream that is widely used in Central and Eastern Europe. So you can just use crème frâiche or even soured cream, if you like, although the latter is just a little stronger than real smetana.
If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!
And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood.
Lin xx
Smoked Fish Solyanka – Russian Smoked Fish Soup
Ingredients
- 2 medium onions
- 1 large carrot
- 150 g salted cucumbers (about 6 mini ones)
- 250 g fresh salmon
- 150 g firm white fish like haddock, cod
- 100 g smoked white fish (I used smoked haddock
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- 1 Tbsp tomato purée
- 750 ml good quality fish stock
- 12 black olives
- 12 green olives
- 1 Tbsp capers
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- smetana or crème frâiche as needed
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 sprigs dill finely chopped
- 4 slices of lemon
Instructions
- Chop the onions, carrots and salted cucumbers into 1cm (about 1/2″) squares, keeping the cucumber separate.
- Chop all the fish into bitesize pieces, about 2.5cm (1″).
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the onions and carrots for 5 minutes.
- Add the salted cucumbers, bay leaf, black peppercorns and tomato purée, stir, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the fish stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat right down and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the fish, olives and capers and cook for about 3 minutes, until the fish is cooked.
- Add the lemon juice and white wine vinegar, stir and taste the seasoning. It shouldn’t need any salt but if you think it does, add a pinch, or as needed. Turn the heat off.
- Take 1 tablespoon of smetana or crème frâiche, lighten with a little bit of the soup in the ladle or in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly, then pour back into the soup in the saucepan, and mix, VERY GENTLY, as we don’t want to break the fish up. Finish off with some freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve with the chopped dill and a spoonful of smetana or crème frâiche, with some fresh bread.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you for sharing this recipe. This is appetizing, soothing and perfect for this season.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
A pleasure, thank you! And a happy new year to you too!
Thank you Azlin Bloor, this is a favourite with my husband, as he is half Russian. I can now make it for him. Yours is the easiest recipe to follow, with wonderful explanations for everything you do.
Thank you! Do let me know when you make it!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe from my childhood. I remember mum making this and the meat one on Sundays. We were not big fans of the vegetable one, so she never made that! I am printing this recipe and fingers crossed, going to make it this Sunday, for family lunch. My 2 boys are coming with their families.
Thank you so much, Anyanka! What did you and your family think?
Wow, I love this soup. I’m sure the whole fish loving family is going to agree with me! Thank you!
Thank you, Lloyd!
Hey Azlin, nice recipe. I love Eastern European food and I am sure that I have eaten this when on holiday there. I have told my wife that we are cooking this tomorrow, lol! Off to the market!
Thank you! How did it go?
Thanks for this great recipe. I have eaten solyanka many times whilst on business trips and have always wanted to try making it for myself. I love your site – especially the way that you encompass the authenticity of the original dishes in your own recipes. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much, Ian. I appreciate you taking the time.
I am glas I stumbled upon this recipe. I am a newbie to Eastern European food and this one looks like a great one to try! Pencilled it down for Sunday. I would love more recipes from that area.
Thank you, Marj. Did you make it? What did you think?