Solyanka with Meatballs

There are many variations of the hodgepodge. It mainly depends on the type of meat and smoked meats used in this favorite first course. Solyanka with meatballs or, as it is now fashionable to say, with meatballs (English meatball – a ball of minced meat) will saturate and help warm you on a cold day.

Cook: 50 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• Minced pork and beef – 300 g
• Smoked meats (sausages, ham, sausage, boiled pork) – 250 g
• Pickled cucumbers – 2-3 pcs.
• Potatoes – 400 g
• Bulb onions – 1 pc.
• Egg – 1 pc.
• Tomato paste – 1 tbsp
• Breadcrumbs – 2 tbsp
• Vegetable oil – 2-3 tbsp
• Salt – 1 teaspoon with a slide
• Ground black pepper – 1/3 teaspoon
• Black peppercorns – 5-6 pcs.
• Bay leaf – 2 pcs.
• Lemon (for serving) – to taste
• Olives (for serving) – 1 can (330g) or to taste

Directions

1. Prepare all the ingredients for making the meatball hodgepodge.

   

2. Cut the peeled onions into small cubes. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet and sauté the onion over medium heat until transparent, about 6-7 minutes.

   

3. Add smoked meats to the onion and sauté for another 3-5 minutes.
4. Cut the pickles into small cubes and add to the pan with the tomato paste. Pour in 10 ml of water and stir. Simmer everything over low heat for 8-10 minutes.
5. Peel and cut the potatoes into small pieces.
   Bring 1.5 liters of water to a boil and add the chopped potatoes to the pot. Cook for 8-10 minutes.
6. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the meatballs. In a deep bowl, combine the minced meat and bread crumbs. Beat in an egg and add 1 pinch of salt and half the indicated amount of black pepper.
7. Form the minced meat into meatballs.
8. Transfer the meatballs to the pot with the potatoes, bring to a boil and cook for another 5 minutes.
9. Add the frying pan. Stir and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
10. Then add the remaining black pepper and salt, black peppercorns and bay leaf. Turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and let the hodgepodge brew for 10-15 minutes.
11. Solyanka with meatballs is ready.
12. A fragrant, hearty and tasty first course is ready. The light sourness of the hodgepodge with meatballs makes it indispensable the day after the meal.

    

Enjoy your meal!