Did you know there’s a whole world of Russian soups out there that are just waiting to be eaten? Not kidding.
So what do you do when you want something flavorful, filling, and a little different? You make one of these ten!
Ready to find your new favorite soup? Let’s go!
1. Schavel Borscht (Sorrel Soup)
Here’s another thin broth soup that’s light, mild, and won’t weigh you down after eating it.
In fact, it’s pretty similar to the fish soup above, but you’ll use chicken or pork instead of fish for this one. You’ll also add a generous portion of schavel, a popular, leafy green veggie.
This soup is nice to serve with a salad or a side of cheese, as it sometimes needs a little something extra with it to fill you up.
2. Fish Soup aka Ukha (Russian Classic)
You might think fish soup would be super intense, but this one is surprisingly mild. It’s got a thin broth and comes together in less than an hour. A total win!
It’s a mix of tender salmon chunks, a fourth cup of rice, carrots, onions, small potatoes, parsley, and dill.
Think of it like a vegetable herb soup that just happens to have salmon in it. You don’t get a heavy fish flavor at all.
It’s mostly about the herbs and a nice saltiness (at least mine is; I like a lot of salt). This has become a go-to lunch option for me.
3. Dumpling (Pelmeni) Soup
This is basically the Russian version of a wonton soup, and oh my, is it good.
It’s loaded with veggies and those amazing thick, doughy dumplings. The dumplings are stuffed with your choice of meat, onions, and spices.
As you can probably guess, it is *super* filling and just tastes incredible.
If you have the pelmeni (dumplings) ready to go, you can make this in about 45 minutes. It’ll take a bit longer if you’re making them from scratch, but it’s so worth it.
4. Shchi- Russian Cabbage Soup (Щи)
If you’re looking for a soup where the gang’s all there, this Russian cabbage soup is for you instead. It takes only 20 minutes to prep but another 90 to cook.
And there is so much goodness happening in that pot. If you want something with tons of veggies, this is it. This soup contains cabbage, carrots, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, and more!
It has a very tart, sauerkraut-like flavor, and you can enhance that by serving it with a dollop of sour cream. The broth itself is thin, but because it’s so loaded with chunky ingredients, it’s a very hearty soup.
5. Classic Borscht (Beet Soup)
Okay, even if you just *look* at this soup, it’s worth trying it. The color is this gorgeous, vibrant red. Just stunning.
It’s also an easy one to make, taking just a little over an hour from start to finish.
Now, if you aren’t a fan of beets, then this may not be the Russian soup for you. You’ll make it with beets and little else, so the beet taste is strong in this one.
Still, if you don’t mind beets and you’re looking for a lovely soup that’s insanely good for you, give borscht a try.
6. Beef, Barley, and Pickle Soup (Rassolnik)
Beef and barley soup? Super common. You can buy it in a can. But beef, barley, and *pickles* soup? I know, right? That’s a little less typical.
It still contains the thick, juicy chunks of beef and the other regular ingredients: potatoes, carrots, barley, etc. Additionally, there are pickles. Yes, dill pickles.
It alters the overall flavor, giving it this noticeable dill taste that’s zesty and less meaty and earthy.
You’d think it wouldn’t be a good combination, but it’s pretty great. Give it a shot the next time you’re in the mood for something different.
7. Okroshka Recipe: Russian Summer Soup
Okroshka looks like a big bowl of milk with veggies, herbs, and ham floating in it. Fortunately, that’s not what it is, as that doesn’t sound very appetizing.
Instead, it’s a chilled summer soup.
It combines water, sour cream, vinegar, salt, dill, green onions, ham, potatoes, eggs, and cucumbers.
It’s incredibly refreshing on a hot summer’s day, and it’s easy to make and healthy, too.
8. Pasta with Milk (Russian Milk Soup)
Remember earlier when I talked about soup that looked like a big bowl of milk? Well, this soup actually *is* a big bowl of milk.
Russian milk soup is a semi-sweet soup usually served for breakfast. It combines milk, water, pasta, sugar, and salt.
It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is probably unlike anything you’ve ever tried. Think of it like pasta cereal if that makes it easier to understand. (It’s better than you’d think.)
9. Russian Potato and Mushroom Leek Soup
This soup is so creamy and chunky. It’s full of diced potatoes, mushrooms, leeks, carrots, dill, and more.
As my dad would say, it’s incredibly hearty. This is “stick to your ribs” food.
You can top it with more fresh dill, crumbled bits of bacon, your favorite type of cheese, or whatever else you like.
However you enjoy your soup, you’ll appreciate this one. Serve it with some thick, dark bread for the complete experience because this soup is an excellent choice for sopping.
