Borscht is another Ukrainian soup whose popularity long ago spread to the eastern Baltic countries, especially Russia where it’s now considered a national dish. Although borscht is usually not a hot-peppery soup, I’ve eaten some surprisingly spicy versions of it on my travels in Russia and Eastern Europe.
This soup of Russian/Ukrainian origin is also popular in the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Poland, and eastern Germany—an example of the influence of Russian foods on the cuisines of countries that were once under the domination of the Soviet Union. Solyanka’s popularity is attributed to its versatility (using any kind of leftover meat or fish) and the combination of piquant flavors that make you crave a second bowl of it.
