Introduction: At the Russian restaurant in Austin last week we had Solyanka. I immediately decided that I must cook it because the taste and flavor given by the combination of meats, vegetables, pickles, sour cream and fresh dill was so heavenly good. According to [url:2]Wikipedia[/url Solyanka is a thick, spicy and sour Russian soup that is common in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union and certain parts of the former Eastern Bloc. Solyanka is also popular in the former East Germany where it is commonly found in restaurants and available in canned form in grocery stores. This practice stems from the era when Soviet troops were stationed in the GDR, and Soljanka was found on the menu at many East German restaurants. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was raised in East Germany, is fond of Solyanka.