Рассольник Постный — Fasting Pickle Soup

Рассольник gets its name from рассол — pickle brine — and that sour, salty tang is what makes
this soup completely addictive. The fasting version, built on a base of pearl barley and potatoes
with brined cucumbers, is every bit as satisfying as the meat original. A truly unique soup.

FASTING LEVEL: Fast With Oil (for strict oil-free days, skip the sauté and add onion and carrots directly to the broth)

SERVINGS: 6
TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
- 100 g pearl barley (перловка), rinsed
- 4 medium brined pickled cucumbers (солёные огурцы — naturally fermented, not vinegar pickles), diced
- 250 ml pickle brine (рассол)
- 3 medium potatoes, cubed
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 carrots, grated
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 2 litres water or mushroom broth
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (400 g) white beans, drained and rinsed
- Fresh dill, generous amount, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste

METHOD:
1. Place pearl barley in a small pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until nearly tender. Drain.
2. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and carrots for 5-7 minutes.
3. Add diced pickles and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring.
4. Pour in water or mushroom broth. Add par-cooked barley, potatoes, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add white beans, garlic, and pickle brine. Simmer for 10 more minutes.
6. Taste carefully before adding salt — the brine and pickles may provide enough. Adjust sourness with more brine if needed. Add pepper.
7. Remove bay leaves. Let rest 10 minutes. Serve with an extravagant amount of fresh dill.

NOTES:
- The right pickles make or break this soup. Use naturally fermented (lacto-fermented) cucumbers — the kind sold in brine, not vinegar. In Russian stores, look for солёные огурцы, not маринованные.
- Add the brine gradually and taste as you go. You want a pleasant sourness, not an overwhelming salt hit.
- White beans add protein and make this a complete one-pot meal.
- Pearl barley continues to swell. This soup will be much thicker the next day — add water when reheating.

NUTRITION (per serving, approximate):
Calories: 235 | Protein: 10 g | Carbohydrates: 40 g | Fat: 5 g | Fibre: 8 g