Shchi facts for kids
A serving of shchi. This variant contains saffron milk-caps, a type of mushroom
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| Type | Soup |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Main ingredients | Cabbage or sauerkraut |
Shchi (Russian: щи, IPA: [ɕːi]) is a very old and famous Russian-style cabbage soup. It is a warm and hearty dish.
Sometimes, shchi is made with fresh cabbage. Other times, it uses sauerkraut, which is cabbage that has been fermented. When sauerkraut is used, the soup is called sour shchi. There is also a version called green shchi (Russian: зелёные щи, zelionyje shchi). This type is made with green plants like sorrel, spinach, or even nettle.
Contents
The History of Shchi Soup
Shchi is a traditional soup that has been enjoyed in Russia for a very long time. The word "shchi" comes from an old word meaning "something satisfying" or "food." People in Kievan Rus (an early East Slavic state) knew about cabbage soups as far back as the 9th century. Cabbage first came to Russia from the Byzantine Empire.
Why Shchi Became So Popular
Shchi became very popular in Russia for a few reasons.
- It is quite easy to make.
- You can cook it with different kinds of meat, or even without meat.
- It could be frozen solid and carried on trips. People would then cut off pieces when they needed food.
Because of this, by the 10th century, shchi was a staple food in Russia. This means it was a very important part of what people ate every day. There was even a popular saying: "Щи да каша — пища наша." This means "Shchi and kasha are our food."
What's in Traditional Shchi?
The main ingredients of shchi were usually cabbage and meat. People often used beef, pork, lamb, or chicken. Other ingredients included mushrooms, flour, and spices like onion and garlic.
Traditionally, the cabbage and meat were cooked separately. Before serving, people would add smetana, which is a type of sour cream. Shchi is also traditionally eaten with rye bread.
How Shchi Changed Over Time
The ingredients in shchi slowly changed.
- In early times, flour was added to make the soup more filling. Later, it was left out to make the taste better.
- New spices like black pepper and bay leaf were added. These spices came to Russia around the 15th century, also from Byzantium.
- Sometimes, fish was used instead of meat.
- Vegetables like carrot and parsley could also be added.
- Beef was the most common meat for shchi in Russia. In Ukraine, pork was more often used.
- The amount of water used also changed. Early shchi was often so thick that a spoon could stand up in it! Later, people started making it thinner.
Understanding the Word "Shchi"
The Russian word for shchi, "щи," is very short. It has only two letters. One of these letters is "щ" (Shcha), which is not found in most other alphabets. Because of this, when the word "щи" is written in other languages, it can look much longer. For example, in German, "щи" becomes "Schtschi," which has eight letters!
See also
In Spanish: Shchi para niños
