Shchi
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Shchi ( , sometimes transliterated as šči) is a Russian-style cabbage soup. When sauerkraut is used instead, the soup is called sour shchi, while soups based on sorrel, spinach, nettle, and similar plants are called green shchi ( ). In the past, the term sour shchi was also used to refer to a drink, a variation of kvass, which was unrelated to the soup.
Shchi ( , sometimes transliterated as šči) is a Russian-style cabbage soup. When sauerkraut is used instead, the soup is called sour shchi, while soups based on sorrel, spinach, nettle, and similar plants are called green shchi ( ). In the past, the term sour shchi was also used to refer to a drink, a variation of kvass, which was unrelated to the soup.
History
Shchi (from , the plural of "съто" (s(i)to) – "something satisfying, feed") is a traditional soup of Russia. Cabbage soups have been known in Kievan Rus as far back as the 9th century, soon after cabbage was introduced from Byzantium. Its popularity in Russia originates from several factors: Shchi is relatively easy to prepare; it can be cooked with or without various types of meat; and it can be frozen in the winter and carried as a solid on a trip to be cut up when needed. As a result, by the 10th century shchi became a staple food of Russia, and a popular saying sprang from this fact: "Щи да каша — пища наша." (Shchi da kasha — pishcha nasha "Shchi and kasha are our food").
Linguistics
The two-letter word щи contains the letter щ, which lacks a counterpart in most non-Cyrillic alphabets and is transcribed into them with several letters. In German, щи becomes eight letters, Schtschi. Devanagari script can render щи with only one glyph श्ची, albeit one that takes four keystrokes to type श ् च ी which combine to give श्ची.
See also
Borscht Rassolnik Solyanka Cabbage soup Comfort food List of cabbage dishes List of Russian dishes List of soups List of vegetable soups
References
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365408028 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.