Cabbage Soup (Shchi)

Method8 steps · about 1 hr

1. 1

   Step 1: Peel and coarsely chop the onion (1 large). Melt all the butter (3 tbs) in a large heavy pot over medium heat and sauté all the onion until translucent.

   Uses 3 tbs Unsalted Butter · 1 large Onion

2. 2

   Step 2: Shred all the cabbage (1 medium), peel and coarsely grate the carrot (1 large), and coarsely chop the washed celery stalk (1). Add all these vegetables to the onion pan. Sauté for about three minutes, stirring often, until they begin to soften.

   Start softening cabbage and vegetables · 3 minUses All the translucent onion and melted butter · 1 medium cabbage head, shredded in step 2 · 1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely grated in step 2 · 1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped in step 2

3. 3

   Step 3: Add the bay leaf (1) and all eight cups vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about fifteen minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.

   Simmer vegetables · 15 minUses All the sautéed vegetables · 1 Bay Leaf · 8 cups Vegetable Stock

4. 4

   Step 4: Peel and coarsely chop both potatoes (2 large). Add all the pieces to the soup, bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer covered for about ten minutes, until potatoes are tender.

   Simmer potatoes · 10 minUses All the vegetable soup · 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped in step 4

5. 5

   Step 5: Peel, seed and chop both fresh tomatoes (2 large). Add all of them to the soup and bring back to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for five minutes.

   Simmer with tomatoes · 5 minUses The complete potato-and-cabbage soup · 2 large fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped in step 5

6. 6

   Step 6: Season the complete cooked soup with finishing salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

   Uses All the finished soup · Salt to season the cooked soup, to taste · Freshly ground black pepper for the cooked soup, to taste

7. 7

   Step 7: Remove and discard the bay leaf from the finished soup.

   Uses The complete seasoned soup

8. 8

   Step 8: Wash and chop fresh dill for garnish. Serve the soup in six to eight portions, topping each with fresh sour cream and dill as needed.

   Uses All the finished soup · Fresh sour cream for garnish, as needed · Fresh dill for garnish, as needed