Traditional Russian Sour Cabbage Soup

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This recipe makes enough to serve 18-20 people. So it’s good for pot lucks. It is a ‘make-ahead meal’ for me. I make it once, have a meal, then portion up the rest in baggies and freeze. You can reduce the ingredients for however it works for you.

Traditional Sour Cabbage Soup

3 lb picnic shoulder, trimmed and cut into chunks
3 lb spare ribs
3 lb sauerkraut, drained
24 cups water
3 onions, chopped
3 leeks, sliced
3 parsnips, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
3 bay leaves
Black peppercorns, to taste
3 potatoes, peeled and diced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnishes: sour cream, heavy cream, or dill sprigs

In a large Dutch oven (I use my crab pot to accommodate the amount of ingredients), place pieces of picnic shoulder and spareribs and sear lightly on all sides.
Add the sauerkraut and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover partially, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, adding more water, if necessary.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, sauté onions, leek, parsnips, and carrots in 3 tbs butter until translucent. Sprinkle with 3 tbs flour, add tomatoes, 3 cups of the pork stock, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 5 min, whisking often to incorporate the flour.
Transfer to the pot containing the pork stock, meat, and sauerkraut. Add potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 min. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
Spoon the meat into bowls. Remove the bay leaves from the soup, ladle vegetables and broth into bowls over the meat. Serve with sour cream, heavy cream, or dill sprigs, if desired. Traditionally, dark rye bread is served with the soup but I prefer to make biscuits to dip into the broth. Equally good to serve with the soup is cornbread, crackers or crusty bread.
If planning to use the leftovers for future meals, divide up into baggies, lay flat on a sheet pan, and freeze. As you know flat, frozen packages take up less space in the freezer. Just don’t forget that they are there!

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