Hearty Russian Beet Soup

Recipe Ingredients

1 cup	160g / 5.6oz	Navy beans - dry
2 1/2 lbs	1135g / 40oz	Lean beef
1/2 lb	227g / 8oz	Slab bacon
10 cups	2370ml	Cold water
1		Bay leaf
8		Peppercorns
2		Garlic
2 tablespoons	30ml	Dried parsley
1		Carrot
1		Celery stalk
1		Red onion (large)
1 teaspoon	5ml	Salt - (opt)
8		Beets for soup
2		Beets (small)
2 cups	474ml	Green cabbage - shredded
2 cups	474ml	Leeks - sliced (large)
3 cups	711ml	Potatoes - cut (medium)
		Into eighths
1		Tomatoes - (1 lb 13 oz)
1 tablespoon	15ml	Tomato paste
3 tablespoons	45ml	Red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons	60ml	Sugar
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Kielbasa - (opt)
2 tablespoons	30ml	Flour
1 tablespoon	15ml	Butter - melted
1/2 cup	118ml	Sour cream - (opt)

Recipe Instructions

Cover beans with water and allow to soak overnight; cook until tender; drain; set aside. Place beef, bacon and water in large soup pot; bring to a boil. Skim fat from surface. Add bay leaf, peppercorns, garlic, parsley, carrot, celery, onion and salt. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 1 1/2 hours.

Scrub beets for soup and cook in boiling water until tender, about 45 minutes; drain and discard water; cool. Peel and cut each beet into eighths. Scrub small beets; grate; cover with water to soak.

Remove meat from soup; set aside. Strain soup into another pot and add cooked beets, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, beef and bacon. Bring to a boil and simmer 45 minutes.

Cut kielbasa into chunks and add with navy beans to soup. Simmer 20 minutes more.

Mix flour and butter together to form paste. Stir into soup to thicken slightly. Strain raw beets, saving liquid and discarding beets. Add beet liquid to soup.

Additional sugar or vinegar may be added for sweeter or more sour flavor. Slice meat and arrange in individual soup bowls. Pour hot soup with vegetables over meat. Garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Source:
Cooking Light, Jan/Feb 1993, page 80

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