Borsch
Ukrainian Beef

Borsch

Ingredients

  • Beef Shin 1kg
  • Onion 1
  • Bay Leaf 1
  • Potatoes 2.5kg
  • Sunflower Oil 2 tablespoons
  • Onion 1 Diced
  • Carrots 1
  • Beetroot 200g
  • Red Pepper 1 chopped
  • Tinned Tomatos 200g
  • Prunes 6
  • White Cabbage 1/2
  • Kidney Beans 400g
  • Creme Fraiche 100 ml
  • Dill Bunch
  • Crusty Bread To serve

Instructions

step 1
To make the stock, put the meat, whole onion, bay leaf and 2 litres of lightly salted cold water in a large saucepan. Cook over a very low heat for 1 hr 30 mins or until the beef shin is soft and falls apart easily – this can take up to 3 hrs. Skim off the scum with a spoon from time to time. Break up any larger pieces of beef into the broth, remove the whole onion and discard.

step 2
Add the potatoes to the borscht, season well with salt and pepper and cook for 10-15 mins until tender. Meanwhile, heat the sunflower oil in a large, deep frying pan. Add the diced onion and carrot, and cook over a medium heat, stirring, until the carrot is soft and is about to start caramelising.

step 3
Add the beetroot and cook for around 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the red pepper, if using, and cook for another 2 mins, then add the tomatoes and prunes, stir, then increase the heat and boil to reduce slightly, before adding everything to the borscht.

step 4
Add the shredded cabbage and the kidney beans, and cook for 7-10 mins or until tender. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche, lots of chopped dill and some crusty bread.
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