Russian Soup Borscht

Ingredients

• 12 Cups of Water
• 9 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
• 1 Onion
• 1 Carrot
• 1/2 Green Pepper
• 1 Beet
• 1 Chicken breast
• 1 Chicken thigh (But you can use any meat you like.)
• Half a small red cabbage, about 8 oz (You can use white cabbage, I like to use red because no matter whats, Borscht always comes out red.)
• 4 Medium Potatoes
• 2 Small Potatoes
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon Salt
• 2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
• 1 small can of tomato sauce or 1/2 cup of ketchup. ( I always substitute this with ketchup because this way I don’t have to adjust sweetness or sourness to the soup.)

Directions

1In the 4 Quart pot, put chicken, bay leaves, two small, peeled whole potatoes, and salt. Fill the pot with 12 cups of water and put it to a boil. When boiling, turn the heat down to low heat. Let it seamer for about one hour. Get the potatoes out of the broth, mashed them up, and put them bake in the soup. Get the chicken out, separate it from the bone. Cut it into bite-size pieces and put it back in the broth.

2While your chicken is simmering, chop up onions, green pepper into small pieces. Keep them apart. Use a cheese shredder and shred your carrot and the beet. Also, keep them apart. Cut cabbage like you would make coleslaw into 2 inches long, skinny pieces. Peel four potatoes and cut them into thick french fries.

3When broth is ready, add potatoes to the broth. Meanwhile, in the frying pan, fry onions till golden brown. Add green pepper, fry it for about 3 minutes and add carrots. Fry 3 minutes, add beets, and fry for 4 minutes. Add ketchup or tomato sauce, fry all that for about 3 minutes. Add about 2 cups broth from the pot and let it seamer on low for about 5 minutes.

4While veggies are simmering in the frying pan, check on the potatoes. If they are tender, add cabbage. Wait for about 6 minutes and add vegetables to the soup. At this stage, you will adjust salt and add pepper to your taste. Sugar and vinegar if needed. Once everything is to your liking, simmer the soup for about five more minutes. Serves easily, six people, enjoy!

5IMPORTANT INFORMATION: When adding vinegar, add one tablespoon at a time. Taste every time after adding.