12-inch nonstick skillet, 5-quart saucepot, Tongs, Top Stove, Wooden Spatula
Ingredients
1poundstew meat
14cupcold water
1tablespoonKosher saltmore or less to taste
3beetmedium, washed, peeled and grated
4tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
1tablespoonwhite wine vinegar
1tablespoongranulated sugar
2tablespooncanned tomato sauceor paste
1tablespoonunsalted butter
1onionmedium, finely diced
2carrotgrated
3yukon gold potatomedium peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2head green cabbageroughly sliced
2tomatodiced
2bay leaf
1/4teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
1/3cupItalian parsleychopped, some saved for garnish
2clovegarlicpressed
Garnish:
1/2cupsour cream
Instructions
Cut meat into 1" pieces and place in a large soup pot with cold water and salt. Bring it to a boil and remove the foam as soon as it boils (if you wait, it will be hard to get rid of foam as it integrates into the broth and you'd have to strain it later). Reduce heat, partially cover and simmer 45 minutes, periodically skimming off any foam that rises to the top.
Grate beets on the large grater holes (a food processor works amazingly well). Place them in a large heavy-bottom skillet with olive oil and vinegar and saute for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to med/low and add sugar and tomato sauce. Mix thoroughly and saute until starting to soften, stirring occasionally (about 10 min). Remove from pan and set aside.
In the same skillet (no need to wash it), Saute onion in butter for 2 min. Add grated carrot and sautee another 5 min or until softened, adding more oil if it seems too dry.
Once the meat has been cooking for 45 min, place sliced potatoes into the soup pot and cook 10 min, then add cabbage, sauteed beets, onion & carrot, and chopped tomatoes. Cook another 10 minutes or until potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork.
Add 2 bay leaves, ground pepper, and more salt to taste.
Chop parsley and pressed garlic then stir them into the soup pot, immediately cover and remove from heat. Let the pot rest covered for 20 minutes for the flavors to meld. Ladle into individual bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream.
Reheating Instructions
Heat in the microwave on medium-high power until heated through.