Russian Borscht

Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group
== Ingredients ==
* 1 cup navy beans, dry
* 2½ lb beef, lean
* ½ lb slab bacon
* 10 cups cold water
* 1 bay leaf
* 8 whole peppercorns
* 2 cloves garlic
* 2 tbsp parsley, dried
* 1 carrot
* 1 celery stalk
* 1 large red onion
* 1 tsp salt (optional)
* 8 beets for soup
* 2 small beets
* 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
* 2 large leeks, sliced
* 3 medium potatoes, cut into eighths
* 1 can (1 lb 13 oz) tomatoes
* 1 tbsp tomato paste
* 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
* 4 tbsp sugar
* 1 lb kielbasa (optional)
* 2 tbsp flour
* 1 tbsp butter, melted
* ½ cup sour cream (optional)
== Directions ==
# 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 1½ 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 and 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.
Category:Cathy's Recipes
Category:Russian Soups
Category:Navy bean Recipes
Category:Beef Recipes
Category:Carrot Recipes
Category:Celery Recipes
Category:Red onion Recipes
Category:Beet Recipes
Category:Green cabbage Recipes
Category:Leek Recipes
Category:Potato Recipes
Category:Tomato Recipes
Category:Sausage Recipes
Category:Tomato paste Recipes