The Best-Ever Winter Soup: Cabbage Soup

I make this soup at least once each winter.  One recipe makes a lot--enough for a couple of meals, and then some leftover to freeze.  I know the recipe from my mother, who got it from her mother.  It is a traditional eastern European soup; all my grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.  Growing up, we would not have put sour cream in this soup, as it would not have been kosher to mix a dairy product with the meat.  With or without, the soup is very, very good--my all-time favorite soup.

   

ANNIE SCHINE'S CABBAGE SOUP

about 10 generous servings

3 lbs. short ribs of beef (with bone in if available)

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 onions, chopped

2 large cans tomatoes: Drain off liquid, saving liquid from one can. Shred tomatoes with fingers.

3 quarts water+juice (juice from 1 can of tomatoes and water to make up the rest)

1 med-large head cabbage

1 lb. canned sauerkraut (14 oz. fine)

3 t. salt

1 t. pepper

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar (or less)

2 T. flour

2 T. water

sour cream (optional)

Place meat in a deep pot (10 qt. is good size) with garlic, onions, water, and tomatoes.  Bring to a boil, skimming any foam off the top.  Shred cabbage coarsely, discarding core.  Add to soup with salt and pepper.  Cook for 1-1/2 hours.  Add lemon juice and sugar.  Cook 30 minutes.  Mix flour and water to a smooth paste.  Thin with a little soup liquid and then and add to the soup pot, stirring constantly.  Add sauerkraut and cook until meat is tender, about another 30 minutes.  Correct seasoning; you may want to add more salt, lemon, or sugar. (I always leave it as is.)

I like to make the soup a day ahead, so that it can sit in the refrigerator (or on the back porch when it's cold) overnight. Then once the fat is congealed, I skim it off the top. I also take the meat off the bones and shred it into the soup. Leftover soup freezes well.

             
The soup may be served with a spoonful of sour cream.  

This soup freezes well.  If freezing, take meat off bones and cut up.