Oven-Braised Sauerkraut Sutochnye Shchi

Method

1. Put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, pour over the hot water and soak for 30 min.

   Add in this stepDried mushrooms (such as porcini) 10 gHot water, for soaking 150 ml

2. Rinse the bones and beef, put them in a 3 L pot with the water and bring to the boil on high heat, about 12 min, skimming off the foam. Turn down to low heat, add the bay leaves and allspice and simmer with the lid ajar for 1 h 40 min, until the beef is tender.

   Add in this stepBeef shin 350 gBeef soup bones 250 gWater 1.4 LBay leaves 1Whole allspice berries 3

   high heat→low heat

3. While the broth simmers, preheat the oven to 160°C. Taste the sauerkraut; if it is very sour, rinse it once in cold water, then squeeze it dry. Put half the butter, the sauerkraut and a ladle of broth in an ovenproof cast-iron pot, cover and cook in the oven for 1 h, until soft and lightly golden.

   Add in this stepSauerkraut 250 gButter 13 g

   oven

4. Melt the remaining butter in a frying pan and cook the chopped onion and grated carrot on medium heat for 8 min. When soft, add the tomato paste and flour and cook 1 minute more to lose the raw flour taste; the flour gives the soup gentle body.

   Add in this stepButter 13 gOnion 1Carrot ½Tomato paste 1 tbspPlain flour 2 tsp

   medium heat

5. Strain the broth, cut the beef into bite-sized pieces and discard the bones. Lift out the mushrooms and chop them; pour off the soaking liquid, leaving the grit at the bottom. Add the broth, beef, mushrooms and their liquid, the sautéed vegetables, chopped garlic, salt and pepper to the sauerkraut pot, bring to a simmer on medium heat, then cover and cook in the oven at 150°C for 1 h.

   Add in this stepGarlic cloves 2Salt ½ tspBlack pepper to taste

   medium heat→oven

6. Switch off the oven and leave the pot inside for 30 min. As the name says, it is best cooled overnight and reheated the next day.

7. Ladle into bowls, top generously with sour cream, scatter with dill and serve with rye bread.

   Add in this stepSour cream 2 tbspDill, chopped 2 tbsp