Great Grandma Elzbietas Lithuanian Cabbage Soup Recipes

LITHUANIAN CABBAGE SOUP (KOPUSTU SRIUBA)

Steps:

• In a large pot, place the sauerkraut, chicken stock, smoked meat, peppercorns and bay leaves. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce temperature, cover and simmer for 1 to 2 hours. Meat should be tender.
• Remove meat, discard bones, dice and return to the pot. Add the shredded cabbage, tomatoes and onion. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook another hour or so.
• Add water, as necessary, to keep it soupy.
• To serve, remove the bay leaves and dish up, with hot boiled potatoes on the side.
• Note: If you prefer, substitute 1 cup shredded carrots for the tomatoes. Smoked turkey is a good substitute for the ham hocks. And there is nothing wrong with a nice hambone!
• Note2: You can drain and rinse the sauerkraut for a milder dish, but I think this is pretty mild, because of all the liquid and the fresh cabbage.
• Note3: You can reduce the amount of chicken stock if you need to - the meat will add a lot of substance to the liquid. I also have used the strained liquid left over after cooking a corned beef in the crock.

GRANDMA'S CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Stir in onion and garlic, cook until onion is transparent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in water, bouillon, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, then stir in cabbage.
• Simmer until cabbage wilts, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes.
• Return to a boil, then simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often.

GRANDMA'S PORTUGUESE SOUP

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot and cover with water. Soak 8 hours to overnight.
• Drain and rinse beans and return them to the pot. Add ham hocks and onion. Add enough water to cover ham hocks. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until beans are tender, 1 to 2 hours.
• Remove ham hocks from soup and separate the meat from the bones. Return meat to the pot and discard bones. Add sausage, cabbage, potato, and tomato sauce to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until cabbage is softened, 30 to 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

GRANDMA ELAINE'S UNSTUFFED SWEET AND SOUR CABBAGE

Steps:

• Place the vegetable oil into a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the sliced onions, and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato sauce, using a spoon to slightly chop the whole tomatoes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir the cabbage into the tomatoes. Cover, and simmer 1 hour until the cabbage is tender and mixes easily with the tomatoes.
• Place the ground beef, eggs, finely chopped onion, rice, water, additional 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix together with hands until thoroughly blended. Add additional rice if mixture is too moist. Form into golf ball-sized meatballs. Place meatballs on a plate, and refrigerate 20 minutes to firm.
• Place meatballs on the surface of the tomato mixture. Cover and simmer over medium heat until the meatballs are firm and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Gently stir the meatballs into the tomato mixture. Cover the pot and continue to simmer 45 minutes more. Stir in the lemon juice, and taste for seasoning, adding additional lemon juice if required. Stir in the raisins, and honey. Add the brown sugar, a little at a time, tasting after each addition. Cook mixture over medium heat 15 minutes more.