Kapusta Ukrainian Soup Recipes

KAPUSTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat; saute onions and mushrooms until tender.
• In a medium saucepan over high heat, boil cabbage for 10 minutes.
• In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish combine onions, mushrooms, cabbage, sauerkraut, sugar, thyme, salt and pepper; mix well. Dot remaining 2 tablespoons butter on top. Cover.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.

UKRAINIAN KOBASA KAPUSTA

Steps:

• Remove the skin from the kobasa, and cut into bite sized pieces. Place in a bowl.
• Dice onion and place in a bowl.
• Crush fennel seed using a mortar and pestle.
• Drain and throughly rinse the sauerkraut using a colander. I like to use some boiling water for this.
• Heat a frying pan over medium heat, and add the oil.
• Add the onions and seasonings, and cook until browned (about 5 minutes).
• Add the cut up kobasa and cook until nicely browned (about 6-8 minutes).
• Add the drained and rinsed sauerkraut and cook until heated through (about 8-10 minutes).
• Remove from heat and place in a serving bowl. This is a great main course, or side dish.
• ENJOY!

UKRAINIAN SAUERKRAUT SOUP (KAPUSNYAK)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, place spareribs, water, chopped onion, garlic (if using), bay leaf , and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, skimming off the foam that rises to the surface.
• Reduce heat and simmer until the meat is ready to fall off the bones. You may need to add more water.
• Remove meat and, when cool enough to handle, chop into bite-size pieces. Reserve.
• To the Dutch oven with boiling liquid, add carrots, potatoes, mushrooms (along with strained soaking liquid if using dried mushrooms), and sauerkraut.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until sauerkraut is tender, about 30 minutes. Add more water, if necessary.
• Adjust the seasonings. Fork blend 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons sour cream. Temper this mixture with a few ladles of hot soup . Return the tempered sour cream to soup and whisk until well incorporated and the soup has thickened slightly.
• Return the meat to the soup, heat through and serve with fresh parsley or dill sprigs and rye bread on the side.

MY KAPUSTA (POLISH CABBAGE SOUP)

Steps:

• Shred cabbage, set aside.
• Brown ribs in small amount of olive oil in large fry pan; remove from pan.
• Sauté cabbage using drippings in pan and butter. I usually do this in batches, adding all cabbage and juices from each batch into the pot.
• Add butter to pan and make next batch.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add sauerkraut and mix in well.
• Bury ribs in cabbage mix, fill with cold water just to cover all.
• Bring pot to boil, cover and lower heat to simmer.
• Simmer for about 2 hours.
• Check after 1-1/2 hours to see if cabbage is soft; meat should be falling off the bones.
• When done, carefully remove meat making sure to get all the bones.
• There aren't many or any bones in the country style ribs, that's why I use them instead of regular ribs.
• Separate meat from bones and fat and return meat to pot. Mix.
• I use an 8 quart enameled cast iron pot. Try to use a heavy metal pot or one that has a heavy bottom.
• Some people serve this in a bowl with boiled or mashed potatoes and/or some sour cream; and a nice hunk of Polish sisal bread, if you can find any!
• You could also add caraway or dill seeds when cooking it.
• NOTE:.If you can make this the night before you will serve it, and refrigerate it, it is better. The taste improves with age!

UKRAINIAN RED CABBAGE - KAPUSTA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the apples and the onion and sauté until the onion is tender and translucent, approximately 8 minutes.
• Stir in cabbage and stir until wilted, approximately 8 minutes. Stir in the sugar, vinegar ,salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Cover and cook until the cabbage is tender, stirring occasionally, aproximately 10 minutes.
• Add the stock and jam and continue to cook uncovered for 5 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Delicious!