Shchi

Name: Shchi
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 70 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 cups beef broth; 1 1/2 lb beef chuck, in large pieces; 4 cups shredded green cabbage; 3 medium potatoes, cubed; 2 medium carrots, grated; 1 large onion, chopped; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 bay leaf; 3 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Sour cream and fresh dill, for serving

A soulful cabbage soup simmered with beef until the broth turns golden — the dish Russians have eaten, in one form or another, for over a thousand years.

⏱ 20 minPrep time

🔥 1 hr 10 minCook time

🍽 8Servings

🏷 Russian KitchenCategory

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

Shchi is the soup of the Russian soul — cabbage simmered with potatoes and beef into a brothy, deeply satisfying bowl. There are a hundred versions, from fresh cabbage in summer to tangy sauerkraut in winter, and all of them warm you to the core.

Simmered gently and ladled over a spoonful of sour cream, shchi is everyday food with a timeless following. It is famously even better the day after, when the flavors have settled in.

Russian recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Simmer the beef in the broth until tender, about 1 hour; remove, shred, and return to the pot.
Sauté the onion and carrots in the oil until soft, add the tomato paste, and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the cabbage and potatoes to the pot and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in the sautéed vegetables, garlic, and bay leaf; simmer for 10 minutes more.
Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot with sour cream and dill.

💡 Chef tips & storage

For the classic winter version, swap fresh cabbage for sauerkraut and simmer it longer. Shchi genuinely improves overnight, so don't hesitate to cook it a day ahead.

Recipe details

Prep20 min

Cook1 hr 10 min

Servings8

CategoryRussian Kitchen

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Shchi

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Log In

Get free recipes every week

Shchi

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Join the conversation

Keep browsingYou might also like

Zharkoye

Kulebyaka

Solyanka

Log In