Ukrainian Chernihivskiy Borshch with Apples and Beans

• 2 lb. beef chuck
• shin, with the bone
• 2 qt. water
• 1 sm. onion
• 1 carrot, peeled and quartered
• 1 leek (white part only), well rinsed
• 2 lg. beets (about 1 1/4 pounds) washed and scrubbed
• 3 tbsp. white vinegar,
• more to taste
• 2 lg. boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
• 2 cups coarsely grated green cabbage
• 1 lb. fresh, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
• 1 parsnip, peeled
• 1 rib celery with leaves
• 6 parsley sprigs, 4 dill sprigs, 2 bay leaves, and 8 peppercorns tied in a cheesecloth bag)
• Salt, to taste
• 2 medium-size tart apples (such as Granny Smith), cored, peeled, and cut into wedges
• 2 sm. zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1-1/2 cup cooked white beans
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Sour cream
• Chopped fresh dill for garnish

1. In a large soup pot, bring all the stock ingredients to a boil over high heat, periodically skimming off the foam as it rises to the top.
2. cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the beef is tender, 1 1/2 hours.
3. Strain the stock trough a fine sieve into a clean pot.
4. Reserve the beef and discard the other solids.
5. Add the beets to the stock and cook over medium heat until tender, about 30 minutes.
6. Remove the beets from the stock and cool until manageable.
7. Peel the beets and cut into fine dice.
8. Return the beets to the pot along with 2 tablespoons vinegar, the potatoes, cabbage, and tomatoes.
9. Simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.
10. Add the apples and zucchini, and continue simmering until the vegetables are tender, 15 minutes more.
11. Remove the meat from the bones and cut into bite-size pieces.
12. Add it to the soup, along with the beans and garlic; season with salt and pepper and add more vinegar, if desired.
13. Simmer for 5 minutes more.
14. Allow the borshch to stand at least 10 minutes before serving.
15. serve with sour cream sprinkled with dill.
16. Serves 8.

beef chuck, shin, water, onion, carrot, only, beets, white vinegar, boiling potatoes, green cabbage, tomatoes, celery, parsley sprigs, salt, apples, zucchini, white beans, garlic, salt, sour cream, fresh dill

Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/20101 (may not work)