Pork rib bortsch

1. step 1
2. Cut the meat into large pieces, put in your largest saucepan and cover with 5 litres water. Bring to the boil over a high heat, skimming away any foam that rises to the surface. Add the bay leaves. Season. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for 1 hr, or until the meat is soft and falls off the bone. Add the beans if using dried.
   1 hour
3. step 2
4. Turn the heat up. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for another 20 mins – the beans should still be slightly raw. Add the carrots, onions, garlic and pepper. Stir well, then add the chillies, if using. Cook for 15 mins more.
   20 minutes15 minutes
5. step 3
6. Stir in the beetroot and cook for 10 mins before adding the potatoes. After 15 mins, add the tomato purée to taste and beans, if using canned, and bring to the boil. Cook for 5 mins, add the cabbage and cook for 5 mins more. Season, then garnish with the parsley and dill. Turn off the heat and leave to stand for 5 mins. Serve with soured cream on the side.
   10 minutes15 minutes5 minutes5 minutes5 minutes

Cooking notes

When scaling protein-led dishes, weigh the meat rather than counting pieces, and remember that the pan size limits how much you can sear at once.

For volume-to-weight conversions of any ingredient — flour, sugar, butter, salts — use the ingredient converter. To translate the recipe's oven temperature between °C, °F and gas mark, see the temperature converter.

When you scale this recipe up or down, remember that cooking time does not scale linearly. A doubled cake takes longer, but not twice as long; a doubled soup takes roughly twice as long. The cooking-time guide gives sensible starting estimates by dish geometry.