Easy Shchi from Tiffany

Sunday

Mar262017

In case you missed it, I've been featuring recipes that were passed down through the generations but originated from an immigrant. There are a lot of great things that come from diverse backgrounds, and foods are definitely on that list. If you've got a recipe that I can post here, please send it to burghbaby (at) gmail (dot) com.

This week's entry comes from Tiffany, who says:

Shchi, or Cabbage Soup, was a staple in Russia when my great grandmother was growing up. I didn't ever get to meet her, but her son (my grandpa) told stories about how she wouldn't eat it after she moved to the United States. She would say that it was "poor people food" and that it could stay in Russia where it belonged. My family's recipe was lost as a result, but I decided to come up with my own. I cheated a little and made a simplified version. The stuffed pasta is supposed to be homemade, but frozen ravioli works really well.

I have found other people who have Shchi recipes that have potatoes, meat, and all kinds of things in them, but this version matches the description that has been passed down in my family. If only Great Grandma was around to tell me how I did!

Easy Shchi from Tiffany

4 tablespoons butter
1 medium chopped onion
6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1 bag fresh coleslaw mix (the stuff with the bagged lettuce)
1 bag ravioli (beef or cheese)
Salt
Pepper
Dill

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and then cook the onion for 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the coleslaw and ravioli and boil for another 5-6 minutes or until the ravioli is warm all the way through. Add salt, pepper, and dill to taste.