Borscht 3 cups hot water 1 lb beef brisket, cut into 1" chunks 2 medium carrots, sliced 1 medium onion, sliced 1 stalk celery, sliced 1 small zuccini squash, shredded (optional) 1 bay leaf 3 medium beets salt 1/2 of a 6-oz can tomato paste 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 small head cabbage, shredded 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1/2 cup sour cream 1. To 5-quart saucepan or dutch oven over medium-low heat, add water, beef, carrots, onion, celery, bay leaf, 1 sliced beet, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. 2. Cover and simmer 2 hours. Shred remaining beet and zuccini, and with tomato paste, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt, stir into soup. 3. Cover again and simmer 20 minutes. Remove pan from heat and discard bay leaf. Chill. 4. About 20 minutes before serving, remove hardened fat from surface of chilled soup. 5. Over medium heat, heat soup to boiling. Add cabbage; cook 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar. 6. Serve in large soup plates or wide bowls, each portion garnished with some sour cream.