Borscht | America's Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil , plus extra as needed
• 1 large onion
• 6 pounds beef shanks , meat cut from bone in large chunk
• ½ cup dry red wine
• 2 quarts boiling water
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 onion , chopped
• 2 carrots , chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ small head cabbage , green or red, shredded (about 5 cups)
• 1¾ pounds beets , peeled and grated (about 5 cups)
• 5–6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• ¾ pound small red potatoes , (each 1 to 1¼ inches in diameter), scrubbed
• ½ cup fresh dill , chopped
• 1 cup sour cream