Rassolnik with Pearl Barley and Pickled Cucumbers for Winter

Source: Elena Hramowa, AdobeStock

Homemade preparations significantly reduce the cooking time of your favorite dishes. Rassolnik with pearl barley and pickled cucumbers for winter allows you to cook an aromatic soup in a matter of minutes at any time. All main ingredients will already be prepared in advance; you just need to add them to the broth. We share an excellent recipe!

Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Servings: 6.

Ingredients

• 400 g pearl barley;
• 500 g pickled cucumbers;
• 250 g carrots;
• 200 g onions;
• 8 tablespoons vegetable oil;
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste;
• 450 ml pickle brine;
• 2 tablespoons sugar;
• 2 tablespoons salt;
• 2 bay leaves;
• 4 allspice peppercorns.

Step-by-step recipe

1. Rinse the pearl barley thoroughly, cover with water, and cook for 20-25 minutes over medium heat until semi-cooked. Drain it in a colander.
2. Grate the carrots on a coarse grater, finely chop the onions, and sauté them in a pot with vegetable oil until soft.
3. Dice the pickled cucumbers finely or grate them on a coarse grater, add them to the sautéed vegetables along with the pearl barley, and mix.
4. Separately, mix the tomato paste with a small amount of water, pickle brine, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Pour everything over the vegetables and grains. Add the bay leaf and allspice peppercorns – but use a special fabric spice bag for them.
5. Simmer the preparation for 25-30 minutes, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes too thick, add a little hot water.
6. While the preparation is cooking, thoroughly wash 500 ml jars and sterilize them using any convenient method. Sterilize the lids separately.
7. Remove the bay leaf and allspice from the finished preparation. Distribute the rassolnik into hot sterilized jars, seal them immediately with lids, turn them upside down, and wrap them until completely cooled.
8. Store the preparation in a cool, dark place. One 500 ml jar is usually enough for a 2.5-3 liter pot of rassolnik. You will only need to add potatoes and, if desired, meat.