Russian · soup

Shchi (Щи)

Shchi (Щи) reads umami 6.8, richness 5.0 and sourness 3.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Russian soup, about 1 hr 20 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 7.3 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 3.8 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 3.6 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 2.4 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 5.1 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 3.7 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 6.8 · Richness 5.0 · Sourness 3.4 · Sweetness 3.3 · Herbaceous 3.2 · Allium 3.1 · Salinity 2.8 · Funk & Ferment 2.5 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Earthy 2.2 · Fruity 1.5 · Bitterness 1.4 · Heat 0.9 · Floral 0.9 · Citrus 0.6

What's in it (11)

• 1 lb beef
• 1/2 head fresh white cabbage
• 2 potatoes
• 2 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 peppercorns
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup dill
• salt to taste

Time & effort: about 1 hr 20 min (25 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 94.2 kcal, 11.4 g protein, 3.4 g fat, 4.9 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Make a rich meat broth by simmering beef with bay leaf and peppercorns.
2. Soften onion and carrot in oil, add tomato paste, and combine with the broth.
3. Add shredded cabbage and diced potato and cook until tender.
4. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Stuffed Pepper (Tolma) — Georgian
• Shepherd's Pie — British
• Borscht (Борщ) — Russian
• Kofta-Spiced Beef and Rice Stuffed Zucchini — Middle Eastern
• Ali Nazik Kebabı (Smoked Aubergine under Lamb) — Turkish

Keep reading: what umami, richness, sourness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →

Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.