Beef, Barley and Pickle Soup (Rassolnik)

INGREDIENTS

12 cups

water

1 lb

lean Beef (cut into bite-sized pieces)

1/4 cup

barley (rinsed)

1/2 tbsp

salt + more to taste

medium potatoes (diced)

carrot thinly sliced

baby pickles/ 3 adult pickles (or 1 1/2 cups diced)

4 tbsp

olive oil

carrot grated

onion (finely diced)

celery sticks (finel sliced)

1 tbsp

tomato paste or Ketchup

2 tbsp

dill (optional, but very nice)

Bay leaves

1/2 tsp

freshly ground black pepper

Sour cream (optional and extra dill to serve)