Ukrainian Chicken Soup

Ingredients

1. One 3-pound chicken, neck reserved
2. 2 medium onions—1 unpeeled and quartered, 1 chopped into 1-inch pieces
3. 2 carrots, scrubbed and cut into 2-inch pieces
4. 2 celery ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
5. 1 large unpeeled garlic clove, smashed
6. 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
7. 3 1/2 quarts water
8. 1 large fresh bay leaf
9. 6 parsley sprigs
10. 2 thyme sprigs
11. Kosher salt
12. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
13. 8 cups chopped green cabbage (1 pound)
14. 1 cup thinly sliced garlic dill pickles (4 ounces)
15. 1/4 cup tomato paste
16. 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
17. Freshly ground pepper
18. 1/2 cup reserved pickle juice
19. 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
20. Sour cream, for garnish

1. In a stockpot, combine the chicken and neck with the water, quartered onion, carrots, celery, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, parsley springs and thyme sprigs and bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Discard the skin. Pull the meat off the bones, cut it into 1/2-inch pieces and refrigerate.
2. Return the bones to the pot, partially cover and simmer for 1 hour, until the broth is richly flavored. Strain the broth into a clean heat proof bowl and rinse out the pot. Return the broth to the pot and boil over moderate heat until reduced to 8 cups, about 30 minutes. Season with salt.
3. In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cabbage, chopped onion and pickles and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until just softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and paprika and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over moderate heat until the vegetables are very soft, about 20 minutes. Add the chicken, pickle juice and dill and simmer until just heated through.