Classic Borscht Recipes

BORSCH (((AUTHENTIC UKRAINIAN CLASSIC BORSCH)))

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the diced bacon or panchetta in a Dutch oven or stockpot and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat, until the fat begins to render, about 3 minutes.
• Add the beef and continue to cook, stirring, until the beef is brown on all sides, about 6 minutes.
• Remove both meats from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Add the onions and carrot to the fat in the Dutch oven or stockpot and stir to coat.
• Cook until soft, about 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic, oregano, dill seeds and bay leaves and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the red wine vinegar and stir to deglaze the pot.
• Return both meats to the pot and add the water, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place the beets on a baking sheet and brush with the oil.
• Roast until tender and can be pierced easily with a fork or knife, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• When the beets are cool enough to handle, trim the stem and root ends and remove the skins.
• Coarsely grate or chop and set aside.
• When the meat is tender and falling apart, add the beets, potatoes, cabbage, parsley, tomato paste and celery salt or seeds and simmer over low heat for another 30 minutes.
• Season with additional red wine vinegar, salt, freshly ground black pepper and sugar to taste.
• Ladle borsch into bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream and a pinch of fresh dill.
• Also, serve with Russian black bread.

CLASSIC BORSCHT RECIPE (BEET SOUP)

Steps:

• Peel, grate and/or slice all vegetables (keeping sliced potatoes in cold water to prevent browning until ready to use then drain).
• Heat a large soup pot (5 1/2 Qt or larger) over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add grated beets and sauté 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beets are softened.
• Add 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. Add sliced potatoes and sliced carrots then cook for 10-15 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.
• While potatoes are cooking, place a large skillet over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil. Add chopped onion, celery and bell pepper. Saute stirring occasionally until softened and lightly golden (7-8 minutes). Add 4 Tbsp Ketchup and stir fry 30 seconds then transfer to the soup pot to continue cooking with the potatoes.
• When potatoes and carrots reach desired softness, add 1 can of beans with their juice, 2 bay leaves, 2-3 Tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 pressed garlic clove, and 3 Tbsp chopped dill. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes and add more salt and vinegar to taste.

BORSCHT RECIPE (BEET SOUP)

Steps:

• Add olive oil to a soup pot and set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add in the beets, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. Stir to combine.
• Cook for 10 minutes to slightly soften the vegetables.
• Add in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Pour in the beef and the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the beets and carrots are tender.
• Discard bay leaf. Stir in the fresh dill, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Taste and season with the desired amount of kosher salt and black pepper.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

CLASSIC BORSCHT RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Slice the beef into 2-inch pieces and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
• In a large skillet, sauté the carrots, onions and beets in 4 tablespoons of cooking oil. Sauté the vegetables until they are soft (7-10 minutes) and add them into the beef broth. Drain and rinse beans and add them to the pot. Cook the soup for 20 minutes.
• Drain and rinse beans and add them to the pot. Simmer for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the sliced potatoes to the pot and simmer them for another 15 minutes.
• After the potatoes are almost done cooking, add in the sliced cabbage to the pot. Next, add in the ground pepper, salt to taste, vinegar and ketchup. Let the borscht simmer for 10 more minutes.
• Serve the borscht with a dollop of sour cream or mayo. Enjoy!

THE BEST BORSCHT RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the pot over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of canola oil.
• Cut big, hard chunks of fat off beef, if any. Add beef and bones to the pot and seat for a couple of minutes.
• Add water to the pot and bring it to simmer.
• Add bay leaves, coriander, and whole peppercorns. Lower the heat to low.
• Loosely cover with a lid (so that there is a good amount of room for steam to escape) and cook for 2-4 hours.
• About half way through of cooking meat, add whole, unpeeled beets to the pot. Cook until done, take out and set aside.
• Strain off the stock and discard bones, bay leaves, coriander, and peppercorns. Set meat and beef aside.
• Prepare your veggies: slice onions, mushrooms, and cabbage thinly. Grate carrots on a large grater, and cube potatoes. Peel garlic and set aside. Set whole cooked beets aside to cool.
• Using the same pot, set the heat to medium and add a couple of tablespoons of canola oil to the pot.
• Add onions and carrots and saute until softened. Smash garlic, mince and add to the pot. Stir well.
• Add potatoes and mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add cabbage, stir and cook until cabbage softens.
• Add tomato paste, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until tomato paste is evenly mixed.
• Break apart beef and add it to the pot. Stir and start adding stock. Add enough stock to completely cover the veggies. (You can add more if you want more broth.)
• Cook over medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Taste to make sure you have enough salt and pepper. Adjust to taste.
• Stir in dill weed.
• Peel beets and grate them into the soup on a large cheese grater. Stir and your soup is ready to eat!
• Garnish with some sour cream and fresh dill weed.

UKRAINIAN RED BORSCHT SOUP

Steps:

• Crumble the sausage (if using) into a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until no longer pink. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Fill a large pot halfway with water(about 2 quarts), and bring to a boil. Add the sausage, and cover the pot. Return to a boil. Add the beets, and cook until they have lost their color. Add the carrots and potatoes, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Add the cabbage, and the can of diced tomatoes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Stir in the tomato paste and water until well blended. Transfer to the pot. Add the raw garlic to the soup, cover and turn off the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Taste, and season with salt, pepper and sugar.
• Ladle into serving bowls, and garnish with sour cream, if desired, and fresh parsley.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• Bring the broth to a simmer while you peel and prepare the vegetables. Heat a large soup pot over medium heat with the oil. Add the onions and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender and golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in the marjoram.
• Add the celery, parsnips, carrot, leek, and cabbage. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly tender, about 8 minutes
• Add the broth and the bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes before grating the beets directly into the soup. Simmer, partially covered, until the soup is flavorful and the vegetables are completely tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the dill. Add the red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Garnish the soup with sour cream and serve.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover the beets with cold water by l inch. Stir in 1/4 cup of the vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, until very tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, cool, and peel the beets. Dice the beets and set aside.
• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery, leeks, garlic, and caraway seeds and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Tie the parsley sprigs, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot with the beets, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes to bring the flavors together.
• Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Season with pepper to taste. To serve divide among warm soup bowls, top with dollops of the sour cream and sprinkle with the dill. Serve with additional vinegar at the table.

RUSSIAN BORSCHT

Steps:

• Place the first six ingredients in a large soup kettle or Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute beets in 1 tablespoon oil for 3 minutes. stir in vinegar; set aside. Remove beef with a slotted spoon; cool. Remove meat from the bones; discard bones. Cut meat into chunks; set aside. strain broth, discarding peppercorns and bay leaves. Skim fat. Add enough water to broth to measure 6 cups; return to kettle. Add potatoes, carrots, cabbage, parsley and beets. Bring to a boil., In a skillet, saute onion in remaining oil for 5-7 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with flour; stir until blended. Whisk into soup. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. add tomatoes. process soup in small batches in a blender or food processor; pour into a large saucepan. Add beef; heat through. Garnish with sour cream.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Scrub the beets and put each beet on a separate square of aluminum foil; Use 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and drizzle a little bit over each beet. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Wrap the beets loosely with the foil.
• Transfer the wrapped beets to a baking sheet and roast for 50-60 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let the beets cool so they're easier to handle.
• When the beets have cooled, the skins peel off easily. Use a knife and slice off the tip of the beet and carefully pull the skins off.
• Chop up the beets into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.
• In a large pot over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Put in the onions, carrots, celery and potatoes and cook, stirring until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for a minute more.
• Add the chicken broth and the beets and simmer until beets are completely tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the thyme and the allspice and continue simmering for another 10 minutes.
• Use an immersion blender to puree the soup. If you don't have an immersion blender, a regular blender will work just fine and puree in batches.
• Blend until smooth, adding more broth if the puree is too thick.
• Stir in the vinegar and honey and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Top with sour cream and serve.

BEET BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the beets, carrots, onion, water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add broth, cabbage and butter; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in lemon juice. If desired, top each serving with sour cream and chives or dill.

BORSCHT RECIPE (BEET SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the water and meat to a boil. Skim off any dark foam and simmer for 1 1/2 hours over medium-low heat. (See notes for vegetarian borscht below.)
• Meanwhile, sauté the onion and carrots until tender. Add the tomato sauce and ketchup and add this to the soup.
• Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and Vegeta seasoning to the soup. Simmer for 25 minutes. Stir in the beets* and garlic, then turn off the stove. (For raw beets see notes below.)
• Serve borscht with sour cream and fresh dill.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• Put the rinsed pork ribs into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, then remove the foam and rinse the ribs again.
• Add more (cold) water, salt, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil once again; keep it at light boil till the meat starts falling off the bone (approx. 1 hour).
• Peel all the veggies, grate the carrots and beetroots, shred the cabbage, chop the onions, and cube the potatoes.
• Keep them in cold water until you use them. Rinse and strain the canned beans.
• Sauté the chopped onions in sunflower oil until yellow, then add the tomato paste and grated carrots and continue for 5-6 minutes.
• Continue for another minute or two if the carrots have not softened.
• Once the pork ribs are ready, add the grated beetroots and cubed potatoes to the same pot.
• Bring the heat to medium and bring the water to a boil.
• Cook for another 10-12 minutes.
• Then, add the shredded cabbage, sautéed carrots, and onions to the pot.
• Cook until the potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork (approx. 7-10 minutes).
• Add the beans, black pepper, sugar, and vinegar. Cook for another 2-4 minutes.
• Turn the heat off and leave to stand covered with a lid for half an hour.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream, finely chopped parsley, and dill.

REAL RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN BORSCHT: CLASSIC RECIPE

Steps:

• A good start to any soup is the meat. In this case we are using a good piece of chuck ON the bone. The bones give the borscht a ton of flavor and I actually like to get some bones without any meat on it. Hubs loves the marrow ???? Your butcher will have some for you if you just ask.
• You want to cut it up into slightly larger than bite size pieces. And place it into a heavy bottomed large pot.
• Cover the meat with cold water and brink up to a boil. Leave about 4 cups of room at the top.
• While your meat is coming up to a boil, get your veggies ready. Peel your carrots, onions and beets.
• Now at this point you have 2 choices. You can shred all the veggies (except the potatoes and cabbage) in a food processor or hand shredder.
• Or you can do what I do...and use the wet chop on the Vitamix. Just throw your veggies in the vitamix... cover with water and pulse, pulse, pulse. For me, this is the go to method because it is a lot quicker and gives the soup a ton of texture.
• Set aside. Cut up your potatoes slightly larger than bite size. Otherwise they will fall apart in the soup. I also really like to use Yukon Gold potatoes. I love how soft they get and they remind me of the potatoes we used to use back in the old country.
• Now, if we pay attention to our soup, you will notice all the scum has come on top. DO NOT LET THIS BOIL. Otherwise the scum will just spread throughout the soup. You want to carefully remove it with a slotted spoon. Your other option is to to strain it like I do with my chicken soup. Strain the soup and then start fresh with clean meat, bones and water. It does take a bit longer, but if you are anal like me and like a super clean soup...it may be a better option.
• Once you have a clean soup, (regardless of which method you use). Here is the reason why you left some room at the top. You are going to pour in your entire Vitamix of veggies WITH the water into the soup along with the potatoes.
• Add in your tomato puree as well.
• Add in a nice helping of red pepper flakes. Hubs and I like it with a kick ???? Add in salt, pepper, sugar and the juice of half a lemon. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
• In the meantime slice up your cabbage. First you cut the head of cabbage in half. And remove the core.
• Then you slice it thinly with a nice sharp knife. Again feel free to do this in a food processor. I do not however like the texture it gets if you do it in a Vitamix.
• Add it into your soup. Also, add in 3 tablespoons of chopped dill and the garlic. Allow to simmer for about 15 more minutes.
• Once the cabbage is nice and soft, taste the soup for flavor. We like it sweet and a bit sour. So feel free to add in more lemon juice, pepper, sugar, salt, whatever your heart desires.
• This soup actually tastes better the very next day. If you decide to serve it the next day, you can also remove any extra fat that has solidified on the top after being refrigerated.
• Serve with a nice dollop of sour cream, nice sourdough bread and as my hubs prefers, with a sweet red onion on the side ????

CLASSIC BORSCHT (RED BEET SOUP)

Steps:

• Peel all vegetables, then grate or slice them. Keep potatoes in cold water to prevent browning.
• Heat a large soup pot (6 Qt) over medium high heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil.
• Add grated beets and sauté 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beets are softened.
• Add 8 cups broth and 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and carrots, simmering for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender.
• While vegetables are simmering, put a large skillet over medium high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil.
• Add chopped onion, celery and bell pepper. Sauté stirring occasionally until softened and lightly golden (7-8 minutes). Add 4 Tbsp Ketchup and stir fry for 30 seconds, then transfer contents of skillet to the soup pot.
• When vegetables are adequately cooked, add the cannellini beans with their juice, bay leaves, vinegar, teaspoon salt, pepper, garlic, and chopped dill. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Add more salt and vinegar to taste.

UKRAINIAN BORSCHT (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Gather all ingredients. Wash and peel the vegetables. Take the outer leaves off the cabbage.
• Pour water or broth into the big pot, add "better than bullion", paprika, coriander and bay leaf. Bring to boil and simmer on low.
• Dice onion and place in a separate bowl. Shred carrots, cut bell peppers into matchsticks and set aside. Using a large knife, cut the cabbage into thin shreds. Place the shredded cabbage in the big bowl, add few pinches of salt and massage it few times with your hands to soften it up. Shred the beet using a large side of the grater box. Peel and cube potatoes. Transfer them to separate bowls. Chop garli, parsley and dill.
• Make the mirepoix: heat the oil in a large frying pan (medium heat). Add onions and cook until translucent. Add carrots and bell peppers and continue cooking for another 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Add shredded beet, tomato paste, lemon juice, sugar, water. Stir the mirepoix, cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes.
• Add potatoes and cabbage to the boiling broth. Cook on low for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are almost done. Add prepared mirepoix to the soup, mix, cover and let simmer on low ( do not bringto heavy boil) for another 5-10 minutes until potatoes and cabbage are soft.
• Add freshly chopped dill and garlic to the pot.
• Taste the soup. Add more salt, pepper, lemon juice or sugar if needed. Turn off the heat and let stand covered for 10-15 minutes before serving.
• Serve hot with a big dollop of sour cream!