Best 7 Borscht Recipes Using Fresh Beets Recipes

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If you want a hearty and savory soup with a vibrant red hue that's perfect for a cold winter day, look no further than borscht. This classic Eastern European dish is such a popular comfort food that there are variations across regions and households, but the mainstays of beets, cabbage, and broth are always present. A typical Ukrainian borscht features beef broth as its base, sauteed root vegetables, white cabbage, and, of course, grated beets. This version is relatively simple to prepare, but if you want to amp up the flavors, try a Polish recipe that includes a medley of vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and celery. Alternatively, a Lithuanian recipe might add a dollop of sour cream and a hard-boiled egg to create a creamy and protein-rich soup. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a more unique twist, try a Romanian recipe that combines beef and pork in the broth and adds a flavorful blend of spices. No matter which recipe you choose, you're in for a treat with this delicious and versatile soup.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CLASSIC BORSCHT RECIPE (BEET SOUP)



Classic Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) image

Our family's go-to recipe for Borscht (Red Beet Soup). It's best to have all of the ingredients prepped and ready to go which makes this soon super easy and care free. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or real mayo.

Provided by Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Categories     Medium

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 medium beets (peeled and grated)
4 Tbsp olive oil (divided)
8 cups chicken broth (+ 2 cups water)
3 medium yukon potatoes (peeled and sliced into bite-sized pieces)
2 carrots (peeled and thinly sliced)
2 celery ribs (trimmed and finely chopped)
1 small red bell pepper (finely chopped, optional)
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
4 Tbsp ketchup or 3 Tbsp tomato sauce
1 can white cannelini beans with their juice
2 bay leaves
2-3 Tbsp white vinegar (or to taste)
1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
1/4 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
1 large garlic clove (pressed)
3 Tbsp chopped dill

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)



Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) image

Beets give this vegetable soup an earthy sweetness, while a dash of lemon juice and zest provide contrasting sour notes.

Provided by Holly Nilsson

Categories     Soup

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 red beets (½ inch diced (approx 1 ½ pounds))
2 carrots (½ inch diced)
1 large russet potato (peeled and ½ inch diced)
½ small green cabbage (shaved)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
4 cups vegetable broth
4 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons dill (fresh, minced)
2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 bay leaf
kosher salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste)
sour cream (optional, for serving)

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 157 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 991 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving

SUMMER BORSCHT



Summer Borscht image

Provided by Ina Garten

Time 4h50m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

5 medium fresh beets (about 2 pounds without tops)
Kosher salt
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
16 ounces sour cream, plus extra for serving
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons Champagne vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 cups medium-diced English cucumber, seeds removed
1/2 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus extra for serving

Steps:

  • Place the beets in a large pot of boiling salted water and cook uncovered until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the beets to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine sieve and also set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the beet cooking liquid, the chicken stock, sour cream, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, and the pepper. Peel the cooled beets with a small paring knife or rub the skins off with your hands. Cut the beets in small to medium dice. Add the beets, cucumber, scallions, and dill to the soup. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Season, to taste, and serve cold with a dollop of sour cream and an extra sprig of fresh dill.

BEET BORSCHT



Beet Borscht image

My mother used to make this hearty soup from her garden's bountiful crop of beets and other vegetables. -Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings (2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups shredded fresh beets
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) beef broth
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional: Sour cream and chopped chives or fresh dill sprigs

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 48 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 375mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

"BASIC" BEET BORSCHT



Make and share this "Basic" Beet Borscht recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Dee514

Categories     Onions

Time 55m

Yield 1 Pot of Borscht, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

5 lbs fresh beets (with the tops on)
cold water (to cover the beets by at least 4-6 inches)
2 -3 large onions
3 tablespoons salt
1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice, depending on taste
white pepper (optional/to taste)
1/4 cup honey (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Steps:

  • Cut off beet greens from the beets but leave about an inch or two of the tops on the beets.
  • **Option:mince removed beet tops to add later.
  • Scrub the beets well.
  • In a large pot, add beets and cover with cold water (about 3/4 full).
  • Bring the water to a boil and boil this for about 15-25 minutes until the beets are cooked.
  • Remove the beets from the water; save the water from the beets ("beetjuice").
  • Remove the skins from the beets.
  • Strain the"beet juice" (through a cheese cloth lined sieve) into a pot.
  • Peel and grate the onion.
  • Grate the beets (can use food processor for grating onion and beets).
  • Put the grated onion and beets into the pot with the strained beet juice.
  • **Option:you can add the finely chopped/minced beet tops, if you want to use them.
  • Bring all to a quick boil.
  • Add the salt, lemon juice, pepper (optional), and honey (optional), simmer until the honey has dissolved and all is well heated.
  • Serve, garnished with a dollop of sour cream (optional).

RUSSIAN BORSCHT



Russian Borscht image

I immigrated to the United States from western Russia in 1998. When I made friends, I found that many people had heard of Borscht, a traditional soup made with fresh beets, but few knew how to cook it. So I prepared this recipe from my grandmother, and everyone seemed to like it.-Svetlana Chriscaden, Falconer, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 2h25m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

8 cups water
1 pound beef shanks
5 whole peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
3 medium uncooked beets, peeled and shredded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 teaspoons white vinegar
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 cup shredded cabbage
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream

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.

Nutrition Facts :

BEETS-WITH-GREENS BORSCHT



Beets-With-Greens Borscht image

Provided by Jane Sigal

Categories     dinner, soups and stews, main course

Time 2h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 pounds red beets with greens, beets peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice, greens coarsely chopped
1 pound meaty beef shin bones
1 pound green cabbage, shredded
1 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes with their juice
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste
1 pound large waxy potatoes, quartered
Freshly ground white pepper to taste
Balsamic vinegar to taste, for drizzling

Steps:

  • In a soup pot, combine beets (not greens), bones, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, 8 cups water, bay leaf and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, put potatoes in a medium saucepan of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a cutting board. Add chopped greens to boiling water and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice.
  • Discard bay leaf. Remove bones, remove meat from bones, chop meat and return meat to soup. Taste and add salt if needed. Ladle soup into bowls and season with white pepper. Top with potatoes and greens, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 197, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 17 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 821 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality beets. Look for beets that are firm and smooth, with no blemishes or bruises. The fresher the beets, the better the borscht will taste.
  • Roast the beets before using them. Roasting the beets concentrates their flavor and makes them sweeter. You can roast the beets whole or cut them into wedges. Toss the beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting.
  • Use a variety of vegetables. In addition to beets, borscht typically includes other vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Feel free to add other vegetables that you like, such as turnips, parsnips, or celery.
  • Use a good quality broth. The broth is the base of the borscht, so it's important to use a good quality broth. You can use beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth. If you're using a store-bought broth, be sure to choose one that is low in sodium.
  • Season the borscht to taste. Borscht is typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and dill. You can also add other spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika. Taste the borscht and adjust the seasonings as needed.
  • Serve the borscht with your favorite toppings. Borscht is traditionally served with sour cream, rye bread, and dill. You can also serve it with other toppings, such as diced hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, or grated cheese.

Conclusion:

Borscht is a delicious and nutritious soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a very versatile soup, so you can customize it to your own taste. Experiment with different vegetables, spices, and toppings to find the perfect borscht recipe for you.

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