Borscht (борщ), a cabbage and beetroot soup, is known in many, if not every, Slavic cuisine. I wouldn’t be wrong to say that this soup all-Slavic. Borscht is delicious, nutritious and can be stored in a fridge for a few days without losing its taste. It actually becomes better the next day than on the day you cook it.
There are many variations of borscht. Ukrainian borscht is different from Russian, and Siberian is different from both. Not only every place but every cook has its own preferences and secrets. I once even took a master class from a local chief on how to cook a perfect borscht. Let me tell you without false modesty: my borscht is really good. My husband can confirm it. Here is my secret recipe, enjoy!
Ingredients:
- Meat broth
- One medium beet
- Tomato paste – 3 tbls
- Apple vinegar – 1 tbls
- 1 Carrot
- 1 Onion
- Cabbage – chopped, about 2 cups
- 2 medium potatoes
- Garlic – 1 bit
- Dill
- Bay leaf, allspice – optional
Borscht is not an appetizer, it is a main dish, so make sure your broth is strong. I prefer beef broth made of a shoulder part (bone and quite enough of meat on that, I normally take 0.5-0.7 kg of meat for 2-2.5 liters of water). Ukrainian recipes, as far as I know, are usually based on duck or chicken broth. When the broth is ready, take the bones out of the broth. You may use vegetable broth if you like. You can also use a ready-made broth to save time, however, if you want to experience the true taste of the borscht, invest an extra hour and make a broth at home.
Meanwhile, peel a beetroot and chop it into strips (approximately 1-inch long). Saute it for 10-15 minutes on low heat with a tablespoon of a vegetable oil, three tablespoons of tomato paste and one tablespoon of apple vinegar. Tomato paste and vinegar help the soup keep its deep red color, so your borshch won’t turn colorless when boiling. Add the beet to the broth when the broth is ready.
Chop a carrot and an onion. Saute them together until light-golden and add them to the pot, where your broth has turned red because of the beet. Let the flavors blend in the pot for some time.
The next step is a cabbage. Take about 1/4 head of a cabbage and chop it into strips. Add the cabbage to the soup. Add garlic.
Wait until the beet, carrot, and cabbage are soft and then dice 2 medium potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Add the potatoes to the pot.
When the potatoes are cooked, add freshly chopped dill. bay leaf, and allspice and cover the pot with a lid. Turn off the stove and let the soup sit for 20 minutes – it takes time for the flavor to develop. On the next day borscht tastes even better, just make sure you put the pot into a fridge for a night. You can cook a large pot of borscht and enjoy your soup for 3-4 days. Russians always serve borscht with a sour cream. Dark bread and pickles also go well with the soup.
If you like borscht or simply want to support this blog, please check this T-shirt out! I designed it specifically for borscht lovers!
