Borscht - Red Beet Soup
Borscht is one of the most popular dishes in Russia. It appeared at the end of the 18th century, and its main ingredients include red beets, broth made from meat or fish, mushrooms, cabbage, onions, carrots, and smoked sausages. It is often garnished with parsley, dill, red wine vinegar, and served with sour cream.Borsch is derived from an ancient soup that was cooked from leaves, stems, and umbels of common hogweed and has evolved into a wide variety of soups, one of them being the beetroot red Borsch which has become very popular over the ages. Borsch is made by combining either meat or bone stock with vegetables, but depending on the recipe, fish meat or be purely vegetarian. It can be served either hot or cold with some sour cream, potatoes, or hard-boiled eggs.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 pound red beets (about 2 large), peeled and shredded
- 10 ounces carrots (about 2 large), peeled and sliced
- 8 ounces turnips peeled and cubed
- 14 ounces onions (about 2), finely diced
- 0.5 pound white or green cabbage finely sliced
- 1 pound beef cut into small bite sizes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 10 cups meat broth
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds wrapped in cheesecloth
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and black pepper
- 1 bunch parsley (about 4 oz)
- 1 bunch dill (about 5 oz)
- 0.5 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Wash the vegetables and cut them into small pieces; cut the beef into small, bite-sized chunks. Melt the butter in a large saucepan, and add the meat, carrots, turnip, and onions. Braise for ten minutes, until the meat has browned and the vegetables are soft. Add the red beet, bouillon, vinegar, bay leaves, caraway seeds, and sugar, as well as a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly, then cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Wash the parsley and dill, and tie in a bouquet. Reserve some small sprigs to garnish. Place in the saucepan with the cabbage and cook for a further thirty minutes. Skim off the foam and stir from time to time; keep simmering. Remove the bouquet of herbs, caraway seeds, and bay leaves. Stir well and serve with sour cream and a sprig of fresh herbs.
