Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (2024)

I love any kind of soup, and this borscht recipe definitely tops my list.

Beets give this soup an earthy sweetness and a vibrant color, while a dash of lemon juice and fresh dill add a hint of freshness!

It’s a deliciously hearty soup perfect for any time of year.

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (1)

Borscht is a traditional beetroot soup from Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, Poland, and Russia, to name a few. It most commonly contains beets, shredded cabbage, and a sour ingredient such as wine vinegar or lemon juice.

Beyond that, ingredients for borscht recipes can vary widely with the addition of onions, beans, celery, and tomatoes, among many other ingredients, including beef. I include carrots and potatoes and use vegetable stock (although chicken or beef stock will taste great as well).

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (2)

How to Make Borscht

Borscht (aka borsch) has a deep ruby-red color which will also stain your hands and/or white cutting boards. Wearing gloves is a great idea when preparing beets, as they need to be peeled.

  1. Peel and chop the beets per the recipe below.
  2. Cook until slightly softened, and then add the broth. Simmer until everything is tender.
  3. Stir in lemon juice and zest and serve hot.

Save the beet tops to make sauteed beet greens!

Swirl in a dollop of sour cream in each bowl. The fat in the cream helps balance the acidity of the soup and provides some richness and body. Serve borscht as an appetizer with dinner or as a light meal with a side of corn muffins, soda bread, parker house rolls, or cheese biscuits.

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Serving & Storing Borscht

Add a generous dollop of rich sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh dill as a topping. Serve it with fresh rye bread or rolls and butter for dunking!

This recipe is easy to store in the refrigerator or in the freezer. The flavor deepens as it sits, so make enough for lots of leftovers. It will keep 4 days in the fridge or up to 4 months in the freezer.

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (4)

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Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (9)

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Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup)

Borscht soup gets natural sweetness from the beets, and a bit of lemon juice and zest add a tangy twist to balance the flavors.

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Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

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Servings 6

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (12)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 red beets peeled and 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 thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 bay leaf
  • kosher salt & black pepper to taste
  • sour cream optional, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beets, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. Cook stirring occasionally until slightly softened, about 10 minutes.

  • Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

  • Pour in the broth and add the bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the beets and carrots are tender.

  • Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the fresh dill, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.

  • Serve with a dollop of sour cream and additional fresh dill.

Notes

Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 157 | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 991mg | Potassium: 920mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3817IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (14) Course Side Dish, Soup

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (15) Cuisine Polish, Ukraine

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between beet soup and borscht? ›

Hence, my beet soup is called just that, soup, not borscht, even though it shares certain ingredients - potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beef stock and vinegar - with the traditional soup. But there's no cabbage and no caraway seed, two ingredients I consider essential in a borscht.

What is the difference between Russian and Ukrainian borscht? ›

It's standard for Ukrainian cooks to use pork in their Borscht and top it off with sour cream, whereas Russian cooks are more likely to use beef. Furthermore, Ukrainians will offer buns with their bortsch, and Russians will offer a native bread known as “black bread.”

Is beet borscht good for you? ›

The nutritional properties of the beetroot are what really make it a nutritional powerhouse food. The vegetables used in preparing borscht are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and vitamin B with the ingredients the potential to be combined in different fashions to create unique tastes.

Should I peel beets for soup? ›

Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling. (Some people are happy to leave the skins on; they are fine to eat.)

Why is my borscht not red? ›

Cooking Time and Temperature: Beets can lose their vibrant red color if they are overcooked or cooked at high temperatures for too long. If you cooked the beets for an extended period or at a high temperature, it could cause them to lose some of their color intensity, resulting in a more orange appearance.

Which country has the best borscht? ›

Ukrainian. As the home country of beetroot borscht, Ukraine boasts great diversity of the soup's regional variants, with virtually every oblast having its own recipe.

What do Russians eat with borscht? ›

Borscht is quintessentially Russian. A single bowl of that ruby-red beetroot soup, served with a ladleful of smetana (sour cream) and a hunk of black bread, conjures up images of Red Square and St Basil's Cathedral almost as much as a glass of vodka or a spoonful of caviar.

What does Ukrainian borscht taste like? ›

Borscht is a beet soup that's warm, sweet, and sour all in one bowl. It has the umami and complexity of a well-developed chicken soup but the beets add a whole different flavor profile.

Can I eat borscht every day? ›

Borscht is healthy but should be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Can diabetics eat beet soup? ›

Are beets okay for a diabetes diet? Beets make a great addition to a diabetes diet not only because they are low in calories, but also since one cooked cup contains only 13g carbohydrate. Rich in fibre they can also help prevent surges in blood sugar levels.

Does beet soup lower blood pressure? ›

Beets contain a high concentration of nitrates, which can help lower your blood pressure levels. This may lead to a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

Do you eat borscht hot or cold? ›

Borscht can be hot or cold, meaty or light, dairy-laden or broth-based, depending on your mood. According to Bonnie Frumkin Morales, chef and owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon, the biggest benefit of making borscht at home is that “it's very malleable and riffable.

What country invented borscht? ›

Although borscht is important in Russian and Polish cuisines, Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin. Its name is thought to be derived from the Slavic word for the cow parsnip, or common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), or from a fermented beverage derived from that plant.

What do you serve with borscht? ›

You can serve borscht with sides like Pumpernickel or rye bread, garlic toast, meat, salads, dairy, pickled foods, pierogi, grains, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs seasoned with paprika or dill, gluten-free options, and accompany it with fermented Slavic beverages and Santa Carolina ...

Why do Americans say borscht? ›

The English spelling borscht comes from Yiddish באָרשט (borsht), as the dish was first popularized in North America by Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe.

What is the name of the soup made from beets? ›

Borscht is a soup, usually made with beets, originating from Central and Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is especially popular in the cuisines of Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, and Ukraine.

What does beet soup taste like? ›

Borscht is a beet soup that's warm, sweet, and sour all in one bowl. It has the umami and complexity of a well-developed chicken soup but the beets add a whole different flavor profile.

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