This recipe was a good starting point but I had to make several major adjustments to achieve something that was suitably "borscht-like" for my tastes. I used two beets rather than one (and next time I'd use three) and I did not discard them after boiling. I chopped one beet into small dice and pureed the other. I added both right before service. Without the addition of the puree the soup would have been bright orange rather than the deep ruby color I expect from borscht. Other changes I made: Added a tablespoon of dried dill toward the end of cooking omitted about half of the butter and all of the celery (is "half a stalk" reallly going to add any flavor or texture?) didn't reserve the 1/2 c of tomato sauce (this step seemed unnecessary since everything gets mixed together anyway) and I used only about half of the cabbage called for and still found it to be a very cabbage-y soup (3 cups would have been serious overkill). Be sure to taste the soup before serving. I found that it needed quite a bit more salt and pepper than called for. Garnished with sour cream of course. I will make borscht again but not according to this recipe.
I've never had borscht before so I don't know how authentic this recipe is. I just made this to use up some beets--which frankly I don't even like much. This recipe though is INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS (and really the most remarkable shade of purple/magenta when you use red cabbage...can't beat that)! I even used extra beets (2 large & 3 small) then chopped them up and left them in as people recommended (I figured it was too much work to puree or shred the beets)...and I psychotically love this soup. I think I could eat it every day. The dollop of sour cream was a great touch too. I just had the last bowl...sniff...I think I need to get more beets and make this again. I'll try with much less butter next time though...that was kind of an alarming amount for a vegetable soup.
Great recipe but thicker than authentic borscht I've had in Ukraine and Russia. Things I did just a bit differently... I used two beets with the stock (peeled) and when I removed them I diced one and a half and added it back into the stock. I added a little more dill than called for and I wish I had some fresh dill for garnish. I added just a touch of white pepper and I topped the soup with sour cream.
This borscht recipe is amazing. It is as hearty as they come and very full flavoured. I've made a few changes that you may like. A couple of cloves of garlic in the sauce really enhances the flavour. Also I like to fry all of the cabbage so it is all of a consistant texture. Serve the soup with some sourdough bread and you will have a instant hit. If any of you ever end up in the Kootenay region of British Columbia Canada you should stop by the Grand Forks Hotel. Their diner makes a wonderful example of this soup and also has many other traditional Russian dishes that you are bound to enjoy. Cheers Mike
I too kept the beets and diced them and put them back in. I also added two cloves of garlic and I sauteed ground lamb in ghee and garam marsala (indian spices) along with the onions and cabbage. Forgot the heavy cream so I used a can of evaporated milk which worked just great. It turned out marvelously. I garnished with sour cream and fresh dill. No longer vegetarian but a phenomenal lamb borscht. I used ghee (clarified butter) instead of regular butter.
I made this for a dinner party. I got mixed reviews. I love Borsht and I only thought it was okay. Too much cabbage in it. Reminded me more of cabbage soup instead of Borscht.
did a couple adjustments. I'm on weight watchers so I used 1% milk instead of heavy cream and cut up the beets and kept them in. Very very good
I was trying to find a borscht recipe as good as my friend's mom's. This is so much better. I have made it 4-5 times and it gets better each time as I make my own changes. This is the best borscht I have ever eaten. However I don't discard the beet I grate it into the soup! Enjoy!
according to my grandmother dill is the key!
I am from Russia and we do not put celery into borsht; it absolutely has to be made in beef or pork bouillon so that veggies be cooked in it. Start with potatoes add cabbage and onions with carrots nothing fried before finally add precooked and shredded beet with tomatoes bay leaf and dill is the key; want it sour? use sauerkraut. Enjoy!
