Classic Russian Borsch

Ingredients

Beef stock:

• 2 lbs stew beef
• 1 lb beef bones (marrow bones) optional
• 2.5 quarts water
• 2 large bay leaves
• 1 tbsp coriander
• 1/2 tbsp whole peppercorns

Soup:

• 3 medium beets about 1.5 lbs
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 head of cabbage
• 2 medium Idaho potatoes
• 8 oz baby Bella mushrooms
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Salt
• Fresh cracked black pepper
• 3 tbsp fresh dill weed minced

Topping:

• Sour cream
• Freshly minced dill weed

Instructions

Beef Stock:

1. Preheat the pot over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of canola oil.
2. Cut big, hard chunks of fat off beef, if any. Add beef and bones to the pot and seat for a couple of minutes. 
3. Add water to the pot and bring it to simmer. 
4. Add bay leaves, coriander, and whole peppercorns. Lower the heat to low. 
5. Loosely cover with a lid (so that there is a good amount of room for steam to escape) and cook for 2-4 hours.
6. About halfway through of cooking meat, add whole, unpeeled beets to the pot. Cook until done, take out and set aside.
7. Strain off the stock and discard bones, bay leaves, coriander, and peppercorns. Set meat and beef aside.

Borscht soup:

1. Prepare your veggies: slice onions, mushrooms, and cabbage thinly. Grate carrots on a large grater, and cube potatoes. Peel garlic and set aside. Set whole cooked beets aside to cool. 
2. Using the same pot, set the heat to medium and add a couple of tablespoons of canola oil to the pot. 
3. Add onions and carrots and saute until softened. Smash garlic, mince and add to the pot. Stir well.
4. Add potatoes and mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. 
5. Add cabbage, stir and cook until cabbage softens. 
6. Add tomato paste, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until tomato paste is evenly mixed.
7. Break apart beef and add it to the pot. Stir and start adding the stock. Add enough stock to completely cover the veggies. (You can add more if you want more broth.)
8. Cook over medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Taste to make sure you have enough salt and pepper. Adjust to taste.
9. Stir in dill weed. 
10. Peel beets and grate them into the soup on a large cheese grater. Stir and your soup is ready to eat!
11. Garnish with some sour cream and fresh dill weed.

Recipe Notes: 

“Russian Borscht Recipe.” Will Cook For Smiles, 5 Jan. 2019, www.willcookforsmiles.com/russian-borscht-recipe/.

Nutrition Facts

Russian Borscht Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 286Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 56mg19%

Sodium 163mg7%

Potassium 963mg28%

Total Carbohydrates 21g7%

Dietary Fiber 4g16%

Sugars 8g

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A45.5%

Vitamin C50.1%

Calcium9%

Iron20.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

References:

1. “Classic Russian Borscht Recipe – Красный Борщ.” Girl and the Kitchen, 12 Feb. 2018, girlandthekitchen.com/classic-russian-borscht-recipe-%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%89/. 

2. Kitchen, Natashas. “Classic Red Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup).” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Oct. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CXgPVw_-0g.

3.  “Russian Borscht Recipe.” Will Cook For Smiles, 5 Jan. 2019, www.willcookforsmiles.com/russian-borscht-recipe/.