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Have you ever tasted real Ukrainian borscht? This hearty soup is made of beef or pork stock, beets, cabbage and potatoes. If not, here is an authentic recipe that my mother and grandmother used throughout my childhood.
If you like this borscht recipe, try another Ukrainian classic Potato, Bacon and Caramelised Onion Vareniki (Pierogi).
I can hardly believe I am finally sharing my family’s borscht recipe! The recipe that was at the top of my list when I first started my blog years ago.
It took me this long because BORSCHT has such a long history and an important part in Eastern European cuisine. It is a hefty task to deliver the perfect recipe, which comes with a great deal of responsibility to do it justice.
Sharing my borscht is also one of the simplest tasks because the recipe has been in my family for a few generations. It’s in my blood, very much like my Beef Stroganoff recipe or my Cabbage Rolls recipe.
Is Borscht Russian or Ukrainian?
It’s worth clarifying pronunciation as borsch is more accurate. Yes, there is no ‘t’ at the end of the word. I know…mind blown!
And although most people associate this recipe with Russia it is actually Ukrainian. That being said, there are historical records of Russian tsars eating it centuries ago and the soup is almost as popular in Russia as it is in Ukraine.
A summer version called Green Borscht is made with sorrel. Apart from the same name, though, it is an entirely different recipe. There is also a Polish borscht and although I don’t know as much about it I know that it also features beets.
Ingredients
So what ingredients go into borscht?
Trick question! The truth is that the recipe ingredients vary by country, region and households. However, several ingredients stay unchanged and they are the ones that make a soup into borscht.
- beets
- cabbage
- potatoes
- carrots
- onions
Traditionally there will also a little meat, such as beef, chicken or pork, with the stock will be based off one of these. However, you can work off this list ingredients to make a vegetarian borscht.
Making borscht
1. Stock
Every building needs a solid foundation and every soup starts with a great stock. Making a delicious stock is by far the most time consuming part of this recipe. It’s not difficult, it just takes time.
The best flavour comes from meat on a bone, simple vegetables like onions, carrots and celery and a couple of aromatics. My mother always used bay leaves and peppercorns and I do the same.
If you want to be even more authentic, use celery root for your stock instead of celery. However, I realise the root is more difficult to source outside of Eastern Europe, and that is why I included celery.
2. Soup
The soup itself takes no more than 30 minutes to make once the stock is made and clarified.
If you are short for time, I recommend making the stock the night before or even purchasing a good quality broth from a supermarket.
You don’t need to master specific techniques for making an authentic borscht. But you will need to add vegetables in a specific order to ensure they all get cooked to perfection in the end.
For example, cabbage doesn’t take too long to cook and therefore needs to be added last.
Lastly, grated carrots and chopped onions are always sautéed in sunflower oil or butter until soft and golden, and added to borscht towards the end. In Russian and Ukrainian cooking this method is called “zazharka“.
Many cooks do the same with beets but sautéing beets separately only adds more unnecessary steps to the recipe and doesn’t contribute anything to the flavour. I tend to skip sautéing and add raw grated beets directly to the soup.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- I prefer to make my own stock as it’s so important for the soup to have great flavour. If you are short on time or don’t want to put in the effort, use a good quality beef or chicken broth from the supermarket. If opting in for a store bought option, use 2 litres of chicken or beef stock.
- Raw beets will add the most flavour to the soup, but pre-cooked vacuum-packed beets are also a good choice. Avoid using canned beets.
- Cut potatoes in large chunks so they maintain their integrity through the cooking process.
- As I mention above, the ingredients in this soup could be varied. For example, in the summer, my mother always added red or yellow bell peppers. Some cooks love throwing in dried beans for extra protein or as a substitute for meat. Dried mushrooms are also a popular ingredient for this versatile soup.
- Borscht tastes so much better when a dollop of sour cream is added. However, do not add sour cream to the pot. Serve it on the side and allow the people to help themselves.
- Fresh herbs like parsley and dill are a traditional garnish. They add a lovely freshness and a beautiful colour to your bowl of soup.
- Raw beets will add the most flavour to the soup, but pre-cooked vacuum-packed beets are also a good choice. Avoid using canned beets.
Serving suggestions
Historically borscht is eaten for lunch as a first course followed by the second course of “meat and potatoes” in Ukraine and Russia. Although traditionally it was meat and potatoes, I put it in quotations as it could be anything other than soup. The third course is something sweet.
Although traditional, not many people have the time or appetite to eat this way anymore due to busy lives, so many have just the soup.
Borscht is almost always served with a dollop of smetana or sour cream and sprinkled with fresh herbs like dill or parsley. Fresh bread like sourdough or rye bread is also a permanent accompaniment to this delicious red-coloured soup.
Storage and leftovers
If the sour cream hasn’t been added, any leftover soup can be covered securely and stored in a fridge for 2-3 days. I might even recommend it, as the soup can taste better the next day after the flavours have had the chance to meld together.
Borscht can be frozen, although the potatoes won’t love freezing and defrosting and will become a bit soggy. If you do freeze, it will keep for 2-3 months.
Reheat leftovers in a microwave or in a This is an affiliate link.saucepan over medium heat.
More Eastern European soup recipes
- Restaurative Beef and Cabbage Soup ‘Shchi’
- Russian sweet and sour beef stew Solyanka
- Meatball soup
- Yellow Split Pea Soup
Borscht Recipe
Equipment
- This is an affiliate link.Stock pot
Ingredients
For the stock
- 3 litres / 3 quarts cold water, see Notes
- 600g / 1½ lbs pork ribs or beef attached to a bone
- 1/2 onion
- 1 carrot
- 2 celery sticks
- 2 This is an affiliate link.bay leaves
- 5 peppercorns
- 1 tsp salt
For the borscht
- 2 medium beets, peeled and grated
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 This is an affiliate link.bay leaf
- 3 tbsp tomato puree/paste
- 1/2 small white cabbage, cored and sliced
- 1 lemon juice only, or 1 tsp of white vinegar
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
For the stock
- In a large stock pot combine water, pork ribs cut into smaller chunks to fit the pot, quartered half onion, celery sticks and carrot cut in half, bay leaves and peppercorns and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to simmer for 1 hour to 1.5 hours until the meat is nearly falling off the bones. Remove the scum that floats to the top with a slotted spoon several times through the process.
- When the stock is done, let it cool slightly, then remove the ribs to a separate plate and strain the stock by pouring it over a sieve. Discard the vegetables.
- When the meat is cool enough to handle, take it off the bones and shred with two forks or by hand. Set aside until needed. Discard the bones. The stock could be made be in advance and frozen until needed.
For the borscht
- Prepare all the vegetables by peeling and grating the beets and carrots separately, chopping the onions, peeling and cutting the potatoes and slicing the cabbage. Have all vegetables ready before starting on the soup.
- Add the stock to the large soup pot, then add shredded meat, grated beets, cut into medium chunks potatoes, tomato puree, a pinch of salt and one bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer.
- Meanwhile heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan, then add the grated carrots and chopped onions and saute over low heat for 7-10 minutes until caramelised, then add minced garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds.
- When the onions and carrots are done, add them to the soup pot together with sliced cabbage and cook for 15 minutes or until the cabbage leaves are tender but not mushy. Then add the juice of one lemon or 1 tsp of white vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve borscht with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche and sprinkled with fresh dill or parsley.
Video
Notes
- Alternatively you can skip making your own stock and purchase a good quality beef or chicken broth from a supermarket. Use 2 litres/8 cups of chicken or beef stock for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello,
I tried your recipe and it turned out well, sorta…
I used beef stock, instead off the first stock recipe. And used 1kg of chuck steak instead off the rib meat, instead of making the stock from scratch.
I used a pot about the same size as the one in the pic above, but couldn’t fit all off the cabbage in, without it over flowing..
Never the less, it tastes great, but think I over did the ingredients (estimating cups of ingredients..) its a lot chunkier then your pics. Also brown, not the purple colour.
Ill try again with less vegetables. It turned out well but as stated couldn’t really fit the pot, and a lot less stock/water to solids then your pics..
Never the less, ill try again as well others of your recipes.
Thanks,
Scott from Aus
Hi Scott, the pot I used is 5 litre capacity. You can always add more water or stock if yours was too chunky and also reduce the amount of cabbage if it wasn’t fitting. As I mentioned in the post, traditional borscht is very thick. There is even an old saying that your spoon should be able stand straight up in the bowl. 🙂 The soup also gets more red (not purple) as it sits and beets release their juices. When you look at it the following day everything including the potatoes will be deep red. I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for your comment!
Thanks for the comment,
Guess I got it close to right then, other then the redness (a spoon would stand up). And I do like it the way it is where the spoon can stand up straight (I like more chunky meals as it turned out)! Ill make it again.
Ill look for more of your recipes in the future!
Scott from Aus!
I am so glad to hear it, Scott. I should also mention that the colour depends on the type of beets used! I don’t have those varieties here in the UK but there are some varieties that give out very little colour and the broth turns slightly pink rather than deep red. I hope this helps!
I’m trying this recipe for the first time…so ecxited!
Enjoy, Rose!
55 Years ago at 15 years,I ate for the first time, this very Bortsch in a German Deli full of fresh made breads etc in Mainland, British Columbia, Canada. I have never come across this recipe since and thought it was a one off. I have made it all my life since and there is really nothing like it. I did not know if it was Russian or German so that is what I told people it was, Russian or German. It is the richest and most wonderful soup in the world.. nothing like it… Thank you for sharing it out here. Warmed my heart.
My pleasure, Melo! Thank you so much for your comment!
How much broth do you need if you use store bought?
Between 2.5-3 litres.
I have just returned to my home in Scotland after travelling on the Trans Siberian Railway, from Moscow to Vladivostok. I ordered borscht at every opportunity as it was so delicious and nutritious. I found your wonderful recipe and am now making my second batch following your method to the letter. My family absolutely loved it! Thank you so much. I have can’t wait to try out all your other recipes.
What a sweet comment, Fiona! I am absolutely thrilled that this borscht recipe travels well across countries!! Incidentally we spent a week of our summer in Scotland and loved it!
I have cooked this a couple of times, followed the recipe to the letter … its delicious
That is so wonderful to hear, Amber! Now that the weather is getting colder each day I crave the comfort of this soup!
Sounds just like how my Ukrainian grandmother made it but she used vinegar and can’t remember about the celery but I think it’s a nice addition any case! Must make some soon.
The celery is only used in the stock to infuse it with more flavour. No celery in the actual soup. Vinegar is also given as an option in the recipe. My daughter has a dislike for it, so I sometimes use lemon juice for a softer flavour. I hope you try my version, Sue!
It should be celery root in stock, and the stock should not be chicken. You may add cooked (or canned) white beans to this soup.
Russian borscht always has DILL AND vinegar. No celery. No lemon juice. And vinegar and sour cream on the table to serve. Tomatoes, beets, cabbage and potatoes. Onions, pepper, salt, garlic. My large extended family are Russian. And would shoot of it wasn’t done right
Hi Jacqueline, borsch is incredibly regional and there is literally no “right way” to make it. It varies vastly from Eastern to Western Ukraine, where it’s originally from, not Russia. In some parts of Ukraine it’s deeply red, in others it’s only pink in colour. Sometimes beans are added. It could be made with meat or left vegetarian. There are lengthy articles written about the history and variations of this amazing soup in both Ukraine and Russia. This particular recipe is typical to the part of Russia I was born and raised in but as I mentioned in the post itself, every family adds their own touch.
How many does this feed?
This recipe is enough to feed 8. You can find this information in the recipe card under servings, Patti. Enjoy!
First time making borscht and I really liked this recipe. I used beets ,onions and potatoes from the farmers market. So fresh.
Can leftovers be frozen?
Hi Jodi, I am so glad you enjoyed this borscht recipe! You can certainly freeze the leftovers but in my opinion the texture of the vegetables change a bit when defrosted, especially cabbage. So if you don’t mind that, freezing is a really good and practical option.
I had never made my own beef broth before and think that taking the time to do that was key to this amazing result. Also I had never added meat to the borscht before. I was home on a sick day, so had the time and decided to try. (Didn’t have potatoes or white cabbage handy, so they are not included.) Added a spoon of pickle juice. Used the beet greens, which I love. Every delicious cup gets warmed with a drop of cream (it was in the fridge) and then a healthy dollop of plain non-fat Greek Greek yogurt. I will freeze leftovers, if there are any. Seems I have 2 cups every time… beyond delicious, healthy and healing. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Dear Joan, you absolutely made my day with this comment. I love that you made this borscht your own and I love the addition of beet greens! Wishing you a very speedy recovery!