My grandmother would always make this recipe, winter, summer, Borscht knows no season. Its a way of life. You can enjoy this hot soup in the winter and as a cold soup in the summer. I’d argue the real reason we have it all year round is because it pairs perfectly with sour cream and a loaf of bread. Which is a Ukrainian staple!
Traditionally Borsht is made with beets but since my entire family dislikes beets, we use tomatoes instead. Which in my opinion is much better as it gives it a heartier taste. This old family recipe is a healthy medley of earthy veggies and meat. We traditionally cut the cabbage in small strips ( see pictures below) which prevents the cabbage from overtaking this dish. The smaller the cabbage the more subtle the taste. Lastly, like any stew, this is best enjoyed the day after cooking. So its the perfect dish to make in advance.
Borsht
Ingredients
- 3 Potatoes
- 3 Celery stalks
- 3 whole Carrots
- Cabbage head
- 1 pound package of Beef cubes
- 1 TBSP dill
- 8 oz Tomato Sauce
- Salt (TBSP or sal dente
- Pepper (TBSP or sal dente
Instructions
- Take a two quarts size pot and fill it half way with water. Bring the pot to a boil. Add the meat. Let it cook for about 1 hour or so on a small flame. While skimming the foam out of the pot. Every once in a while skim the foam off the top of the pot. Once cooked, place pot in fridge to cool. Then scoop out the congealed fat that has risen to the top.
- Cut the cabbage head in half horizontally. Slice each half of the cabbage into small strips (roughly ¼”by ½”). Baba’s famous counter-clockwise Spiral Technique is recommended. Place in a large 5 quart pot.
- Chop celery and carrots into small pieces and add into the large pot. Peel potatoes and cut into slices and add to the large pot. Fill the large pot with water. Add the meat and water from the smaller pot. Then add water to the large pot until the large pot is almost full. Boil for about 30 minutes-until potatoes are soft.
- Once the potatoes are cooked thoroughly, Add in tomato sauce. For additional tomato flavor you may add a dollop of ketchup-as needed. Add dill, salt and pepper. Cook for an additional 10 mins.
- *Recommended to serve with sour cream and bread
