Ukrainian Red Borscht Soup

Description

My friend’s mother from Ukraine taught me this recipe for the classic beet soup. It’s as authentic as it gets. It can be served vegetarian-style by omitting the sausage.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) package pork sausage
  • 3 medium beets, peeled and shredded
  • 3 carrots, peeled and shredded
  • 3 medium baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ medium head cabbage, cored and shredded
  • 1 (8 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste
  • ½ cup sour cream, for topping
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Crumble sausage into a skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until no longer pink. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  2. Fill a large pot halfway with water (about 8 cups) and bring to a boil.
  3. Add sausage to pot
  4. cover pot
  5. and return to a boil. Add beets and cook until they have lost their color. Add carrots and potatoes and simmer until tender
  6. about 15 minutes.
  7. Add cabbage and diced tomatoes to pot.
  8. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender. Stir in tomato paste and remaining 3/4 cup water until well blended. Transfer to the pot.
  9. Add garlic to the soup
  10. cover
  11. and turn off the heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sugar and season with salt and pepper.
  12. Ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with sour cream and parsley.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Servings: 10

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