Russian Borscht Recipe (2024)

This Russian Borscht Recipe is a traditional Ukrainian/Russian red borscht soup loaded with meat, potatoes, vegetables, cabbage and beets. This hearty soup is so healthy and all the vegetables come together and taste wonderful.

In most Slavic homes, this soup is served on a regular basis and for a good reason – it’s phenomenal.

Russian Borscht Recipe (1)

Traditional Ukrainian Red Borscht Recipe-

Borscht is probably one of the most popular and staple dishes in the Ukrainian and Russian cuisine. There are so many different variations of borscht recipes and all terrific in their own way.The combination of ingredients in red borscht are so unique. Fresh shredded cabbage, meat, potatoes, beets with vegetables and herbs combined is Ukrainian comfort food defined!

Russian Borscht Recipe (2)

How to season meat for borscht and soup-

The uniqueness of this Borscht is that the meat is seasoned and becomes so tender, flavorful and melts in your mouth. Once you try seasoning the meat, you’ll never want unseasoned meat in yoursoup again.

If you season the beef, pork or chicken, it will sit in the meat drawer of your refrigerator for days (up to a week), thanks to the salt preserving it. (Add less salt to chicken meat if seasoning chicken.)

Seasoning the meat with garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper just adds so much flavor to the meat itself but also the soup.

TIP: You want to season the meat at least one day in advance.Rinse the meat before adding to the soup to remove the bay leaves and garlic.

Russian Borscht Recipe (3)

TIPS How To Make Red Borscht Soup Recipe-

  • Most cooks add kidney beans to their red borscht but my husband and the kids strongly dislike them, therefore, we leave them out. If you are a fan of kidney beans, add them to your soup.
  • Be sure the potatoes are all cut into even pieces or they will be unevenly cooked.
  • You can leave out the meat if you are looking for a vegetarian soup recipe.
  • Use a SLICERfor the cabbage, it’s much easier shredding this way.
  • Be sure to continue removing scum and fat that rises to the top until nothing floats to top when cooking the meat.
  • Red Ukrainian Borscht tastes even better the following day when reheated. Make a large pot and enjoy the soup all week long (keep refrigerated).
  • We love the seasoning Vegetaand add some of it to the soup. If you don’t have Vegeta, taste the soup and add additional salt if needed (but order some Vegeta and try it, we use it for everything). 🙂
Russian Borscht Recipe (4)

What kind of meat to use for Borscht?

You can use your favorite meat for borscht. In classic Red Borscht recipes, the beef or pork has a bone on it. You can either add meat with or without bones.

My family loves chicken most so that is what we use most often.

Can I use canned beets?

Yes, you can substitute canned beets for fresh beets. Keep the juices of the canned beets as well.

Russian Borscht Recipe (5)

Try these otherSOUP recipes:

  • Meatball and Rice Soup
  • Sorrel Soup
  • BeefCabbage Soup.

Russian Borscht Recipe

Author: Valentina

Russian Borscht Recipe (6)

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5 from 11 votes

Russian Borscht recipe with meat. potatoes, carrots, cabbage and beets. Seasoned meat gives the soup so much flavor and is an amazing addition to the traditional recipe.

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients

soup-

  • 14 cups water
  • 5 cups water, for beets
  • 3 medium beets, quartered
  • 4 large potatoes, cubed
  • 1/2 head of medium cabbage, shredded
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 1 medium red pepper, cubed
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Tbsp vinegar or 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 Tbsp fresh parsley
  • 4 Tbsp fresh dill
  • sour cream, to serve

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Cut meat into bite-size pieces. Slice the garlic cloves. Break the bay leaves into smaller pieces. Season the meat. Combine everything. Refrigerate meat for at least 2 days.

  • Peel and quarter beets. Add beets and 5 cups water to a saucepan, bring to a boil. Cook 20-25 minutes, until beets pierceeasily with a knife. Once cooked, remove them from water and setaside cool. KEEP WATER.

  • In a large pot, bring 14 cups water to a boil.

  • Rinseseasoning off of meat. Add the meat to the boiling water. Remove scum and fat that accumulates and floats to the top of the water. It’s very important to keep removing the scum frequently. Turn heat down to low/medium, cook meat about 35-40 minutes or until meat is tender.

  • While meat is cooking, peel and cube the potatoes. Add to a bowl and cover with cold water so they don’t turn color. Set aside.

  • Shred the cabbage. Set aside.

  • Chop the onion finely.Add to a large skillet with 2 Tbsp butter and saute 3 minutes on medium heat.

  • While onion is cooking, grate carrots.

  • Add carrots to the skillet with another 2 Tbsp butter, mix. Cook about 5-6 minutes or until carrots are tender. (If the skillet begins to get dry, add a bit of oil.)

  • Take the cooled beets and grate them. Add to the skillet with onion and carrots.

  • Cube red pepper or cut into small thin strips add to skillet. Add minced garlic to skillet.

  • Chop tomatoes and add to the skillet. Add the water leftover from cooking the beets to the killet with sauteed veggies. Turn heat down to med/low and cook about 5 minutes.

  • Once meat is tender, add potatoes and cabbage. (If you like the cabbage a bit crunchier, add about 5 minutes after potatoes are added.) Cook 15 minutes.

  • Transfer all of the ingredients from the skillet to the pot. Add vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, bay leaves, parsley and dill. Cook another 5-10 minutes or until potatoes and cabbage are tender. Taste if additional seasonings are needed.

  • Add fresh herbs of choice.

  • Serve with sour cream.

  • Enjoy.

Nutrition

262kcal Calories22g Carbs11g Protein14g Fat6g Saturated Fat44mg Cholesterol1841mg Sodium788mg Potassium5g Fiber7g Sugar2915IU Vitamin A50.2mg Vitamin C83mg Calcium3.8mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts

Russian Borscht Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 262Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 44mg15%

Sodium 1841mg80%

Potassium 788mg23%

Carbohydrates 22g7%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 2915IU58%

Vitamin C 50.2mg61%

Calcium 83mg8%

Iron 3.8mg21%

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

(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Russian

Russian Borscht Recipe (7)

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51 comments

  • Russian Borscht Recipe (8)

    • Jennifer

    One of the BEST recipes for classic borscht. Thank you so much for sharing, Valentina.

    • Reply
    • Russian Borscht Recipe (9)

      • Valentina’s Corner

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer. Thanks so much for visiting our online kitchen.

      • Reply
  • Russian Borscht Recipe (10)

    • Sheree

    this was delicious! even my very picky mom said she’d eat it again. definitely saving to my favorites list! thank you for sharing!

    • Reply
    • Russian Borscht Recipe (11)

      • Valentina’s Corner

      Sheree, thanks for the wonderful feedback. I’m so glad mom approves, ha. 🙂 Welcome to our online family, I hope you look around and find other recipes to try.

      • Reply

More Comments

Russian Borscht Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between Russian and Ukrainian borscht? ›

It's standard for Ukrainian cooks to use pork in their Borscht and top it off with sour cream, whereas Russian cooks are more likely to use beef. Furthermore, Ukrainians will offer buns with their bortsch, and Russians will offer a native bread known as “black bread.”

What is Russian borscht made of? ›

Borscht ingredients may include beef, pork, salo (fatback), beetroots, cabbage, carrots, celeriac, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, tomato paste, parsley, chives, dill, bay leaves, allspice and black pepper. The stock is typically made by boiling meat, bones, or both.

Is borscht supposed to be thick? ›

Season with dense homemade sour cream, salt-cured pork pounded with garlic and salt, or, if you're old-school, umami-rich powders made from pulverized sun-dried tomatoes and gobies, a bull-faced fish found in the Sea of Azov. The soup must be thick, so the spoon stands up straight.

What's the difference between beet soup and borscht? ›

Put simply, barszcz is a Polish name for a beetroot soup that is a shared staple in the whole of the Eastern Europe and the word borscht is an anglicised version of the Yiddish word for it. There are many many versions of this bright pink soup as it's eaten throughout the year.

Which country has the best borscht? ›

"Ukraine is frequently listed as borscht's country of origin, and Puzata Hata in Kiev has some of the best in the city."

Why is my borscht not red? ›

Cooking Time and Temperature: Beets can lose their vibrant red color if they are overcooked or cooked at high temperatures for too long. If you cooked the beets for an extended period or at a high temperature, it could cause them to lose some of their color intensity, resulting in a more orange appearance.

What do Russians eat with borscht? ›

Borscht is quintessentially Russian. A single bowl of that ruby-red beetroot soup, served with a ladleful of smetana (sour cream) and a hunk of black bread, conjures up images of Red Square and St Basil's Cathedral almost as much as a glass of vodka or a spoonful of caviar.

Is Russian borscht good for you? ›

This soup from Eastern Europe is rich in essential nutrients that provide numerous benefits. Additionally, it's a low-calorie option that can be easily adapted to fit various dietary needs, including vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. Is borscht healthy for you? Rest assured, it certainly is.

Is borscht served warm or cold? ›

Borscht can be hot or cold, meaty or light, dairy-laden or broth-based, depending on your mood. According to Bonnie Frumkin Morales, chef and owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon, the biggest benefit of making borscht at home is that “it's very malleable and riffable.

Do Jews eat borscht? ›

Jews typically ate two main varieties: a hot, meaty version (of which knobl borscht is one sub-type) and a cold, vegetarian version for a refreshing summer treat. The cold would typically have sour cream stirred in right before serving, while the hot one traditionally featured homemade rosl.

What is a good side dish for borscht? ›

You can serve borscht with sides like Pumpernickel or rye bread, garlic toast, meat, salads, dairy, pickled foods, pierogi, grains, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs seasoned with paprika or dill, gluten-free options, and accompany it with fermented Slavic beverages and Santa Carolina ...

Does borscht go bad? ›

When does Borscht expire? Borscht, is a popular beet soup, normally stays in good condition within your fridge for approximately 3-5 days. You might get a little extra time if the soup hasn't been sitting out at room temperature for long periods, but as a general rule, follow the 3-5 day guideline.

Are there different types of borscht? ›

With such an assortment of variations, it's no surprise even Ukrainian borscht takes upon several forms. Most generally, it's divided into three types: the classic bright red variety with beets, a springtime herbal green version, and a cold version reminiscent of chłodnik.

What is the difference between Polish and Ukrainian borscht? ›

Poland has their own Borscht version. It is kind of similar, to how Ukraine adapted the Polish traditional kapusniak soup, Poland adapted Barszcz. The big difference between Ukrainian borscht and Polish borscht is that the Polish version is usually clear, meatless, and made with both pickled and fresh beets.

What does Ukrainian borscht taste like? ›

Borscht is a beet soup that's warm, sweet, and sour all in one bowl. It has the umami and complexity of a well-developed chicken soup but the beets add a whole different flavor profile.

What is the difference between red and green borscht? ›

Red borscht is the most popular borscht in Ukraine, it is prepared from cabbage, potatoes (from the second half of the 19th century), carrots, onions, parsley, dill, and beets. Green borscht is a sorrel or spring borscht. It is cooked in the spring, with young greens.

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