Vegetarian Russian Borscht

Are you ready to ramp up your immunity this winter? Are you ready to detox out all of that heavy Thanksgiving food? If so, beets and borscht are for you!

This warming and healing beet-based soup is traditional across Eastern Europe and Russia. I grew up every holiday eating traditional Ukrainian food, and every country, culture and cook has their own special recipe. 

While living in Germany, every country created borscht different. For most eastern block countries, they use animal bones to flavor the soup. I remember while traveling throughout Poland when I lived in Germany, that borscht was basically clear beet broth soup. Nothing else but beet broth. 

My Ukrainian grandmother made this differently that I just did, but know these vegetables are here to ignite your health during this "cold and flu" season. 

Join me Wednesday December 1, 2021 on Zoom 6-7pm PST for alive demonstration of this recipe + my roasted agave mandarin Rainbow Carrots. Sign up here!

Vegetarian Russian Borscht 
Serves 6-8
Time 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots, grated
2 beets, grated or diced
4 small white potatoes, diced (or 2 large)
1/4 cabbage (approx 2 cups), sliced
2 tbsp tomato paste
8 cups vegetable broth
1/2 small lemon, juiced 
1/4 - 1/3 cup fresh dill
2 dried OR 6 fresh bay leaves
salt + pepper to taste

Directions:
Begin by prepping the vegetables. Sautee the garlic, onion and carrot in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the potatoes and sauté for another 3-5 minutes. Add the beets and cabbage, salt, pepper and bay leaves, sautée for another couple minutes. Add the vegetable broth, mix, cover with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes. Next, add the dill, tomato paste and lemon juice. Mix well and simmer for an addition 10-15 minutes. 

Once fragrant and potatoes are edible, remove from heat, adjust any spices and serve warm! 

This soup tastes better after 24 hours once the dill and bay leaves have additional time to "marinate." 

Let's Connect! Check out my other beet + carrot recipes below!

Roasted Orange Beets with Pomegranate + Pumpkin Seeds

Agave-Mandarin Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Kale Beet + Blood Orange Salad

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