Description
A traditional and flavorful Ukrainian soup made with beets, vegetables, and beef, served with sour cream.
Ingredients
Scale
- 450 g beef shank with bone or 2 beef soup bones
- 2 liters water
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 medium beets, peeled and grated
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and grated
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 small cabbage, shredded
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine beef shank or soup bones with 2 liters of water and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours. Skim off any foam during cooking. Remove meat, set aside to cool, and reserve the broth.
- While broth simmers, heat sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add grated beets, white vinegar, and sugar. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Stir tomato paste into the beet mixture and cook for 2 more minutes. Transfer beet mixture to the reserved broth.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion and grated carrots until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Add to the broth.
- Add cubed potatoes and bay leaf to the pot. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in shredded cabbage and continue to cook until cabbage and potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Shred cooled beef, discarding bones, and return meat to the pot.
- Add minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir gently to incorporate flavors.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped fresh dill.
- Ladle borscht into bowls and serve hot with a generous spoonful of sour cream.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the beef and use vegetable broth.
- Feel free to adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering and sautéing
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg