Ukrainian Red Borscht Soup (2024)

This borscht recipe is delicious, nutritious, and full of flavor. Plus, its gorgeous red hue is absolutely stunning!

What Is Borscht?

Borscht is a sour soup that is traditionally made with meat stock and boiled vegetables. The Ukrainian version, which features beets, is perhaps the most well known type — but varieties of borscht can be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.

Borscht Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this top-rated borscht recipe:

  • Sausage: This Ukrainian borscht recipe starts with a pound of pork sausage.
  • Vegetables: You’ll need beets, carrots, baking potatoes, cabbage, and an onion.
  • Canned tomatoes: Use drained diced tomatoes and canned tomato paste.
  • Vegetable oil: Cook the onion in oil.
  • Water: You’ll need almost nine cups of water for this big-batch soup.
  • Garlic: Three cloves of garlic add bold flavor.
  • Sugar: A teaspoon of white sugar lends subtle sweetness.
  • Seasonings: Season the borscht with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Sour cream: Top the borscht with sour cream.
  • Fresh herbs: Garnish the soup with fresh parsley or dill.

How to Make Borscht

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Ukrainian borscht:

  1. Cook the sausage and set aside.
  2. Boil water, add the sausage, then add the vegetables and diced tomatoes.
  3. Cook the onion, stir in the tomato paste, and thin with water. Transfer to the pot.
  4. Add the garlic, cover, and turn off the heat. Stir in the sugar and seasonings.
  5. Ladle into bowls and garnish with sour cream and fresh herbs.

Tip from recipe creator Patti: “This soup can be served vegetarian-style by omitting the sausage.”

How to Store Borscht

Store leftover borscht in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Can You Freeze Borscht?

Yes, borscht freezes well! When you add it to your freezer-safe containers, make sure to leave an inch or two of space at the top to allow for expansion. Freeze the borscht for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“This was the first time I've had borscht and now I see why so many people love it,” says one Allrecipes community member. “I can't believe how good it is.”

“Just perfect,” raves Olechka. “Classic recipe, great taste, my favorite.”

“BEST BORSCHT EVER,” according to KLaura Anderson-Bradfield. “I have made many different beet soup recipes over the years. The addition of an acidic ingredient (tomato) still allowed the beets to shine but removed the heavy, sometimes too earthy taste common to borscht.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ukrainian Red Borscht Soup (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Russian borscht and Ukrainian borscht? ›

The stock starter is often mixed, whether it's with cured sausage, poultry, or vegetables. Texturally, Russian borscht often leans into thinner consistency, unlike the Ukrainian version. Vegetables, like cabbage, are added at the beginning of preparation, lending a softer result as opposed to the Ukrainian version.

What is Ukrainian borscht soup made of? ›

With time, it evolved into a diverse array of tart soups, among which the Ukrainian beet-based red borscht has become the most popular. It is typically made by combining meat or bone stock with sautéed vegetables, which—as well as beetroots—usually include cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.

What is red borscht made of? ›

Borscht Ingredients

Vegetables: You'll need beets, carrots, baking potatoes, cabbage, and an onion. Canned tomatoes: Use drained diced tomatoes and canned tomato paste. Vegetable oil: Cook the onion in oil. Water: You'll need almost nine cups of water for this big-batch soup.

Is red 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.

What is the difference between beet soup and borscht? ›

Hence, my beet soup is called just that, soup, not borscht, even though it shares certain ingredients - potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beef stock and vinegar - with the traditional soup. But there's no cabbage and no caraway seed, two ingredients I consider essential in a borscht.

Which country has the best borscht? ›

He explained that while “a number of cultures claim borsch to be theirs – Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Russia – Ukraine has the strongest claim for the dish.”

What do Russians eat with borscht? ›

In another pot, chunks of potato and cabbage bobbed together in boiling water. Marina, 65, was making her mother's recipe for borscht, a soup made from softened vegetables and meat when it's available. It's served with a dollop of sour cream and, on the side, a few slices of dense, dark bread rubbed with raw garlic.

What to eat with Ukrainian 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 ...

Why is borscht so good? ›

It's so healthy and nutritious; packed with beans (protein), beets (iron), carrots (carotene), potatoes (vit C, potassium, Vit B6), oftentimes cabbage is added (vit K, vit C, fiber, etc…).

Why is my borscht not red? ›

Some varieties of beets have lighter flesh and may result in a more orange hue rather than a deep red color. If you used different beets than usual or if they were not as deeply pigmented, this could be the reason for the change in color.

What to do with leftover borscht? ›

7 leftover soup ideas to beat mealtime fatigue
  1. Replace water with flavour. ...
  2. Use it to make pasta sauce. ...
  3. Use it to make Risotto. ...
  4. Add it to make a casserole creamier or thicker. ...
  5. Make healthy mashed potatoes. ...
  6. Turn it into a dipping sauce. ...
  7. Cut the fat.

How long does borscht last in the fridge? ›

Cooled borscht can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To freeze, pack into containers leaving 1-inch (2.5 cm) headspace. For the best results and to save energy, let frozen soup thaw in the refrigerator compartment on the day you plan to use it.

What ethnicity is borscht? ›

Although borscht is important in Russian and Polish cuisines, Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin. Its name is thought to be derived from the Slavic word for the cow parsnip, or common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), or from a fermented beverage derived from that plant.

How soon after eating beets is urine red? ›

The urine color change may appear in the first few hours after drinking something containing beetroot. It may continue for a day or two after eating the coloring, especially in the stool.

Is it OK to eat red beets everyday? ›

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

Is borscht good for blood pressure? ›

Borscht is typically made with red meat. For a heart-healthy version, choose ground turkey, double the beans or use tofu. Tomatoes, parsnips and potatoes add potassium, which can help lower blood pressure.

What does borscht mean in Ukrainian? ›

Borscht holds a special place in Ukrainian culture and is celebrated as part of its heritage, a fact acknowledged by UNESCO in 2022, according to NPR. The name 'borscht' comes from the Old Slavonic 'borsht', meaning 'hogweed', an ingredient in the soup's earliest recipes.

Is borscht good for liver? ›

This gorgeous looking soup is packed with flavour and nutrition. Beets are great to support the liver, bone broth is healing and nourishing for the gut, and turmeric brings in its anti-inflammatory goodness.

What does red 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 borscht made of in Russia? ›

"Borscht is a soup that is very popular in many Eastern and Central European countries. It is made with beetroot, which gives it it's signature reddish-purple jewel color. Different countries have their own variations of borscht; Russian borscht is made with some type of beef or sausage.

Is Pelmeni Russian or Ukrainian? ›

Pelmeni (Russian: пельмени—plural, pronounced [pʲɪlʲˈmʲenʲɪ]. Ukrainian: пельмені; pelmen, Russian: пельмень—singular, pronounced [pʲɪlʲˈmʲenʲ]) are dumplings of Russian cuisine that consist of a filling wrapped in thin, unleavened dough.

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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