Chicken Borscht Recipes

CLASSIC BORSCHT RECIPE (BEET SOUP)

Steps:

• Peel, grate and/or slice all vegetables (keeping sliced potatoes in cold water to prevent browning until ready to use then drain).
• Heat a large soup pot (5 1/2 Qt or larger) over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add grated beets and sauté 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beets are softened.
• Add 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. Add sliced potatoes and sliced carrots then cook for 10-15 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.
• While potatoes are cooking, place a large skillet over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil. Add chopped onion, celery and bell pepper. Saute stirring occasionally until softened and lightly golden (7-8 minutes). Add 4 Tbsp Ketchup and stir fry 30 seconds then transfer to the soup pot to continue cooking with the potatoes.
• When potatoes and carrots reach desired softness, add 1 can of beans with their juice, 2 bay leaves, 2-3 Tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 pressed garlic clove, and 3 Tbsp chopped dill. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes and add more salt and vinegar to taste.

SUMMER BORSCHT

Steps:

• Place the beets in a large pot of boiling salted water and cook uncovered until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the beets to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine sieve and also set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the beet cooking liquid, the chicken stock, sour cream, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, and the pepper. Peel the cooled beets with a small paring knife or rub the skins off with your hands. Cut the beets in small to medium dice. Add the beets, cucumber, scallions, and dill to the soup. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Season, to taste, and serve cold with a dollop of sour cream and an extra sprig of fresh dill.

ROASTED CHICKEN BROTH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place chicken, onion, and celery in a Dutch oven. Sprinkle salt over the top of the chicken.
• Roast chicken, uncovered, in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink inside, the skin is browned, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Transfer chicken to a plate until cool enough to handle. Once cool, pick the meat from the bones; set aside chicken breast meat in a bowl for another purpose. Cover bowl of breast meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Discard chicken skin.
• Remove chicken fat from Dutch oven, leaving the brown flavor bits in the bottom of the Dutch oven. (See note for reserving drippings if desired.)
• Place the Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Return chicken bones and dark meat from drumsticks and thighs to the pot. Add garlic cloves, ketchup and cold water. Bring to a boil, and use a spoon to scrape up and dissolve the brown flavor bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 hours, adding more water if needed to retain same level.
• As broth simmers, occasionally skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface.
• Remove and discard bones, meat and vegetables. Strain broth through a fine mesh sieve to serve or use in recipes.