Four Generations Borscht Recipes

BORSCHT II

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, brown beef in oil. Stir in onion and water, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 2 hours, until meat is tender.
• Remove meat from broth and set aside to cool slightly. Stir carrots, celery, cabbage, beets, tomato juice, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper into broth. When meat is cool enough to handle, cut meat from bone and into bite-size pieces and return to soup. Simmer until vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover the beets with cold water by l inch. Stir in 1/4 cup of the vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, until very tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, cool, and peel the beets. Dice the beets and set aside.
• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery, leeks, garlic, and caraway seeds and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Tie the parsley sprigs, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot with the beets, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes to bring the flavors together.
• Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Season with pepper to taste. To serve divide among warm soup bowls, top with dollops of the sour cream and sprinkle with the dill. Serve with additional vinegar at the table.

FOUR-GENERATIONS BORSCHT

Steps:

• 1. Season blade roast with salt and pepper, add to heavy dutch oven with 250ml of beef stock. Roast at 325F for 40min and then for approx. 2 more hours at 250F. Until connective tissue is soft and melted, but meat is not mushy. When cooled, shred/chop meat into large cubes (approx 5cm x 2cm). Reserve cooking liquid and add to borscht at any time in the cooking process. 2. Bring stock to boil and add first group of aromatic ingredients (dill stems, spices, lemon etc.) boil, covered, for 20min or until flavours have diffused into beef stock. Strain beef stock. Return to simmer. 3. -Add Spanish onion, once soup has returned to simmer, simmer, covered, for 10 min. -Add tomatoes and beets, once soup has returned to simmer, simmer, covered, for 3min. -Add carrots, once soup has returned to simmer, simmer, covered, for 3min. -Add cabbage, once soup has returned to simmer, simmer, covered, for 4min. -Add potato, once soup has returned to simmer, simmer, covered, for 8 min or until potato almost cooked. -Add chopped dill, simmer 2min. -Add cooked beef from step 1, simmer 1min. -Add lemon juice, salt to taste 4. Serve immediately or remove from heat and cool for later use. Do not allow the vegetables to be overcooked with prolonged heating. Serve with spoonfuls of sour cream, and rich yeast buns. Alternatively, sour cream can be added directly into soup before serving, 1 tbsp per 200mL of soup.

BEET BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the beets, carrots, onion, water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add broth, cabbage and butter; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in lemon juice. If desired, top each serving with sour cream and chives or dill.