Uncle Bills Simple Vegetable Borscht Recipes

UNCLE BILL'S RUSSIAN/DOUKHOBOUR BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large (8 quart) stock pot, add water and bring to boil.
• Add 1/2 cup of mashed tomatoes, quartered potatoes, chopped carrots, chopped onions, salt and beets and return to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are just cooked.
• Meanwhile, begin to prepare all vegetables.
• When potatoes are cooked, remove with a slotted spoon into a mixing bowl.
• Add 3 tablespoons butter to potatoes, mash well.
• Stir in whipping cream, mixing well to incorporate; set aside.
• In a large frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter, add chopped onions and saute' until just softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add remaining mashed tomatoes and simmer uncovered until reduced to a creamy consistency.
• The sauce will be thickened.
• Cover, reduce heat to keep warm.
• In another large frying pan, melt the remainder 3 tablespoons butter, add 4 cups of shredded cabbage and on medium heat, fry until softened and very lightly browned, about 15 minutes, DO NOT BURN.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• To the cooking pot, add cubed potatoes and 1/2 cup of tomato-onion mixture.
• Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add cauliflower and celery and continue to boil gently until potatoes are just tender.
• Stir in remaining 4 cups of raw shredded cabbage and return soup to boil.
• Reduce heat; stir in mashed potatoes, fried cabbage and remaining tomato-onion mixture.
• Add diced green and red peppers, freshly ground black pepper, dill weed, lemon juice.
• Return to boil and cook for 3 more minutes.
• Cover and reduce heat to just warm and let borscht sit for 30 minutes for flavors to blend.
• Remove beets and discard or eat them separately.
• The beets are for coloring only.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• If borscht is too sweet to your liking, stir in some additional lemon juice.
• If desired, serve with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• Traditionally, medium or sharp cheddar cheese pieces and fresh bread or buns are served with the borscht.

POLISH BORSCHT - UNCLE BILL'S STYLE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, add spareribs, onion, bay leaf, allspice, black peppercorns, white vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, carrots, celery and cover with 6 cups of water or more if required to cover.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the spareribs are tender.
• In large saucepan, add scrubbed beets and cover with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until beets are fork tender.
• Drain well and cover with cold water and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Peel and grate beets and set aside.
• In the meantime in a large saucepan, add potatoes and cover with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain well, mash and set aside.
• When the spareribs are tender, remove from cooking pot and strip the meat off the bones and return meat to the cooking pot. Add the grated beets to pot.
• Remove bay leaf and discard.
• Puree the soup in batches in a food processor or blender and return to cooking pot.
• Strain the soup through a sieve and return to cooking pot, discarding any solids.
• In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, whole milk and flour until blended.
• Add 2 cups of hot broth to the sour cream mixture slowly, and whisk continuously until well blended. Strain the mixture through a sieve into the cooking pot, stirring continuously; discard any solids.
• Heat the broth over medium heat to a gentle simmer, but do not allow to boil. Boiling could cause the sour cream mixture to curdle.
• Immediately remove from heat.
• Add some mashed potatoes into serving bowls, pour broth over and serve.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.

CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE BORSCHT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add garlic and onions and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Add carrots, potatoes, cabbage, tomato paste. bay leaf, and 2 quarts water and stir well.
• Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Turn to medium low and cook partially covered until vegetables are just tender about 15 minutes.
• Add chicken, tomatoes and beans and half the dill. Cook 6-8 minutes. Season to taste. Serve in bowls with rest of dill for garnish.

VEGETABLE BORSCHT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small stockpot over medium-low heat. Add the shallots, parsnips, celeriac, carrots, and salt and pepper to taste, and saute until the shallots are translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, tarragon, and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer until vegetables are al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Add beets; cook until vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard tarragon sprigs, and stir in lemon juice. Serve immediately, garnished with dill.

VEGETARIAN BORSCHT

Steps:

• Combine beets and vinegar in a small frying pan over low heat. Cook, while stirring, until soft, about 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over low heat while beets are cooking. Add onion and stir for 2 minutes. Add carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• In the meantime, bring water to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add cabbage and lentils. Cook for 10 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in cooked beets and onion-carrot mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomato paste and simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more. Serve with sour cream and dill.

RUSSIAN PALACE'S VEGETABLE BORSCHT RECIPE

Steps:

• Peel and julienne raw beet to yield 4 cups.
• Peel and cube potatoes to yield 2-1/2 cups.
• Finely chop cabbage to yield 6 cups.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and saute until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add beets and carrot. Saute, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large stock pot, bring chicken stock to a boil over high heat.
• Add potato and cook for 3 minutes.
• Add cabbage and continue boiling for 5 minutes.
• Add reserved beet-tomato paste mixture, green pepper, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir in garlic and dill.
• Serve hot.

SIMPLE BORSCHT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pan over a gentle heat and slowly sweat the beet root, onion, carrot and garlic, turning the vegetables over in the butter.
• Add the sugar and stock to the pan, season with a few grinds of pepper, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• Using a blender, blend the soup until it is entirely smooth, then add the lemon juice and salt to taste.

UNCLE BILL'S FRESH YOUNG PEA & VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a cooking pot on medium-high heat, melt butter and add olive oil.
• Add chopped onions and saute' on medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and saute' for another 2 minutes.
• Add chicken broth and water and bring to boil.
• Add chicken soup base, cubed nugget potatoes, and cook for 4 minutes.
• Add carrots, dill weed, parsley and continue to cook for another 5 minutes or until carrots are just tender, but still firm.
• Add cauliflower, celery, young peas, red pepper, green onion, white pepper, seasoning salt, Idaho potato flakes and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat and add whipping cream slowly, stirring all the while when adding.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Remove soup from heat and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.

UNCLE BILL'S CRISPY HALIBUT STEAKS

Steps:

• Rinse halibut steaks in cold water, then pat dry on paper towels.
• In a bowl, whisk eggs, add mustard and whisk until blended.
• In a shallow dish, combine garlic powder, dill weed, crushed cornflakes, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings; mix well to blend.
• Dip halibut steaks in egg mixture.
• Now place halibut steaks individually in dry mixture and coal both sides well.
• BAKING.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• In a 13 x 9 inch oven-proof casserole dish add olive oil and butter.
• Place dish in heated oven until butter melts.
• Place coated steaks in casserole dish in a single layer.
• Bake in preheated 450 F oven for 5 minutes, then turn over and continue to bake for another 5 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.
• DO NOT OVERCOOK halibut steaks.
• FRYING.
• In a large frying pan, melt butter with olive oil on medium high heat.
• Add steaks and fry for 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.
• DO NOT OVERCOOK halibut steaks.
• Serve with with a nice homemade tartar sauce.

VEGETARIAN RED BORSCHT

Steps:

• Put olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• When oil is hot, add onion, celery and leek, stir to coat, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring, until onion has softened and just begun to brown. Add garlic, tomato paste, paprika, caraway, bay leaf and thyme, and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Add potatoes, beets and carrots, 6 cups water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a brisk simmer. Simmer with lid ajar for 20 minutes, or until potatoes, beets and carrots are fork tender.
• Add kale and vinegar, and stir to distribute. Taste broth and adjust seasoning. Simmer until kale is done, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the horseradish cream: Put horseradish, lemon juice, salt and sugar in a small bowl. Let macerate 5 minutes, then stir in crème fraîche.
• To serve, ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with chopped dill, parsley, tarragon and chives. Pass the horseradish cream at the table.