Traditional Borscht Recipe

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Roasted beets create a heartier flavor in this borscht soup.
2 servings SERVINGS

Ingredients

    For the soup

    • 3 medium beets, trimmed
    • 3 cups beef or vegetable stock
    • Zest and juice of half a lemon
    • 2 teaspoons red wine or champagne vinegar, plus more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

    For the garnish

    • 3 tablespoons chilled sour cream, divided (the thicker and tangier, the better)
    • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, roughly chopped

    Directions

    • Wrap beets in a packet of aluminum foil. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 1 hour, or until fork-tender. Remove beets from oven and allow to cool, after which the skins should slip off easily. Grate beets into a work bowl.
    • Add grated beets to a pan with stock, lemon zest and juice, vinegar and optional honey. Simmer about half an hour. For a fine-textured soup, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.
    • Chill soup thoroughly, about 1 hour. Season soup with salt and pepper, tasting and adjusting. You might like a little extra vinegar, too. Serve in chilled bowls. Top each bowl with a healthy dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with chives and dill. Serves 2.Want more healthy soup recipes? Read Start Your Meal with Healthy Soups.
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    Another staple of Eastern Europe, borscht comes in infinite iterations, but always includes cooked beets. This version features roasted beets, which have a deeper flavor than the boiled beets many borscht recipes call for.

    Traditional Borscht Recipe

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