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Borscht

Name: Borscht
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 90 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 lb beef chuck, cut into chunks; 8 cups water; 3 medium beets, peeled and julienned; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 carrot, grated; 1/2 small head cabbage, shredded; 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp white vinegar; 1 bay leaf; 3 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; Sour cream and fresh dill, for serving

Borscht is the great crimson soup of Ukraine — beefy, earthy, and bright all at once, packed with beets, cabbage, and vegetables in a rich meat broth.

⏱ 25 minPrep time

🔥 1 hr 30 minCook time

🍽 8Servings

🏷 Eastern European KitchenCategory

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Borscht is the great beet soup of the Slavic world — a hearty, ruby-red bowl of beef broth, tender beets, cabbage, and potatoes that’s equal parts earthy and bright. Each family’s version is a point of pride, with garlic, vinegar, and dill doing the heavy lifting.

Served steaming hot with a cloud of sour cream, a shower of fresh dill, and a side of garlic pampushky buns, it’s a meal in itself. On a cold evening, few things in Eastern Europe are more comforting.

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Step by stepInstructions

Place the beef in a large pot with the water and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, skim the foam, then simmer covered for 1 hour until the meat is tender.
Add the potatoes and cook 10 minutes, then stir in the cabbage and cook 5 minutes more.
Meanwhile, sauté the onion and carrot in a little oil until soft, add the beets and tomato paste, and cook 5 minutes.
Add the beet mixture to the pot and simmer 15 minutes until everything is tender.
Season with vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Let the soup rest 10 minutes before serving with sour cream and dill.

💡 Chef tips & storage

For the classic deep color, let the finished borscht sit overnight and reheat — it only gets better. Serve with garlic pampushky for the full experience.

Recipe details

Prep25 min

Cook1 hr 30 min

Servings8

CategoryEastern European Kitchen

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Borscht

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