Do you have any good borscht recipes?

Question by Debbie: Does anyone have any good borscht recipes?
I’m going to attempt to make some borscht in the next few days, but there are thousands of recipes out there. I don’t know which one to choose. If any of you have made borscht before, I’d appreciate your help. Do you know of any recipes which aren’t too complicated for a novice, and which produce a palatable result?

Thanks in advance!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Bailey Seaberg
Roasted Beet Borscht
Ingredients
1 pound beets
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 sprigs fresh thyme
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
6 cups chicken stock, heated
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Sour cream, for garnish
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Scrub the beets and put them on a large piece of aluminum foil; season with salt and pepper, add 3 thyme sprigs, and drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Bake until the beets are tender, about 1 hour. Set aside. When the beets are cool enough to handle but still warm, slip off their skins, and chop them into large chunks.

In a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Put in the onion, carrots, garlic, and remaining 3 thyme sprigs and cook until softened and just starting to color, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs. Put the chopped beets into a blender and add the cooked vegetables and most of the stock. Blend until smooth, add more stock if the puree is too thick. Add the vinegar and honey; season with salt and pepper. Blend again to incorporate flavors. Borscht can be served hot or cold.

To make the garnish, grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater and mix in the dill. Serve in bowls, garnished with a big dollop of sour cream and topped with the apple and dill mixture.

Big Apple Borscht
Ingredients
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, lightly crushed with the side of a knife blade
3 pounds fresh beets, peeled and quartered
2 English cucumbers, peeled and diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups orange juice
1 fresh lime, juiced
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped dill pickle
Directions
Heat grapeseed oil over medium heat in a large pot and add onion and garlic, sauteing them until they are translucent. Add beets and cucumber, and cover with 6 cups water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature.

Add orange juice and blend with an immersion blender, or in batches in a conventional blender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in lime juice and chill.

Spoon into serving bowls, garnish with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with dill pickle.

Summer Borscht
Ingredients
5 medium fresh beets (about 2 pounds without tops)
Kosher salt
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
16 ounces sour cream, plus extra for serving
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons Champagne vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 cups medium-diced English cucumber, seeds removed
1/2 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus extra for serving
Directions
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.

Read all the answers in the comments.

Give your own answer to this question!