Borscht Recipe

This recipe is flexible to the extent that you can add certain vegetables that you may have, as well as the ingredients you MUST have. There are very definite rules as to ingredients which must never be used. NEVER use parsley, celery or carrots, vinegar or lemon juice. The sourness must come from sorrel, tomatoes or naturally soured beetroot juice.

 

You will need :-

250 g (8 oz) haricot beans

3 uncooked beetroot, peeled

2 oz smoked spek or bacon, cubeb

2 cloves garlic, crushed

500 g (1lb) tomatoes, chopped

1/4 large cabbage, cut into chunks

1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped

125 (4 oz) green beans, strings removed and broken into 3-4 pieces

pinch of salt

water or stock, if no meat is to be used

500 g (1lb) smoked pork rib or boneless chicken, cut into serving pieces

2-3 handfuls sorrel (if available)

potatoes, or other vegetables not on the 'no no' list

2 cloves garlic, crushed

 

Cooking Time :- 3.5-4 hours                              

 

Soak haricot beans for several hours in a saucepan of water. Cook haricot beans in time to serve separately with the soup. Cut beetroot into very thin strips and sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon lemon juice to stop beetroot from bleeding. Set deep fryer on very low, add spek or bacon and garlic. Cook gently until spek or bacon fat starts to melt.

 

Still on vey low heat, add tomatoes, beetroot, cabbage, pepper, green beans and salt. Cook very gently, stirring occasionally until the vegetables juices start to run. Add water from the haricot beans with enough other liquid (stock or water) to make the amount of soup up to the quantity of portions you need. Simmer gently until vegetables are tender. Add pork or chicken and sorrel. If using potatoes add them shortly before serving time so they do not become overlooked. Cook until meat and vegetables are tender and just before serving add two more cloves garlic. Serve hot with haricot beans separately for guests to add to soup.

 

Note

 

It is worth making a larger quantity than you need for one meal as the Borscht improves daily. Store in refrigerator.

 

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