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soul warming borscht recipe

Grandma's Hearty Borscht

This traditional borscht features a rich, velvety broth made from beef, ham, and marrow bones, complemented by oven-roasted beets and fresh vegetables. The deep ruby-colored soup develops complex flavors as it simmers, creating a soul-warming meal perfect for cold winter days.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Russian
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

  • 3 quarts water
  • 4 medium boiling potatoes peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 1 pound fresh ripe plum tomatoes peeled and chopped (or one 16-ounce can)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 carrot peeled
  • 2 medium parsnips peeled
  • 1 stalk celery with leaves
  • 3 sprigs dill plus extra for garnish
  • 3 sprigs parsley plus extra for garnish
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 10 black peppercorns
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 large beets about 1¼ pounds
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • pounds beef shank or flank steak
  • 1 meaty ham bone about 1 pound
  • 2 beef bones with marrow about 1 pound
  • Sour cream for serving
  • Fresh herbs for garnish

Equipment

  • Large soup pot
  • Fine-mesh sieve
  • Aluminum foil

Method
 

  1. In a large soup pot, combine beef shank or flank steak, ham bone, beef marrow bones, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
  2. Add the onion, carrot, parsnips, celery with leaves, dill sprigs, parsley sprigs, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for at least 45 minutes, until the meat becomes tender.
  3. While the broth simmers, preheat oven to 375°F. Thoroughly wash and dry the beets, then wrap each one separately in aluminum foil. Bake until tender, about 1¼ hours.
  4. Once beets are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into julienne strips or fine dice. Sprinkle with lemon juice to preserve their vibrant color.
  5. When the stock is ready, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot, discarding the spent aromatics. Reserve the meat.
  6. Bring the strained broth back to a boil. Add the potatoes and tomatoes, season with salt, and simmer until the potatoes are almost tender.
  7. Add the prepared beets to the pot and simmer until all vegetables are completely tender.
  8. Remove any meat from the bones, cut into bite-sized pieces, and return to the pot. Heat through.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  10. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Notes

This borscht tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld. Store refrigerated for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
For the best flavor, use marrow bones from a quality butcher. The marrow adds incredible richness to the broth that can't be replicated with shortcuts.
Traditional accompaniments include dark rye bread and a simple cucumber-dill salad for a complete meal.