Ukrainian Borscht

Ukrainian Borscht

authentic recipe made easy

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 2h 15m
Total Time: 2h 30m
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (22 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For broth:

For borscht:

Nutritional Information

237
Calories
12g
Fat
21g
Carbohydrates
10g
Protein
42mg
Cholesterol
404mg
Sodium
Ukrainian Borscht

Recipe Description

This Ukrainian Borscht recipe delivers a bowl of homey and comforting soup to warm you up fast. It is made using simple ingredients like cabbage, beets, carrots, onions, and garlic. Traditionally, this soup gets its flavor from beef or pork rib broth. This homemade broth is not only delicious but also healthy.

In Ukraine, every household has its own family recipe for borscht. This yummy recipe, which starts with beef broth, is enriched and deeply flavored by simmering beef back ribs for an hour and a half. In the meantime, prepare the vegetables. Peel and grate the beets and carrots separately, chop the onions, and mince the garlic. Peel and cut the potatoes (keep the chopped potatoes in a bowl of cold water to prevent browning), and slice the cabbage. Once the broth is done, remove the ribs and take the meat off the bones. Strain the broth and return it to the pot. Add the meat, potatoes, a bay leaf, and a pinch of salt and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the zazharka from onions, carrots, garlic, and tomato puree. Once the potatoes are tender, add the grated beets to the pot and cook until the beets lose their color. Finally, add the sliced cabbage and zazharka and cook until the cabbage is tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the borscht with a dollop of sour cream and freshly baked pampushky.

To make the Ukrainian Borscht, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Ukrainian Borscht

Recipe Features

No specific features for this recipe

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Make broth

    1h 30m
    Step 1 - Ukrainian Borscht

    In a large stockpot, combine 3 quarts cold water, 1 ½ pounds beef ribs, quartered half onion, 1 parsley root and 1 carrot cut in halves, 2 bay leaves and 5 peppercorns, and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, lower to simmer and cook for 1 to 1 ½ hours until the meat is falling off the bones. Use a slotted spoon to skim off the scum that rises to the top.

  2. 2

    Remove ribs and strain broth

    2 min
    Step 2 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Once the broth is done, remove the ribs to a plate and strain the broth. Discard the vegetables.

  3. 3

    Shred meat

    2 min
    Step 3 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Once the meat is cool enough to handle, take it off the bones and shred. Cover and set aside until needed. Discard the bones. You can make the broth in advance and freeze it until needed.

  4. 4

    Add broth, meat, and potatoes

    15 min
    Step 4 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Add the broth to the large soup pot, then add the shredded meat, 3 cut into chunks potatoes, a pinch of salt, and one bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

  5. 5

    Sauté onions and carrots

    10 min
    Step 5 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon lard or vegetable oil in a pan, then add the chopped onions and grated carrots and sauté over low heat for 7-10 minutes until soft.

  6. 6

    Add garlic

    30s min
    Step 6 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.

  7. 7

    Make zazharka

    2 min
    Step 7 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Stir in 3 tablespoons tomato puree and cook 1-2 minutes more. Remove the zazharka from heat.

  8. 8

    Add beets

    2 min
    Step 8 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Once the potatoes are tender, add the grated beets to the pot and cook 2 minutes more.

  9. 9

    Add cabbage and zazharka

    15 min
    Step 9 - Ukrainian BorschtStep 9 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Add in the sliced cabbage and return to a simmer. Add in the zazharka and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the cabbage is soft yet not mushy. Taste and add some lemon juice if needed. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

  10. 10

    Serve

    Step 10 - Ukrainian Borscht

    Serve the borscht with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche, sprinkled with fresh dill or parsley, and freshly baked pampushki.

This delicious Ukrainian Borscht is made with simple ingredients and is full of bold flavor. Give this recipe a try soon, and please come back to leave a comment below!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (22 reviews)
Xena
January 26, 2025
Verified

Superb!

Gina
December 19, 2024
Verified

This borscht is like a warm hug on a chilly day! Made it last night and it was a hit with my fam. The flavors are just bangin'. Gonna be our go-to recipe for sure. So simple yet so tasty!

Inés
October 18, 2024
Verified

Esta receta de borscht es pura delicia. Desde que la probé, mi familia no para de pedirme. Me recuerda a las comidas de mi abuela. ¡Super fácil de hacer!

Bud
October 3, 2024
Verified

This borscht was simple to make and tasted great. My grandma used to make it, now I do for my family.

Megan Smith
January 14, 2024
Verified

Yummy!

Betty
December 8, 2023
Verified

I never thought I could make such a rich borscht! It remind me of my grandmother's kitchen filled with love. The beets made it a beautiful color! This recipe is simple yet so comforting. I served it with fresh bread, felt proud sharing my heritage with friends.

Julia
November 21, 2023
Verified

I made this borscht for my family last week and it was a hit! Loved how simple the ingredients were and it brought back memories of my grandma's kitchen. Definitely a recipe I'll cherish for years to come.

Uni
August 26, 2023
Verified

Superb tasty borscht!

Ollie
June 25, 2023
Verified

I made this Borscht for my wife during a chilly night. The flavors were superb, just like her grandma's! It's a simple, hearty dish that's now a family favorite.

Megan Johnson
June 13, 2023
Verified

Delicious! I made this borscht on a chilly day, and it warmed the whole family’s hearts. The flavors are spot on and comforting. Love how simple it is while still being wholesome!

Gabi
October 17, 2022
Verified

¡Increíble!

Victoria Smith
August 24, 2022
Verified

Simply the best!

Victory
August 12, 2022
Verified

I've heard that UNESCO has registered Ukrainian Borscht as intangible cultural heritage.

Athina
August 12, 2022
Verified

Reply to Lesly:
"I love the Ukrainian people and their culture, and cuisine. I make borscht every season now. Thanks for sharing the recipe!"

Lesly, welcome! We're happy to share with you our collection of traditional and popular Ukrainian recipes is here: <a href="https://dev.cook.me/all-recipes/popular-ukrainian-recipes/"> Popular Ukrainian Recipes</a> or <a href="https://dev.cook.me/cuisine/ukrainian-recipes/"> Ukrainian Food</a>.

Lesly
August 10, 2022
Verified

I love the Ukrainian people and their culture, and cuisine. I make borscht every season now. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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