Print Options:

Polish Borscht Recipe: Beet Elixir You Will Delight In

Yields10 ServingsPrep Time10 minsCook Time35 minsTotal Time45 mins

This rich, savory borscht takes only 10 minutes of your active cooking time. Are you skeptical? Don't be. The Polish Borscht recipe is a traditional, time-tested and beloved way of cooking the festive beet soup in Poland, where my husband hails from. Of course, this borscht has a secret: it requires an extraordinary amount of brightly colored beets and a reduced cooking time. The borscht will not turn out if the beets are not brightly colored. Similarly, when cooked longer than suggested here, it will lose its scarlet color and flavor. Richly infused with simmered vegetables, the borscht is a delightful elixir of health. It is no wonder that my toddler demands his red beet soup every time, and happily sips it from a cup or devours it spoonful after delicious spoonful.

Polish Red Beet Soup, Polish Borscht Recipe, vegan beet soup with carrots parsnip parsley in a bowl by foodjoya

What You Need:
 3 large dark red beets (about 2.5 lbs). Inferior, unsuitable beets will be pale and have a stronger grassy smell.
 2 large carrots
 1 parsnip. Because of the inferior taste, avoid large, oversized parsnips.
 10 stems of Italian parsley (flat-leaf, not curly), without the leaves. Reserve the leaves for serving.
 5 stems of thyme
 2 bay leaves
 1.50 tsp or more, if desired, grains of paradise
 2 delicious vegan broth cubes
 a small sprinkle of lemon juice (optional)
What to Do:
1

For the Polish Borscht recipe, you will need a 5.5-quart saucepan or Dutch oven. With cookware ready, peel and roughly chop beets, carrots, and parsnip. Then transfer to Dutch oven.

2

Tie stems of parsley and thyme with a cooking twine and transfer to Dutch oven. Add bay leaves and grains of paradise.

3

Cover with water and bring to boil, with the lid ajar, over medium high. Cover, reduce to low and continue simmering for 25 minutes. Add broth cubes and stir well to dissolve. Continue simmering for another 10 minutes, or until the vegetables become soft (but not mushy). Sprinkle lemon juice, if desired, and stir.

4

Following our take on the traditional Polish borscht recipe, serve this scarlet elixir of health with chopped parsley.

Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts

Servings 0