Gorkys Cafe Beet Borscht Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚. Scrub the beets and put them on a large piece of 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. When the beets are cool enough to handle but still warm, slip off their skins and chop them into large chunks.
• Bring the chicken stock to a gentle simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic and remaining 3 thyme sprigs and cook, stirring, until softened and just starting to color, about 10 minutes.
• Add the warm chicken stock to the vegetables in the pot and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs. Put the chopped beets in a blender and add the cooked vegetables and stock. Blend until smooth, adding more stock if the puree is too thick. Add the vinegar and honey; season with salt and pepper. Blend again to incorporate the flavors. (The borscht can be served hot or cold; for a chilled soup, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cold.)
• To make the garnish, grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater into a medium bowl; mix in the dill. Ladle the soup into bowls and swirl in a big dollop of sour cream. Top with the apple-dill mixture.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the bacon in a Dutch oven or stockpot and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until the fat begins to render, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and cook, stirring, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the meat from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• To the fat in the pan, add the onions and carrots, and stir to coat. Cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, dill seeds, and bay leaves and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the red wine vinegar and stir to deglaze the pan. Return the meat to the pot and add the water, salt, and pepper and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer partially covered until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, place the beets on a baking sheet and brush with the oil. Roast until tender and can be pierced easily with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Trim the stem and root ends and remove the skins. Coarsely grate and set aside.
• When the meat is tender and falling apart, add the beets, potatoes, and cabbage. Simmer over low heat for another 30 minutes. Season with additional red wine vinegar, salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
• Ladle borscht into bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream and pinch of fresh dill.

Steps:

• Cook beef shank in a large soup pot over high heat until browned, about 3 minutes per side; add water, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf to the pot, bring to a simmer and cook until meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 4 hours. Strain broth and discard solids.
• Combine beef broth, beets, and cabbage in a large soup pot; cook, stirring occasionally, until beets are tender, about 30 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add vinegar, salt, and black pepper.
• Serve garnished with sour cream and dill.

Steps:

• Place beets, onion, potatoes and cabbage in a soup pot. Add enough cold water to cover the vegetables completely. Add all other ingredients except sugar and vinegar. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for an hour and a half or so. Adjust seasoning to taste, add sugar and vinegar and simmer for a few minutes more. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Steps:

• In a soup pot, combine beets (not greens), bones, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, 8 cups water, bay leaf and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, put potatoes in a medium saucepan of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a cutting board. Add chopped greens to boiling water and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice.
• Discard bay leaf. Remove bones, remove meat from bones, chop meat and return meat to soup. Taste and add salt if needed. Ladle soup into bowls and season with white pepper. Top with potatoes and greens, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the beets, carrots, onion, water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add broth, cabbage and butter; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in lemon juice. If desired, top each serving with sour cream and chives or dill.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 4-quart pot with a cover. Add short ribs and brown on all sides, then transfer to a plate. Pour off all but a film of fat from pan. Add onion, fennel and garlic and sauté on medium until soft. Add cabbage, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until cabbage starts to wilt. Add beets, tomato paste, vinegar and celery seed. Stir.
• Return meat to pot. Add bay leaves and stock, adjust heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 1 1/2 hours, until meat is fork tender.
• Remove meat. Cut out bones and gristle and discard. Dice meat and return to pot. Reheat, check seasoning, and serve with sour cream or yogurt and potatoes on the side.