Rye Berry Borscht Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; season generously with salt. Add rye berries; reduce heat to a low, steady simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until chewy and tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Drain. Use immediately, or spread on a rimmed baking sheet to let cool.

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in a medium bowl and pour in enough water to cover. Let soak for 20-30 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft and plumped. Working over the bowl, squeeze any excess water from the mushrooms. Reserve the soaking liquid, and chop the mushrooms into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
• Trim and peel the beets, then grate on the large holes of a box grater. You should have about 8 cups grated beets. Set aside.
• Make a bouquet garni: Place the peppercorns, allspice, garlic, and bay leaves on a double-layer square of cheesecloth. Tie the ends of the cheesecloth around the spices and set aside.
• In a large pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the leeks, onion, and celery. Season with salt and cook until the vegetables have softened, 5-8 minutes.
• Add the water, grated beets, chopped mushrooms and reserved soaking liquid, and the bouquet garni. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the beets are tender.
• Add the potato and season with a pinch of salt. Cook until potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes, then add the carrots and cook until tender, 10 minutes more.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and pickled beets. Cook for another 10 minutes, or until all of the vegetables are tender. Stir in the dill, then remove the pot from the heat.
• Ladle the borscht into bowls. Garnish with dill and serve with rye bread and sour cream, if using.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Place the beets in a large pot of boiling salted water and cook uncovered until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the beets to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine sieve and also set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the beet cooking liquid, the chicken stock, sour cream, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, and the pepper. Peel the cooled beets with a small paring knife or rub the skins off with your hands. Cut the beets in small to medium dice. Add the beets, cucumber, scallions, and dill to the soup. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Season, to taste, and serve cold with a dollop of sour cream and an extra sprig of fresh dill.

Steps:

• In large bowl, place rye berries; add enough water to cover. Let soak in refrigerator at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours; drain.
• Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place drained rye berries and remaining ingredients except squash and walnuts in slow cooker. Stir to mix.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours or until rye berries are chewy but tender.
• Stir in squash. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook about 30 minutes or until squash is tender. Stir in walnuts.

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, place beef, pork hock, water, broth, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes or until beef is tender.
• Shred beets, or cut into 1/4-inch strips. Remove pork hock from soup; let stand until cool enough to handle. Remove pork from bone; cut pork into bite-size pieces.
• Stir pork, beets, cabbage, potatoes, onion and garlic into soup. Tie pickling spice and dill seed in cheesecloth bag or place in tea ball; add to soup. Cover; simmer 2 hours.
• Stir in vinegar. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Remove spice bag. Serve soup with sour cream. Sprinkle with fresh dill.