Borscht

Borscht is a beet-based soup widely associated with the cuisines of Eastern Europe, especially Ukrainian cuisine.

Borscht is a beet-based soup widely associated with the cuisines of Eastern Europe, especially Ukrainian cuisine. It is typically a hot, hearty soup made with beets and other vegetables, and may include meat or be prepared as a vegetarian dish. The dish has many regional variations and is also known in neighboring Slavic and East European culinary traditions.

Definition

Borscht is a beet-based soup that is usually served hot and prepared as a filling first course. In common usage, it refers to a red soup made with beetroot and other vegetables.

Regional and cultural significance

The dish is associated most strongly with Ukraine, but it is also part of wider Eastern Slavic and East European food traditions. Related versions appear in Belarusian, Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, and Moldovan cuisines.

Ingredients and preparation

Typical versions include beetroot, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, and herbs, often cooked in stock. Some recipes use meat, while others are vegetarian or made with souring ingredients such as vinegar or tomato.

Varieties

Borscht has many regional variants, including green borscht and different local styles that vary in ingredients, texture, and sourness. Family recipes can differ substantially from place to place.

In Canada

Borscht is familiar in Canada through Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Jewish, and other Eastern European immigrant communities, and it appears in many Canadian home kitchens, restaurants, and community gatherings.