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A white bowl on a white saucer with a cross-stitched linen underneath. The bowl is full of bright red beet borscht, garnished with sour cream and dill. Spoon in the background.

Easy Homemade Borscht Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Entrée
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Ukrainian

DESCRIPTION

Borscht is a beet-based soup that I grew up eating throughout the year, but especially on Ukrainian Christmas Eve. This Homemade Borscht Recipe is the easiest and quickest ever – ready in under 15 minutes!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
  • 1 medium potato, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 cup carrot matchsticks
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. coarse black pepper
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped, divided
  • 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
  • 1 cup frozen cut green beans, thawed
  • 2 (15 oz.) cans “original cut” beets
  • 2 tsp. white vinegar
  • 6 Tbsp. whipping cream or sour cream to serve

Instructions

  1. Measure the broth into a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for 5 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the potato. Increase the heat to medium-high. Stir and then cover the pot.
  3. Roughly chop the carrot matchsticks. Add them to the pot along with the onion. Stir and cover.
  4. When the broth is done heating, add it to the pot along with the salt and pepper. Stir well.
  5. Increase heat to high, cover and let it come to a simmer. Reduce heat to a moderate simmer.
  6. Add half of the dill to the pot of soup. 
  7. Put a colander over a bowl and pour in the cans of beets to drain them. Set the liquid aside and do not discard it because you’ll need it soon.
  8. Put the drained beets into a food processor and process until they’re in small pieces.
  9. When the potatoes in the pot are fork-tender, add the vinegar and stir. Then add the processed beets, the reserved beet liquid, the peas, and the beans. Heat on high until simmering.
  10. Stir in the remaining dill. Taste and add more vinegar and black pepper if needed.
  11. Ladle into bowls and serve with either whipping cream or sour cream on the side for people to add to their bowls of soup.