Beet and Cabbage Borscht

Written by
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Molly Watson
Updated 06/15/21
Beet and Cabbage Borscht

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total: 3 hrs
Servings: 16 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
94 Calories
0g Fat
18g Carbs
6g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 94
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 553mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 6%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Protein 6g
Calcium 57mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Technically, borscht is any stew-type of soup. The best-known kind in the U.S., however, is made with beets and is a brilliant red color. This beet borscht includes cabbage as well; it is packed with roasted red beets, onions, cabbage, and white beans—a perfect stew for making it through a cold winter night. Homemade chicken stock adds a depth of flavor missing in canned varieties, but this soup is tasty even when made with plain old water for a delicious vegetarian version.

This recipe makes enough for a crowd but also freezes extremely well and is a treat to pull out of the freezer and heat up after a long day's work. It is particularly satisfying to devour on a snowy or rainy night.

Enjoy it with some homemade rye or pumpernickel bread, perfect for dipping chunks into the soup.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried cannellini beans (or other small white beans)
  • 6 large beets (about 2 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (vegetable oil, or butter)
  • 2 medium onions (halved and thinly sliced)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • Optional: 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 head green, Savoy, or Napa cabbage (cored and thinly sliced or shredded)
  • 2 teaspoons caraway seeds
  • 8 cups chicken broth (or beef or vegetable broth)
  • Optional: lemon juice (to taste)
  • Garnish: plain yogurt, sour cream, or crème fraîche
  • Garnish: fresh dill (chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Beet and Cabbage Borscht ingredients

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Put the beans in a large pot and add cold water to cover generously. Bring to a boil, cover, turn off the heat, and let sit 1 hour.

    Put the beans in a large pot and add cold water

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Drain and return the beans to the pot. Cover again with cold water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to keep a simmer, and cook until beans are tender to the bite, about 20 minutes. Drain the beans and set them aside.

    drain the beans in a colander

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 F. Wrap the beets in a large sheet of aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet, and cook until tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Let the beets sit until cool enough to handle.

    Wrap the beets in a large sheet of aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Peel the beets (their skins should slip off easily after being roasted) and grate them on the large-hole side of a box grater. NOTE: Your fingers may get a little red, so wear gloves if you want to avoid stained hands. Set aside.

    Peel the beets and grate them into a bowl

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. In a large pot over medium-high heat add oil, onions, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 3 minutes.

    In a large pot over medium-high heat add oil, onions, and salt

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Add the garlic, if using, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    add garlic to the onion mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  8. Add the cabbage, stir to combine, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage wilts, 3 to 5 minutes.

    add cabbage to the onion mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  9. Add the caraway seeds and grated beets. Stir to combine.

    Add the caraway seeds and grated beets to the onion mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  10. Add the broth and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer, add the beans, and cook until the vegetables are tender and flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes. Add salt and lemon juice, if using, to taste. Serve hot, with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream and a sprinkle of dill, if you like.

    Beet and Cabbage Borscht in a pot

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

How to Store and Freeze Beef Borscht

  • This soup will last in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.
  • You can also freeze this borscht soup in a freezer-safe container—making sure you leave some headspace—for up to two months.