Beetroot Soup
Beetroot, onion and potato simmered for 40 minutes in stock, blended smooth and finished with a spoon of soured cream. Four servings in 50 minutes.
Photograph credit: Borscht with bread (image of borscht on Wikidata Q4551) by Juerg Vollmer from Zürich, Schweiz · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
The Method for Beetroot Soup
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Heat the oil and soften the onion for 5 minutes.
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Add the beetroot, potato and stock and simmer for 40 minutes, until the beetroot is soft.
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Blend until smooth, then stir in the lemon juice and salt.
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Serve with the soured cream and dill.
What Can Go Wrong
- Dice the beetroot small.
- Add the lemon juice at the end.
- If your hob runs hot, check at 30 minutes.
- Wear gloves to peel.
About This Recipe
The colour is the first thing you notice: a deep, almost impossible magenta. The second is the taste, which is earthy and sweet, with a sour edge from the lemon and the cream.
Peel the beetroot and dice it small, so it softens in the time. A potato adds body, so the soup is creamy without any dairy. Fry the onion first for sweetness.
Simmer everything in stock for 40 minutes, until the beetroot is completely soft when pressed with a knife. If your hob runs hot, check at 30 minutes.
Blend until very smooth. Add the lemon juice at the end, because acid brightens the colour and the flavour together. Wear an apron and gloves while you prep, since beetroot stains. Serve hot, with soured cream swirled in and a scatter of dill. Serve it cold in summer, thinned with a little buttermilk, if you want a refreshing version of the same soup.
To Go With It
Rye bread · Boiled potatoes · Hard-boiled egg · Dill pickles
Keeping Beetroot Soup
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently.
Common Questions
How long does Beetroot Soup take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 40 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Beetroot Soup?
Dice the beetroot small. Add the lemon juice at the end. If your hob runs hot, check at 30 minutes. Wear gloves to peel.
What should I serve with Beetroot Soup?
Rye bread; Boiled potatoes; Hard-boiled egg; Dill pickles.
How should Beetroot Soup be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently.
Is Beetroot Soup suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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