Vegan Borscht

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 beets (medium, peeled and diced (1/2 inch))
• 2 carrots (medium, peeled and diced (1/2 inch))
• 1 onion (medium, chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 4 cup vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cup cabbage (finely chopped)
• 1 russet potato (medium, peeled and diced (1/2 inch))
• 1.5 tbsp lemon juice
• 0.25 cup fresh dill (chopped, plus more for serving)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• vegan sour cream (or yogurt, or cashew cream, for serving)
• fresh chives and/or parsley (chopped, for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and place it over medium heat.

2. 2

   When the oil is hot, add the diced beets, carrots, and onions. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until very fragrant.

4. 4

   Stir in the vegetable broth, tomato paste, chopped cabbage, and diced potato.

5. 5

   Raise the heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, approximately 15-20 minutes. You can add more broth or water at this stage if you prefer a thinner consistency.

6. 6

   Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and chopped dill.

7. 7

   Season with salt and pepper to taste.

8. 8

   Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a dollop of vegan sour cream (or yogurt/cashew cream) and a sprinkling of fresh dill, parsley, and/or chives. Serve immediately.

Notes

Instant Pot Method: Sauté beets, carrots, and onions in oil for 5 minutes. Add garlic for 1 minute. Stir in broth, paste, cabbage, and potato. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes, then perform a quick release. Stir in lemon juice, dill, and seasonings. Variation: For a different texture, try pureeing half of the soup after cooking to create a thicker base while keeping some vegetable chunks. Pairing: Serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• main
• vegan
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• beets
• winter
• comfort food