Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes (2024)

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5 from 1 vote

by Eric O'Grey

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Published: May 15, 2018 Last Updated: February 23, 2021

Get ready for plant-based borscht served with vegan sour cream!

Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes (2)

There’s a really good reason that Borscht has become popular in the United States over the past few years. It’s not a new soup – itoriginated in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century – but its popularity has grown as people have become more focused on healthy eating. And, what better way to celebrate nutrient-dense foods than with a plant-based borscht recipe?

You see, this soup is originally super beefy, often made with short ribs or brisket. Even versions that don’t have chunks of beef usually use beef broth as the base. You may know that I’m an avid follower of plant-based diet – did you know that’s how I lost 150 pounds in less than one year and reversed my Type 2 diabetes? So, you can completely understand why I wanted to take this healthful soup and transform it into a plant-based borscht recipe.

All About Borscht

Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes (3)

You’ll recognize borscht – traditional or not – by its distinctive red color. The red color comes from the addition of a ton of beets (along with carrots and other root vegetables). This stunning color is a great signal of all the nutrition you’re about ingest! In addition to being rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, beets are chock full of vitamins and minerals. You can even use beets as a detox food because they’re rich inbetalains.

In addition to its iconic color, you may also recognize the slightly sour flavor of borscht. That’s derived from the lactic acid buildup of fermented sautéed vegetables. Those fermented vegetables also deliver probiotics, which promote gut health. The dish isn’t too sour tasting, though, because it’s well balanced by garnishes. You’ll likely find borscht served with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of hearty, sour bread.

Plant-Based Borscht is Less than 100 Calories.

We didn’t want to get rid of any of that traditional flavor, but we wanted to boost the nutrition by converting this recipe into a plant-based borscht version. It was also important to us to reduce the time commitment for making this healthful soup. Because traditional versions require a multi-day wild fermentation process to build that iconic sour flavor, it usually takes a long time to prepare. So, we took a few shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor!

This modernized plant-based borscht is very quick to prepare because we use lemon juice instead of fermenting vegetables. We also boosted up the vegetable content – adding celery root, zucchini, bell pepper, and cabbage to the traditional recipe. Finally, we provided a recipe for a delicious, low-calorie vegan sour cream to use as garnish. Because borscht just isn’t the same without sour cream!

This plant-based borscht is good any day of the week. It’s well-suited for lunch and dinner, but I’ve also eaten it for breakfast because it’s that good! You can eat it cold or hot, but it’s especially good when served warm with a sour bread (such as a sourdough or rye).

If you’ve had traditional borscht, we’d love to know what you think of this plant-based version. Let us know in the comments if it lives up to your expectations!

5 from 1 vote

Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes

This bright colored soup is a healthy and delicious recipe you will not forget!

Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Yield 6 people

Serving Size 1 cup

Course Dinner, Soup

Cuisine European

Author Eric O'Grey

Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes (4)

Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Borscht

  • 1 carrot large
  • 1/2 pound celery root
  • 1 red onion medium
  • 1 zucchini medium
  • 1 tomato medium
  • 1/2 red bell pepper large
  • 6 ounces red cabbage small
  • 1/2 pound beets medium
  • 3 cups vegetable broth plus additional broth for liquid saute
  • 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped (optional)

Tofu Sour Cream (optional)

  • 12 ounces silken tofu extra-firm, drained
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • salt to taste

Instructions

Borscht

  • Peel and wash the vegetables.

  • Grate the carrots, celery root, zucchini, red cabbage, and beets using a food processor or medium grate.

  • Chop the onion, tomato, and bell pepper into 1/2 inch cubes or smaller.

  • Liquid sauté the grated and chopped vegetables in pan for 3 to 5 minutes: Heat several tablespoons of vegetable broth in a pan over medium-high heat until bubbling, then add veggies and liquid sauté until just al dente, just as you would with oil, frequently deglazing pan with wooden spatula and additional broth if it evaporates.

  • Heat 3 cups vegetable broth in large pot until boiling, then reduce heat to simmer.

  • Add sautéed veggies to broth and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste, and simmer until veggies are tender.

  • Squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon to taste for traditional sour flavor.

Tofu Sour Cream (optional)

  • Combine all ingredients in high-speed blender then puree until smooth and creamy.

  • Chill before serving.

  • Store in refrigerator in a sealed container and use within 2 weeks.

  • Optional: serve as a garnish, finely chopped parsley and a dollop of freshly made tofu sour cream

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 79mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g |

SmartPoints (Freestyle): 1

Keywords dairy-free, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Plant-Based, Vegetarian

Have you made this recipe?
Tag @skinnyms on Instagram or hashtag it #skinnyms

Eric O’Grey is an inspirational speaker with a Bachelor of Science from San Jose State University and a Doctor of Law degree from Emory University. Eric enjoys long-distance running with his dog, Jake; gourmet plant-based cooking; and spending time with his wife, Jaye.

He is passionate about animal kindness, plant-based nutrition, and helping others reverse obesity and achieve their optimal weight and happiness. Learn more about Eric and his initiatives atEricandPeety.comand in his new book,Walking with Peety.

Plant-Based Borscht | Oil-Free Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between Russian and Ukrainian borscht? ›

It's standard for Ukrainian cooks to use pork in their Borscht and top it off with sour cream, whereas Russian cooks are more likely to use beef. Furthermore, Ukrainians will offer buns with their bortsch, and Russians will offer a native bread known as “black bread.”

What is the difference between Polish and Ukrainian borscht? ›

Poland has their own Borscht version. It is kind of similar, to how Ukraine adapted the Polish traditional kapusniak soup, Poland adapted Barszcz. The big difference between Ukrainian borscht and Polish borscht is that the Polish version is usually clear, meatless, and made with both pickled and fresh beets.

Is borscht good for your gut? ›

This gorgeous looking soup is packed with flavour and nutrition. Beets are great to support the liver, bone broth is healing and nourishing for the gut, and turmeric brings in its anti-inflammatory goodness. With all the other vegetables and spices, this soup is a full meal in itself.

What's the difference between beet soup and borscht? ›

Hence, my beet soup is called just that, soup, not borscht, even though it shares certain ingredients - potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beef stock and vinegar - with the traditional soup. But there's no cabbage and no caraway seed, two ingredients I consider essential in a borscht.

Which country has the best borscht? ›

Ukrainian. As the home country of beetroot borscht, Ukraine boasts great diversity of the soup's regional variants, with virtually every oblast having its own recipe.

Why is my borscht not red? ›

Cooking Time and Temperature: Beets can lose their vibrant red color if they are overcooked or cooked at high temperatures for too long. If you cooked the beets for an extended period or at a high temperature, it could cause them to lose some of their color intensity, resulting in a more orange appearance.

What nationality eats borscht? ›

Although borscht is important in Russian and Polish cuisines, Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin. Its name is thought to be derived from the Slavic word for the cow parsnip, or common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), or from a fermented beverage derived from that plant.

Which soup is considered the most traditional in Ukraine? ›

Borsch (beetroot soup) is not just a traditional Ukrainian daily meal, it's a symbol of unity – the basis of the culinary tradition of Ukraine, which is stronger than any modern experiments and overseas borrowings. Borsch is a dish with a national character.

Can I eat borscht every day? ›

Borscht is healthy but should be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

How soon after eating beets is urine red? ›

The urine color change may appear in the first few hours after drinking something containing beetroot. It may continue for a day or two after eating the coloring, especially in the stool.

What are the symptoms of beetroot poisoning? ›

The primary symptom of beeturia is discolored urine or stools. Urine appears red or pink after eating beetroot or foods and juices containing extracts or pigments of beetroot. The extent of discoloration varies from person to person and depends on what you ingested.

What is a good side dish for borscht? ›

You can serve borscht with sides like Pumpernickel or rye bread, garlic toast, meat, salads, dairy, pickled foods, pierogi, grains, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs seasoned with paprika or dill, gluten-free options, and accompany it with fermented Slavic beverages and Santa Carolina ...

Should I peel beets for soup? ›

Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling. (Some people are happy to leave the skins on; they are fine to eat.)

Do you eat borscht hot or cold? ›

Borscht can be hot or cold, meaty or light, dairy-laden or broth-based, depending on your mood. According to Bonnie Frumkin Morales, chef and owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon, the biggest benefit of making borscht at home is that “it's very malleable and riffable.

Are there different types of borscht? ›

This Ukraine's rich cultural heritage is reflected in the different versions, such as white borscht vs red borscht, which are popular in different regions. In this article, we shall explore the differences between two popular types of borscht: white borscht and red borscht.

What does Ukrainian borscht taste like? ›

Borscht is a beet soup that's warm, sweet, and sour all in one bowl. It has the umami and complexity of a well-developed chicken soup but the beets add a whole different flavor profile.

What is the difference between red and green borscht? ›

Red borscht is the most popular borscht in Ukraine, it is prepared from cabbage, potatoes (from the second half of the 19th century), carrots, onions, parsley, dill, and beets. Green borscht is a sorrel or spring borscht. It is cooked in the spring, with young greens.

What is the national dish of Ukraine? ›

The national dish of Ukraine is red borscht, a well-known beet soup, of which many varieties exist. However, varenyky (boiled dumplings similar to pierogi) and a type of cabbage roll known as holubtsi are also national favourites, and are a common meal in traditional Ukrainian restaurants.

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