Russian Beef Borscht with Soured Cream
Deep red beetroot soup with tender beef, potato and cabbage, finished with fresh dill and a spoon of cold soured cream.
- Time2 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.58 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 436kcal
- 25gcarbs
- 11.1gof which sugars
- 24.9gfat
- 10.9gsaturates
- 26.5gprotein
- 6.6gfibre
- 2.3gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the beef, water, halved onion, bay leaves, peppercorns and 1 tsp of the salt in a large pot. Bring to the boil, skim off the grey scum, then turn the heat low and simmer gently for 1 hour 15 minutes, until the beef is tender.
75 min - 2
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Cook the chopped onion and carrots for 8 minutes until soft. Add the beetroot, tomato purée, vinegar, sugar and 100 ml of the cooking liquid. Cover and cook on a low heat for 15 minutes, until the beetroot is tender and the mix is a bright, glossy red.
15 min - 3
Lift the beef out onto a board. Fish out and bin the onion, bay leaves and peppercorns. Shred the beef into bite-sized pieces and return the broth to a gentle simmer.
- 4
Add the potatoes to the broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cabbage and simmer for 5 minutes more.
15 min - 5
Stir in the beetroot mixture, shredded beef, garlic and the rest of the salt. Simmer for 5 minutes, then taste. It should be a balance of sweet, sour and savoury, so add a splash more vinegar or a pinch of salt if it needs it.
5 min - 6
Turn off the heat, stir in half the dill and leave the lid on for 15 minutes. Borscht tastes better after a short rest.
15 min - 7
Ladle into warm bowls and serve with a spoonful of soured cream and the rest of the dill.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
