German Borscht Food

GERMAN CABBAGE BORSCHT

Steps:

• Cut all vegetables into bite size pieces.
• Cut sausage into ½ inch rounds.
• Chop cabbage into bite size pieces also.
• Pour water into a large soup pot and add in the vegetables and the sausage and the spices.
• Cook for 15 to 20 minutes then add tomatoes and cream.
• Cook until the vegetables and sausage are tender.

GERMAN BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large stock pot boil the ham hocks with water and chicken broth to cover the hocks.
• Boil until the ham hocks fall off the bones
• If the hocks are very greasy, cool the whole pot in the fridge. Skim off the extra fat as it hardens and rises to the top of the soup pot.
• Remove the soup bones if desired.
• Return the pot to the stove and heat it to medium heat.
• Add vegetables except potatoes and cabbage slices. cook on low boil for 30 minutes.
• Put in the potato chunks and boil additional 20 minutes.
• Add the spices and cabbage and boil 30 minutes or until cabbage is fork tender.

GERMAN/RUSSIAN BORSCHT

Steps:

• Add beets into a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Fill with water and add vinegar. Cook over medium heat until tender, this may take an hour or so. Check for doneness by poking a toothpick or fork into a beet. Remove beets and reserve juice. Peel and dice beets when they have cooled.
• For cooking the rest of the soup you may choose which method of cooking (baking, or slow cooking) that works best for you. Add remaining ingredients (EXCEPT beets, beet leaves, and cream) into a roaster pan to bake in oven, or large crock pot to slow cook.
• Simmer in a 250 degrees oven for 6-8 hours or low in a crock pot for 8-12 hours or until vegetables are tender.
• If the broth looks fatty, strain broth from vegetables, let cool, and skim off fat. Sometimes I may cook the vegetables the day before so that all the fat will separate and flavors blend.
• Add broth, vegetables, beets, and reserved beet juice into a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Bring to a boil.
• Add beet leaves, cook 5 minutes.
• Add cream, turn heat off. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

BORSCHT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Put the vegetables and garlic on a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil (or a doubled piece of regular), drizzle with olive oil, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt add the rosemary. Seal the foil to make a tight package. Put the package in a roasting pan. Roast until the beets can be pierced easily with a knife, about 1 to 1/2 hours. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them¿the skins should slide right off with a bit of pressure from your fingers. If they don't, use a paring knife to scrape off any bits that stick.
• Put 1/2 of the vegetables in a food processor with 1/2 of the broth and puree. Transfer the puree to a saucepan. Repeat with the remaining vegetables and broth. Stir in remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper, and simmer over medium heat until the flavors come together, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the buttermilk and Worcestershire.
• Ladle Borscht into bowls and garnish with dill.

BORSCHT

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion, carrots and bell pepper and sauté until the onion and bell pepper are slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the cabbage, beet and celery and continue to sauté, stirring and tossing occasionally, 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in the apple, potatoes, tomato paste and garlic. Mix well.
• Tie bay leaf and peppercorns in cheesecloth. This is called a bouquet garni. If you don't have cheesecloth, see notes for substitute.
• Add the bouquet garni to the soup pot and bring to a boil.
• Once soup reaches a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Add the paprika, salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper , sugar, dill, parsley, and lemon juice to taste. Let stand for about 2 hours.
• Remove the bouquet garni before serving.
• Serve garnished with extra parsley and dill, if desired, and under no circumstances should you EVER leave out the sour cream! A large dollop stirred into each bowl should do nicely.

BEET BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the beets, carrots, onion, water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add broth, cabbage and butter; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in lemon juice. If desired, top each serving with sour cream and chives or dill.

CABBAGE BORSCHT MENNONITE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring beef soup bones and water to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, adding more water, as necessary, to maintain the 2 quart level. Remove and discard the soup bones, then strain the broth into a fresh pot, and return to the stove.
• Stir in the carrots, potatoes, cabbage, onions, parsley, allspice berries, bay leaf, star anise, salt, and pepper. Cook until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and return soup to a boil. Serve individual bowls of soup topped with heavy cream.

BORSCHT I

Steps:

• Place water, salt, carrots, 1/2 of the bell pepper, celery, beet, tomatoes, and quartered potatoes in a large stock pot over high heat. Bring to a boil.
• Melt 1/3 cup butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Saute onions in butter until tender, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup of sauce from skillet, and set aside. Stir half of the cabbage into the skillet with remaining sauce, and continue simmering 5 minutes more, or until tender.
• Remove beet from boiling liquid and discard. Remove potatoes with a slotted spoon or tongs, and place in a bowl with remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the cream. Mash together until smooth.
• Return the 1/2 cup of reserved onion-tomato sauce to the stock pot. Stir in diced potatoes, and simmer until just tender but still firm, approximately 5 minutes. Increase heat to a low boil, and stir in remaining cabbage, tomato sauce, and mashed potatoes. Reduce heat and simmer a few minutes more. Stir in remaining bell pepper, season with black pepper, and serve.