In 2022, the culture of preparing Ukrainian borscht was officially added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
This recognition confirms the importance and uniqueness of this dish not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. Borscht has become a valid symbol of Ukrainian national cuisine, uniting traditions, history, and diverse flavors.
We present the classic Borscht recipe, which is easy to prepare at home.
Ingredients:
- Beef — 250 g
- Water — 1.5 l
- Cabbage — 150 g
- Carrot — 1 piece
- Onion — 1 piece
- Potato — 4 pieces
- Beetroot — ½ medium
- Tomato paste — 1 tablespoon (or ½ liter of tomato juice)
- Salt, pepper, herbs — to taste
For the pampushki (garlic rolls):
- Flour — 2 cups
- Egg — 1 piece
- Water — ½ cup
- Sugar — 1 tablespoon
- Yeast — 10 g
- Sunflower oil — 1 teaspoon
For the sauce:
- Garlic — 2 cloves
- Water — ⅓ cup
- Sunflower oil — ½ tablespoon
- Salt — ⅓ teaspoon
Preparing the Borscht
Making the Broth:
First, you need to cook the broth. For a richer flavor, use meat with bones. Boil the meat until it’s cooked, remove it from the broth, separate it from the bones, and cut it into pieces.
Making the Borscht:
Add thinly sliced beetroot to the broth and cook until transparent. This helps prevent the other vegetables from turning red. Then, add the chopped onion and, after a few minutes, the carrot. After that, add the shredded cabbage and diced potatoes to the boiling broth. Add the cooked meat, tomato juice or paste, herbs, and spices when the vegetables are cooked.
Variation with Frying:
If you want a more intense flavor, fry the carrot, onion, and beetroot in lard before adding them to the borscht.
Infusing:
Once the borscht is ready, remove it from the heat and let it infuse.
Pampushki Preparation
Dough for Pampushki:
Combine the egg, water, oil, yeast, and sugar. Gradually add flour while kneading the dough. Cover with a towel and leave it to rise in a warm place. After it rises, form balls and place them on an oiled baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 200°C.
Garlic Sauce:
Preparing the sauce while the pampushki is baking: crush the garlic, mix it with salt and oil, and then dilute with hot water.
Serving:
Pour the hot garlic sauce over the pampushki before serving.
That’s it—the classic Ukrainian borscht is ready! This dish is a genuine pride of Ukrainian cuisine, blending rich traditions with modern culinary techniques. It is served with fragrant garlic pampushki, making the meal even more delicious. Enjoy your meal!
Learn about the TOP 10 traditional Ukrainian dishes in our article on alltops.com.ua.
