Chilled Summer Borscht Recipe

Enjoying a bowl of soup is a comforting way to satiate your hunger, no matter the season. In the cooler months, every spoonful feels like a warm hug from the inside out. And as hot summer days roll around, when we could all do with something a little bit more refreshing, chilled soups are the perfect way to satisfy our cravings while keeping things light. Food Republic recipe developer Julianne De Witt brings us this chilled summer borscht recipe, which is sure to brighten up your day with its hot pink hue and bold flavor.

"There are many different variations of borscht, both hot and cold, depending on what region the recipe comes from," De Witt explains. She goes on to note, "I grew up on the Ukrainian style, served hot, with beets (of course), cabbage, and potatoes, and I also love a chilled soup in the summer." As for this version, she shares, "I love the vibrant color of this soup. It's fresh and light, and the earthy sweetness of the beets is balanced by the acidity of lemon juice and vinegar. The cucumbers and radishes add a pleasant crunch, and the sour cream adds a bit of decadence." That pretty much sums up all the tastes and textures we love in a dish, and this chilled borscht highlights them all.

For this recipe, pick up a few medium-sized beets, as well as vegetable stock, sour cream, sugar, lemon juice (freshly squeezed), white wine vinegar, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Then, get an English cucumber, dice some red radishes, and chop up a few fresh chives and dill sprigs.

"Some summer borscht recipes call for a dollop of sour cream on top, but I like to add it to the soup base as well to get that lovely velvety texture," De Witt remarks, so creamy soup lovers are sure to get their fix with this recipe. Plant-based eaters can enjoy it, too: "Many borscht recipes call for chicken stock as a base, but I use vegetable stock to keep this dish vegetarian," she adds.

Add the beets to a large pot with enough water to submerge them. Don't make the common beet mistake of peeling them when raw — they'll be much easier to work with once they've been boiled. 

Place the pot on the stovetop and bring the water to a boil, then cook the beets for 30-40 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a fork. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beets to a plate to cool down, and be sure to save 1 ½ cups of the cooking liquid and let it cool in a bowl on the side.

Once the cooking liquid has cooled down, pour it into a large bowl along with the vegetable stock, sour cream, sugar, fresh lemon juice, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk the contents until they are properly combined and there are no more lumps from the sour cream. De Witt explains, "The fat in the sour cream prevents it from separating."

Run the beets under cold water and rub them to peel off the skins. Once the beets are peeled, dice them into medium-sized pieces. Toss them into the soup along with the diced cucumber, radishes, chives, and dill. Stir everything together to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Cover the soup and transfer it to the fridge for at least 3 hours, during which time the borscht will chill and soak up plenty of flavor — and color! When you're ready to serve this chilled summer soup, taste it and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve each portion with a dollop of sour cream and an extra sprig of dill for garnish.

De Witt recommends enjoying this refreshing borscht "with a salad and bread for a light lunch or as a starter." Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.