Chilled Orange Borscht Recipes

CHILLED ORANGE BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a blender, puree beets, orange and lemon juices, and 1 cup yogurt. Add salt and pepper. Chill two hours or more. To serve, top with a dollop of reserved yogurt and the chives.
• To serve, top with a dollop of reserved yogurt and the chives.

SUMMER BORSCHT

Steps:

• Place the beets in a large pot of boiling salted water and cook uncovered until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the beets to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine sieve and also set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the beet cooking liquid, the chicken stock, sour cream, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt, and the pepper. Peel the cooled beets with a small paring knife or rub the skins off with your hands. Cut the beets in small to medium dice. Add the beets, cucumber, scallions, and dill to the soup. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Season, to taste, and serve cold with a dollop of sour cream and an extra sprig of fresh dill.

CHILLED ORANGE BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a blender, puree beets, orange and lemon juices, and 1 cup yogurt. Add salt and pepper. Chill two hours or more. To serve, top with a dollop of reserved yogurt and the chives.
• To serve, top with a dollop of reserved yogurt and the chives.

COLD BORSCHT

Steps:

• Using a food processor, pulse beets until finely chopped. Transfer to a large saucepan and add onion, salt and 2 1/2 quarts (10 cups) water. Place over high heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until onion is tender, about 40 minutes. Add sugar and lemon juice, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Remove onion and discard. Pour soup into a heatproof container and allow to cool to room temperature. Adjust salt, sugar and lemon juice to taste. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled, with chilled boiled potatoes added to soup, if desired. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.

CHILLED GREEN BORSCHT

Steps:

• For the stock, wash the leeks by trimming their ends, slicing them lengthwise in quarters and separating and rinsing each layer under cold water. Put them in a large pot along with the other ingredients, cover with 6 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 1/2 hours, until only a 1/2 gallon of liquid remains. Remove from the heat, strain and discard the solids.
• For the soup, melt the butter in a large pan. Wash the leeks thoroughly; trim so only the white part remains; julienne and soften them in a large pot over medium-low heat, stirring, about 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add the beets and continue to cook, stirring, 5 minutes; then add the lima beans and cook 5 minutes more.
• Add the zucchini, lettuce, sorrel and beet greens, cover with the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add 1/2 cup of the pickle juice and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add 1/8 cup of the dill and cool in the refrigerator. Before serving, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of pickle juice, the vinegar, salt, pepper and remaining dill. Serve chilled with a dollop of sour cream in each bowl. (The borscht can be made several days ahead.)