How to cook white borscht: a classic recipe

White borscht is a traditional dish, especially popular in Poland. Unlike the usual red borscht, it has a light color, and its taste is soft, slightly sour, with a rich aroma of smoked meats and garlic. We at joy-pup tell you how to cook classic white borscht.

Ingredients:

• Smoked ribs – 500 g
• White beans – 150 g (can be replaced with canned)
• Potatoes – 4-5 pcs.
• Onion – 1 pc.
• Carrots – 1 pc.
• Parsley or celery root – optional
• Garlic – 3-4 cloves
• Bay leaf – 2 pcs.
• Black peppercorns — 5–6 pcs.
• Salt — to taste
• Vinegar or lemon juice — 1 tbsp. (if no starter)

For dressing:

• Sour cream — 200 g
• Egg — 1 pc.
• Wheat or rye flour — 1 tbsp. (optional, for thickening)

Additionally:

• Boiled eggs — 1 per serving
• Sausages (usually white or smoked) — to taste
• Greens (dill, parsley) — for serving

Step-by-step recipe for making white borscht

• If you are using dry beans, you need to soak them in cold water for 6–8 hours or overnight. Then drain the water, rinse the beans and boil until tender (about 40–60 minutes). Simply rinse canned beans under water.
• Place the smoked ribs in a saucepan with 2.5-3 liters of cold water. Bring to a boil, remove the foam and simmer for about 30-40 minutes. Then add chopped onion, carrot, parsley root and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. The broth will be aromatic and rich.
• Peel the potatoes and cut into cubes. Add to the saucepan along with the boiled beans. Cook until the potatoes are done (about 15-20 minutes).
• In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, egg and flour until smooth. Add a little hot broth to the mixture, stir (so that the egg does not curdle), then pour the resulting dressing into the borscht, stirring constantly. Cook for another 5 minutes on low heat. If you want to get a sour taste, add a little vinegar, lemon juice or ready-made sourdough (żurek).
• Add chopped garlic, bay leaf, pepper and salt to taste to the borscht. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes under the lid.
• Serve the white borscht hot. Put half a boiled egg, sliced ​​sausages and sprinkle with fresh herbs in each plate. If desired, serve with toast or black bread.

To be continued…