Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

Grandma’s Hearty Borscht is a traditional Ukrainian family recipe and a warming fall favorite. Try it with pierogies or cabbage rolls (check back soon for the cabbage roll recipe!).

NOTE: Check out the new ingredients sections—this is where you can see the science-backed research for each ingredient. This section is still growing and is a living document so check back often for some of the healthiest and disease-fighting ingredients, all backed with the latest cutting-edge medical and scientific research.

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Why I Had to Make Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

This is a classic staple that I grew up with. Usually served with homemade pierogies and cabbage rolls this was a fall after school family favorite. It’s so warming and reminiscent of afterschool in the wet and cold fall months, or at grandma’s house as the kitchen filled with the sweet and earthy smells of cabbage, onions, and beets on a drab fall day as it turns into dusk.

As usual, all the recipes are allergy-friendly and Top 8 Allergy Free:
no dairy, no eggs, no wheat, no nuts, no tree nuts, no shellfish, no seafood, no soy, no corn, no salt added, no oil added, no sugar added, no coconut.
Using only minimally processed or proven safe foods from scratch.

Have questions or a request to update a recipe for a specific allergy or food restriction? Contact me and I’d love to help!

Why You’ll Love Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

• Quick & Easy: Whip up this delicious meal in around 35 minutes using only one pot and a spice grinder—great for when you don’t want to do a million dishes!
• Wholesome & Allergy-Friendly: Made without oil, gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, or added sugars, this dish is ideal for anyone looking for an allergy-friendly meal, following a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle, or just simply looking for a nutritious meal that’s both satisfying, guilt-free, and easy.
• Seasonal Comfort: Infused with the warm, rich flavors of fall, this dish captures the essence of cozy autumn meals, making it perfect for family gatherings or chilly evenings.
• No Processed Ingredients: All ingredients are minimally processed and have been shown in clinical studies to support health and help fight chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Check the science section for more info.

The Menu

⭐The Full Grandma’s Hearty Borscht Recipe⭐

Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

Chef Rob

A warm bowl of nourishing fall flavors.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Comfort Food, Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish, Soup

Cuisine Russian, Ukrainian

Servings 4 people

Equipment

• 1 Pot
• 1 Spice / Coffee Grinder

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup onions (or use 1 tbsp onion powder)
• 1 cup cabbage
• 1.5 cups beets
• 1 tsp garlic granulated (or use 1 tbsp fresh minced garlic)
• 1 ea bay leaf
• ½ tbsp marjoram
• ¼ tsp thyme
• ⅛ tsp celery seeds (or use ½ cup of celery and cook it with the cabbage)
• ⅛ tsp fennel seeds
• 1.5 cup tomato paste
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 3 cups water

Instructions

 

• Dice onions and simmer on a medium high heat until translucent (deglaze with a tbsp of water or apple cider vinegar if needed). Add your diced cabbage an beets and stir well.
  
• Grind up all your spices—I even grind up the bayleaf, but it maybe too bitter for some—add your spices and cook them for a minute or two until the aromas start to release.
  
• Add your tomato paste and raise the heat back to medium high, add your balsamic and apple cider vinegars and cook and stir until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
  
• Add your water and bring to a boil, stirring often to avoid burning or sticking.
  
• Cook until the soup thickens—about 10 more minutes—and serve with a sprinkle of fresh or dried dill and my sour creamy sauce.
  

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Nutrition Facts Table – Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

⭐The Full Sour Creamy Tahini Sauce ⭐

Sour Creamy Sauce (v2)

Chef Rob

A quick and easy plant-based sour cream from scratch in seconds.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 minute min

Total Time 1 minute min

Course Sauce

Cuisine Polish, Russian, Scandinavian, Ukrainian

Servings 1 people

Equipment

• 1 Bowl
• 1 Spice / Coffee Grinder (or oat flour or a blender)

Ingredients

  

• 2 tbsp tahini (for other seed butter use 2.5 tbsp)
• 2 tbsp oats (or 2.5 tbsp oat flour)
• 1/8 tsp onion powder or double the granulated garlic
• 1/8 tsp granulated garlic
• ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp white vinegar or white wine vinegar; or ½ tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water add more as needed

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients except water and mix well until a paste forms, then add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix until fully incorporated before adding the next tablespoon of water.
  

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💡 Pro Tips for Borscht

• Sauté Gently: When sautéing the cabbage, keep the heat medium-low to ensure it becomes tender without browning too much. Furthermore, this enhances the sweetness of the cabbage.
• Perfect Consistency: Make sure you cook and reduce the soup so it is rich and hearty. It should not be thin or watery.
• Use Seasonal Ingredients: Using fall seasonal produce will enhance the dish and lower the cost. Choose the freshest cabbage, onions, and beets, therefore maximizing flavor and nutrition.

Variations and Customizations for Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

• Add More Root Vegetables: Add rutabaga, parsnips, potatoes, or other root vegetables to add more seasonal flair, and to get more of that earthy goodness. Also, you should try adding other seasonal ingredients.

🧂If you absolutely must add salt then try to add it to taste, and in small amounts and only after tasting it first. The same goes for other “less healthy” additions, but the idea should be to try to limit and eventually remove adding them, over time, when you are ready.

After a few weeks of not eating a SAD diet your tastebuds reset and you’ll notice the natural sodium in foods, check out the great article, and subscribe to, Michael Corthell on Substack.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

1. Can I use a blender?

Yes. You can use a blender, food processor, or even a hand blender to make this recipe, although a spice grinder was what it was designed for so that it’s accessible to those with lower incomes or living a nomadic, RV/Van Life, or other limited living or cooking spaces, as well.

2. What can I use in place of tomatoes?

You can substitute the tomato paste for mashed/minced/blended beats if you have a nightshade allergy.

3. Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes! Borscht is actually better tasting once it’s had time to rest. I’ll often make it a day before I want it so the flavors have time to mingle and become more prominent.

4. Is this recipe suitable for a vegan diet?

Yes, this recipe is entirely plant-based, vegan-friendly, and whole-food plant-based using no animal products. As well as being oil, and free from added salts or added sugars. See all of the allergy friendly information here

5. What spices can I add for extra flavor?

Feel free to add spices like more garlic powder/granulated/fresh or shallots, more dill, or fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, tarragon, mint, basil, etc. for additional flavor.

6. Can I use different types of cabbage?

Yes! You can use any type of cabbage, such as red or Napa cabbage, depending on your preference and availability.

7. What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

Reheat in a pot on the stovetop for best results, a microwave is also acceptable, but it doesn’t give time for the flavors to co-mingle as much.

Conclusion: Traditional Ukranian Comfort Food Made Easy

This traditional Borscht is a comforting, plant-based dish that brings the richness of fall’s bounty into every spoonful. With its vibrant flavors, hearty vegetables, and warming spices, it’s perfect for family dinners or meal prepping throughout the week. Best of all, it’s gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and made entirely without oil, refined sugars, or added salt, making it as healthy as it is delicious. Share this wholesome, allergy-friendly recipe with friends and loved ones, and enjoy a guilt-free, nourishing classic together!

The Science – Sources

Please tell me how it turned out! Did you: try it, like it, hate it, change it, or do something else unexpected???

If I’ve made any mistakes, or something doesn’t make sense, or if you want more/less details, please let me know in the comments.

Stay nourished!

Grandma’s Hearty Borscht

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