This Chicken Borscht is one of the variations of famous Ukrainian dish. Made with chicken, it’s lighter yet still packed with tons of flavour!
Hello everyone. I hope you’re doing well this week.
And I am excited today because I continue sharing ideas for the Soup Season. You can check previously posted Carrot Cheddar Soup and Celeriac Pear Soup.
Chicken Borscht
Today I am sharing the dish most of you at least heard of (Or even tried.) That’s Ukrainian Borscht – beetroot soup and probably the most famous Ukrainian recipe.
Please note this is not an authentic recipe. Indeed, it’s quite hard to say what would be an authentic Borscht recipe because so many variations exist. For instance, beef and pork are most commonly used for broth. This version suggests using chicken. You can make a vegetarian version, too.
Borscht Variations
Beetroots, as you can assume, are an important part of Borscht. Other common veggies include carrots, onions, potatoes, cabbage, and tomatoes. The traditional technique of preparing the soup is to sauté the vegetables separately from the meat and only then to combine them with the stock. This variation does not include potatoes that you can normally see in Borscht. You can add many other ingredients including prunes, mushrooms, or beans.
Even though there are certain recommended proportions, you can easily adjust it to your liking. Personally, I love my borscht thick, with lots of beets.
The main flavours of Borscht are sweet and sour. Because the natural sweetness of vegetables can vary, sugar is sometimes added. Lemon juice and vinegar can also help balance the flavour.
As you see, one dish but so many possible variations. But whatever way you choose, the result will be scrumptious.
More Ukrainian Recipes
Hrechaniks (Ukrainian Buckwheat Croquettes) with Turkey
Ukrainian Shulicks (with poppy seeds and honey)
I hope you like this Chicken Borscht, and you will try it soon. If you try it, let me know in this post or send me an Instagram message or share you photos adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.
Cheers!
Chicken Borscht
6-8
servings15
minutes1
hour20
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
About 2 pounds of skinless chicken thighs
8-10 cups water or vegetable stock
3-4 large beets, peeled and shredded or julienned
1 large carrot, peeled and shredded or julienned
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 tbsp. oil
1-2 tbsp. apple vinegar or lemon juice (or combination of both) or to taste
3 tbsp. tomato paste
2-3 bay leaves
~ 1 tsp. salt or to taste
pinch of sugar (optional)
black pepper, to taste
Directions
- Place chicken thighs, water (or broth), and bay leaves in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside to cool.
- Add the cabbage into the broth and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- In a meantime, preheat the oil in a large pan. Cook the onions and garlic, 5 minutes, until aromatic and translucent.
- Add the carrots and beets and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer the sautéed veggies to a pot along with tomato paste, vinegar (or lemon juice), pepper, and salt. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Chunk the cooked chicken and discard the bones. Return the chicken thighs to the soup, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Try and check for the seasonings. If the soup is not sweet enough, add a pinch 0f sugar. If it’s not sour enough, add a little of extra lemon juice or vinegar. If it’s too thick to your liking, add some boiling water or broth.
- Off heat and let the Borscht stay for some time to allow all the flavours to mingle. Serve with yogurt or sour cream, dill, and bread. Keep leftovers refrigerated for 3-4 days. Enjoy!
I so excited about this recipe. Thia is the way my mother (first generation American)made Borsch. My cousins and I think that when our grandmother left the old country this part of Ukrain was Poland.Thank you. I’ll make it now!
I am Ukrainian. I grew up eating borscht . my dad always made it with beef shanks. I make mine with chicken thighs. Your recipe is fairly similar to mine. Looks good!
I need a bowl of this gorgeous borscht right now Ben! What a great idea to garnish with dill. I can’t get over the beautiful color, it’s stunning.
Thank you!
I rarely make borscht for some reason — just not one of my traditions. Love the stuff, though, and I’m intrigued by this chicken version. Gotta try it! Thanks.
Thank you!
I have heard and seen borscht but never made an attempt to try it. You recipe looks very promising.
Thank you! You should try it.
My friend makes Borscht all the time but I don’t think he adds chicken to it. I’ll need to show him this recipe. Also I have never made Borscht myself so now with your recipe I have no excuse not to!
Thank you!
I love borscht. I haven’t had it with chicken, though. It seems to me that most of the borschts I’ve had were vegetarian … or at least vegetarian-seeming. So this is a real eye-opener. I love how you dressed up the borscht with greens; it’s very pretty.
Thank you!
I’ve been telling Laura that I want to make Borscht lately! I think it’s because it’s really cold outside, and I just want to mix things up a bit. Laura used a bunch of leftover red cabbage in a soup recently, and I joked that it looked like Borscht. Of course, it wasn’t…but the look was remarkably similar. Thanks for sharing this version, Ben!
Thank you David!
Never had borscht before and it seems just the right time to try one ! Thank you Ben ! :-)
Thank you!
Looks like such a hearty and inviting soup/stew — love the vibrant colour from the beets!
Thank you!
I have never had a borscht with chicken…something I need to try too. The colour and the flavour are amazing here, Ben.
Thank you!
I do love a good borscht and yours looks absolutely packed with flavor, Ben! Definitely need to give this a try while winter is in full swing!
Thank you!