Ingredients

  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 4 cups low sodium mushroom broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup vegetable juice
  • 3 pieces bay leaves
  • 3 pieces medium carrots, cleaned, julienned
  • 2 pieces medium russet potatoes, cleaned, diced finely
  • 2 cups sweet and sour cabbage, from jar
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet onion
  • 1 piece medium parsley root, julienned
  • 4 pieces peppercorns
  • 1 piece small celery stalk, cleaned, thinly sliced
  • 1 piece garlic clove, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt, adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or beet kvas, adjust to taste
  • 1 cup sweet and sour beets, from jar, julienned
  • 1 cup cooked white beans
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill weed, divided
  • 36 pieces purchased mushroom dumplings/ravioli
  • 1 cup creme fraiche

Method

  • Place the vegetable broth, mushroom broth, water and vegetable juice into a very large stock pot set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.
  • Other than the last 6 ingredients, add in the remaining ingredients into the boiling liquid, and stir well.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a medium and cook until the carrots, potatoes and onions are semi-tender, about 10 minutes.
  • Add in the beets, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, and parsley, and cook for another 5 minutes. Adjust salt, pepper, lemon juice and sugar to taste.
  • Bring the soup to a boil, add in the white beans and the frozen or fresh mushroom dumplings/raviolis. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the dumplings rise to the top and the dough is cooked al dente (or for the time indicated on the dumpling package).
  • To serve, ladle into individual deep soup bowls generous portion of the borscht, making sure to have 3 cooked mushroom dumplings in each bowl.
  • Add some creme fraiche, as garnish. Sprinkle with some remaining chopped dill weed and/or parsley. Serve very warm.