Chilled Summer Borscht
Yields: 4-6 servings
INGREDIENTS
6 to 8 baby beets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter
1 sweet onion, peeled and chopped
1 small celery root, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 quart vegetable broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
Radish and Cucumber Salad
Sour cream for garnish (optional)
PREPARATION
Wrap the beets in foil and bake them at 400° F for 1 hour or until fork tender. (Or cook them in boiling water.) Cool and slip off the skins. Coarsely chop them.
In a heavy pot, heat the oil or butter and sauté the onion, celery root and garlic for 5 minutes or until the onions are tender and lightly golden. Stir in the tomato paste and sugar and cook for 1 minute more. Add the beets, broth, vinegar and dill. Cook for 5 minutes, to meld the flavors. Season well with salt and pepper. Allow to cool then puree in batches until smooth. Add more broth if it is too thick. Chill completely.
Serve garnished with the Radish and Cucumber Salad, sour cream and dill sprigs and pass the pepper mill.
Recipe modified with permission from PCC Natural Markets.
Recipe and photo courtesy of http://strongertogether.coop/
