Vegan Borscht

Description

A vegan version of a traditional Russian/Ukranian soup.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped (Optional)
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 beets, including greens, diced
  • 1 (16 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • ½ cup canned peeled and diced tomatoes
  • 2 potatoes, quartered
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss chard
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons dried dill weed
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 (16 ounce) package silken tofu

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent
  2. about 5 minutes. Set aside. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the celery
  3. carrots
  4. bell pepper
  5. beets including the greens
  6. whole tomatoes
  7. diced tomatoes
  8. potatoes
  9. Swiss chard
  10. and the onion mixture. Cook and stir until the chard begins to wilt
  11. 4 to 8 minutes. Stir in the vegetable broth
  12. water
  13. dill weed
  14. and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil
  15. and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour.
  16. Strain half the beets from the broth and place in a blender
  17. filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel
  18. and carefully start the blender
  19. using a few quick pulses to get the beets moving before leaving it on to puree. Add the tofu
  20. and continue pureeing until smooth. Stir the tofu mixture back into the pot. Simmer until the mixture is reduced by a third
  21. about another hour. Serve chilled or warm.

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 2 hrs 20 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 8

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