Ukrainian Borscht

Name: Ukrainian Borscht
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Ukraine
Ingredients: 1 lb pork ribs or beef shank; 10 cups water; 4 beets, peeled and julienned; 2 carrots, grated; 1 onion, diced; 3 potatoes, cubed; 1/4 head cabbage, shredded; 1 can (15 oz) white beans, drained; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp vinegar; 3 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and black pepper; Sour cream and pampushky (garlic bread rolls), for serving

8 servings30 min prep90 min cookMedium Ukraine

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Ukrainian Borscht

Story updated September 17, 2026

Borscht is widely regarded by food historians as having originated in territory that is now Ukraine, likely evolving from medieval soups using wild hogweed before beets became the dominant ingredient. UNESCO inscribed Ukrainian borscht cooking on its intangible cultural heritage list in 2022, amid renewed attention to its Ukrainian roots.

Ingredients

Scale:· 8 servings

1 lb pork ribs or beef shank
10 cups water
4 beets, peeled and julienned
2 carrots, grated
1 onion, diced
3 potatoes, cubed
1/4 head cabbage, shredded
1 can (15 oz) white beans, drained
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and black pepper
Sour cream and pampushky (garlic bread rolls), for serving

Instructions

1Simmer the pork ribs in water for 60 minutes, skimming foam, until tender; remove the meat, shred, and reserve the broth.
2Sauté onion and carrots, then add beets and cook 5 minutes; stir in tomato paste and vinegar.
3Add potatoes to the simmering broth and cook 10 minutes, then add the beet mixture, cabbage, and white beans.
4Simmer 20-25 minutes until all vegetables are tender.
5Stir in garlic and the shredded pork, and season with salt and pepper.
6Simmer 5 more minutes, then serve hot with sour cream and garlic bread rolls.

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