Chilled Russian Borscht

• Recipe by Anya von Bremzen

This luscious beet soup, served with a dollop of rich, tart sour cream and plenty of salady garnishes (cubed boiled potatoes, crunchy diced radishes, chopped hard-boiled eggs and fragrant, coarsely chopped dill), seems the very essence of Russian cooking: sustaining food that still carries hints of its homey peasant influences. Borscht, especially when served cold, is delicious with a lightly earthy, berry-inflected rosé, such as the berry-scented 2007 Mas de Gourgonnier rosé or the 2006 Château d’Aquéria.

Ingredients

1. 2 pounds medium beets, peeled and quartered
2. 11 cups water
3. 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
4. 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
5. 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
7. 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8. 1 pound Kirby cucumbers—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
9. 1 cup finely diced radishes
10. 4 scallions, thinly sliced
11. 3 large hard-cooked eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped
12. 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dill
13. 1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
14. Sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving

Directions

1. In a large pot, cover the quartered beets with the water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat until the beets are tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beets to a plate.
2. Coarsely shred the beets in a food processor. Return them to the pot and add the sugar, lemon juice and cider vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate the soup until chilled, for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
3. Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the potato cubes and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain and cool under cold water. Pat dry and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the cucumbers, radishes, scallions, eggs, dill and parsley.
4. Ladle the chilled borscht into bowls. Garnish with the vegetable and chopped egg mixture, top with a generous dollop of sour cream and serve.

Make Ahead

The borscht can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Prepare the garnishes just before serving.