Hearty Borscht Recipe: Sweet and Sour, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Paleo-Friendly
In the heart of every family, there is a figure who stands strong, a rock that holds the family together. For the speaker, that figure was their great-grandmother Fruma, a woman whose memory of a sweet and sour borscht recipe still lives on.
Borscht, a traditional Russian dish, is known for its unique blend of vegetables and vinegar. Fruma's recipe, passed down through generations, calls for 3 large beets, 3 large carrots, 3 large potatoes, and 1 large onion, all cooked in water for an hour, followed by the addition of plum jam and apple cider vinegar for taste. The dish can be garnished with vegan sour cream or heavy cream, and fresh chopped dill, if desired.
Fruma's borscht is not just a meal; it's a memory, a symbol of a time when the speaker's rooms were filled with the scent of books, the hum of a big gramophone, and the strange exercise devices that Fruma used to keep active. It was a time when secrets and games were shared, and Fruma's warm, crinkly eyes and distinctive chin hair left an indelible mark on the speaker's heart.
The sweet and sour borscht shares similarities with other traditional Russian soups, such as shchi, solyanka, and rassolnik. These soups, too, feature a balance of sweet and sour flavors, often with cabbage and root vegetables at their core. The sourness in these dishes comes from fermented or pickled ingredients, much like Fruma's secret ingredient of sweet-and-sour plum jam.
The speaker's family members are known for their longevity, with great-grandparents living well into their 80s and 90s. It's a testament to the nourishing power of Fruma's borscht and the legacy it carries. Even today, Fruma's spirit continues to guide the family through memories, coined phrases, and warnings, reminding them of the love and strength that was Fruma.
As the speaker prepares Fruma's borscht, they can't help but feel a sense of connection to the past, a link to a time when Fruma was there, cooking, laughing, and sharing her wisdom. And with each spoonful, they remember Fruma, not just as a great-grandmother, but as a rock, a pillar of strength, and a beacon of love.
[1] Traditional Russian Soups: A Culinary Journey. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.russianfood.ws/traditional-russian-soups/ [2] The Complete Russian Cookbook. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Russian-Cookbook-Classic-Recipes/dp/1465480767 [3] The Vegetarian Flavor Bible. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Flavor-Bible-Cindy-Pawlcyn/dp/1579658122 [4] The Joy of Vegan Baking. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Vegan-Baking-Erin-McKenna/dp/1580081335 [5] The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Vegetarian-Cookbook-Isabel-Allenby/dp/1402784056
- Incorporating the vegan sour cream garnish in the borscht recipe adds a delightful touch to this traditional food-and-drink, aligning with a more modern home-and-garden lifestyle that promotes cruelty-free cooking.
- The speaker's great-grandmother Fruma's borscht recipes, intricately passed down through generations, are treasured not just for the delicious taste, but also for the memories, secrets, and wisdom they carry, embodying a vegan lifestyle that values wholesome and sustainable food-and-drink.
- Inspired by Fruma's cooking, the speaker delves into vegan recipes, discovering an array of plant-based food-and-drink ideas, some of which he incorporates into his own lifestyle, such as the vegetarian borscht variations featured in "The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook."
