Despite being sick as a dog, cold having seemingly turned to bronchitis, I did optimistically plan m menu and place my weekly grocery order. All this really meant was that I ended up with a ton of vegetables that I didn't use as planned and didn't want to waste, and that I was even more aware than usual of what my freezer contained as I was breezing through its contents rather than cooking as per usual.
Freezer beets and kielbasa + cabbage and other veggies from the fridge's weekly load = a restorative, sweet and sour borscht-like soup. And, of course, even if you don't happen to have pint jars of grated beets in their own juice in your freezer, this soup is worth making from scratch and freezing for the next time you have a cold. It is also very versatile so, as my friend Marjorie would say, use what you've got.
2 cups grated raw beets
2 cups beet juice
1/2 red onion, finely sliced into half moons
3 leeks, finely sliced into rounds
1/3 large Napa cabbage, halved and finely sliced into half moons
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup, carrot greens, finely chopped
1/4 cup dill, finely chopped
1 kielbasa, cut into rounds
2 cups water
1 cup red wine
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 tsps olive oil
Salt to taste
Heat the oil in a large stock pot over medium heat, along with the onions, leeks and the kielbasa. Cook , stirring often, until the onions have started to become translucent and the leeks and kielbasa have released any juices. This will take about 5 minutes.
Add the grated beets and carrots, the beet juice, the cabbage, the red wine and the water. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Cook for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is nearly cooked through.
Add the honey, the red wine vinegar and salt to taste. Adjust the seasoning - add more vinegar or honey to get the level of sweet and sourness that works for your palate.
Finely, add the chopped carrot greens and dill and stir in to allow the greens to wilt.
Serve at once, as is if sick and with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of dill if well.