Polish · soup
Barszcz (Beet Soup / Borscht)
Barszcz (Beet Soup / Borscht) reads sweetness 6.5, allium 4.3 and earthy 3.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Polish soup, about 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 7.0 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 4.1 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 4.0 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 2.0 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.6 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 6.5 · Allium 4.3 · Earthy 3.7 · Sourness 3.6 · Umami 3.2 · Salinity 3.1 · Warm Spice 2.7 · Bitterness 2.0 · Fruity 1.8 · Richness 1.7 · Citrus 1.5 · Funk & Ferment 1.5 · Herbaceous 1.4 · Floral 1.1 · Nutty 0.9
What's in it (12)
- 1 1/2 lbs red beets, peeled and quartered
- 1 onion, halved
- 1 carrot
- 1 stalk celery root, cubed
- 3 cloves garlic
- 6 cups vegetable
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 allspice berries
- uszka dumplings for serving
Time & effort: about 30 min · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 83.3 kcal, 3.1 g protein, 1.8 g fat, 19 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Roast or simmer beets with aromatic vegetables in broth until the colour and sweetness are fully extracted.
- Strain to obtain a brilliantly clear, deep red liquid, then season with vinegar, a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper to achieve the right sweet-sour balance.
- Warm gently without boiling to preserve the vivid colour.
- Serve in cups or bowls with small mushroom-filled uszka dumplings floating on top.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Ajvar (Roasted Red Pepper and Aubergine Relish) — Serbian
- Urojo (Zanzibar Mix) — Swahili Coast
- Zacuscă (Autumn Roasted Aubergine and Pepper Preserve) — Romanian
- Black Bean Soup (Sopa de Frijoles Negros) — Cuban
- Fossolia (Green Bean and Carrot Stir-Fry) — Ethiopian
Keep reading: what sweetness, allium, earthy mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.