Russian · soup
Borscht (Борщ)
Borscht (Борщ) reads umami 6.2, richness 4.8 and sourness 4.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Russian soup, about 1 hr 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 4.9 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 4.8 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 3.1 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.0 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 6.2 · Richness 4.8 · Sourness 4.6 · Sweetness 4.5 · Allium 3.8 · Earthy 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.8 · Salinity 2.6 · Funk & Ferment 2.3 · Fruity 1.4 · Warm Spice 1.4 · Bitterness 1.3 · Floral 1.0 · Heat 0.8 · Citrus 0.5
What's in it (16)
- 3 medium beetroot
- 1 lb beef brisket
- 1/2 head white cabbage
- 2 potatoes
- 2 carrots
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup dill
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Time & effort: about 1 hr 40 min (30 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 103.5 kcal, 7.1 g protein, 5.2 g fat, 7.1 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Simmer beef in salted water to make stock, then shred the meat and return to the pot.
- Grate and sauté beetroot with a splash of vinegar and sugar, then add to the broth along with shredded cabbage, diced potatoes, and a carrot-onion soffritto with tomato paste.
- Simmer until all vegetables are tender, adjust seasoning, and serve topped with a spoonful of sour cream and fresh dill.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Shchi (Щи) — Russian
- Ciorbă de Perișoare (Sour Meatball Soup with Borș and Lovage) — Romanian
- Kofta-Spiced Beef and Rice Stuffed Zucchini — Middle Eastern
- Stuffed Pepper (Tolma) — Georgian
- Shepherd's Pie — British
Keep reading: what umami, richness, sourness 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.