Who Says Borscht is Only for Cold Weather?

 


Borscht transcends seasons. Depending on how you prepare the soup, it can be eaten all year round. There’s only one way to find out if you don’t take our word for it. Try out our summer beet borscht recipe provided by the culinary geniuses at Lester Senior Living in NJ. Our summer borscht can be served hot or cold. However, if you do decide to serve it cold, you will have to prepare the soup a day in advance so it can chill properly overnight.

Summer Borscht Ingredients

  • Beets unpeeled and scrubbed (approx. 2 lbs to serve 8-10 people)
  • 2 carrots unpeeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 2 medium onions (1 cut in quarters, 1 diced)
  • 6 garlic cloves (3 minced, 3 peeled and left whole)
  • 3 bay leaves
  • Kosher salt (2 tbsp.)
  • Whole black peppercorns (2 tbsp.)
  • Caraway seeds (2 tbsp.)
  • Extra virgin olive oil (2 tbsp.)
  • Honey (3 tbsp.) *Use hot honey if you prefer a little spice.
  • Apple cider vinegar (3 tbsp.)
  • Cold water (9 cups)
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh dill for garnish

How to Make Summer Beet Borscht

  1. Take 1 lb of the beets and wrap each one in foil and set them on a baking sheet. Roast the beets at 400 degrees until they can be easily pierced with a fork (approximately 40 minutes to an hour). Once they’re done roasting, the skin should peel off easily under cold running water. After all the beets have been peeled, dice them into bite-sized chunks and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  2. While the beets are roasting, grab a large soup pot and combine the other half of the beets, carrots, quartered onion, celery, whole garlic cloves, caraway seeds, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Fully submerge the ingredients in water (approximately 9 cups). Bring to a gentle boil and then reduce the heat and simmer on low for about an hour.
  3. Grab a bowl and fill it up with water and ice to chill the boiled beets. After the beets have cooled down, peel and coarsely chop them. Strain the remaining broth through a fine mesh strainer into a larger bowl and discard the remaining solids.
  4. Clean your soup pot (or grab another one, we don’t judge) and set it over medium heat. Pour in your olive oil and saute the diced onion and minced garlic until fragrant and the onions appear golden brown, approx. 3-4 minutes.
  5. Add the beet broth and chopped boiled beets from earlier into the soup pot with the sauteed garlic and onion. Let it simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can transfer small amounts of the soup to a blender and puree one batch at a time.
  7. After the soup is pureed and back in the pot, add in your apple cider vinegar and honey and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
  8. A. If you’re serving the borscht hot, Place about 2 tbsp of the roasted beets into the bottom of everyone’s bowl and then ladle the hot soup over top. Garnish with sour cream and fresh chopped dill.
    B. If you’re serving the borscht cold, remove the soup from heat and let it cool completely before refrigerating overnight. Before serving the next day, make sure you stir it well and give it a taste-test. The soup may need more salt, add a teaspoon at a time until it’s to your liking. Once the taste is up to par, serve the same way with the roasted beets at the bottom of everyone’s bowl and garnish with sour cream and dill.

Seniors Eat Well at Lester Senior Living in Morris County

Residents at our senior living community in Morris County get to eat recipes just like this one, every day! The culinary-trained chefs at Lester love to serve new recipes that are not only delicious, but prioritize nutrition, dietary needs and even Kosher preferences for each senior resident. Some resident-favorite meals include lean herb-roasted chicken, fresh summer salads and hearty matzo ball soup – just to name a few variations. We also have snacks available around the clock for residents who may not be hungry at scheduled meal times. One thing’s for sure, nobody is going hungry or unsatisfied at Lester Senior Living!

To learn more about how we prioritize senior nutrition in Morris County, NJ, please contact us today: (973) 929-2725. You could also visit our website for more information on the senior living communities a part of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation (JCHC): https://jchcorp.org/

Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/who-says-borscht-is-only-for-cold-weather/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Does Supported Independent Living Mean for Seniors?

Image
It comes as no surprise that seniors would like to remain independent for as long as possible. However, this is only feasible when they have the right supports in place. At Lester Senior Living, our independent seniors have the opportunity each day to explore our community as they please. They wake when refreshed and eat when they are hungry, and the only schedule they follow is the one they created themselves. The best part is that support services are readily available if needed to ensure they stay active within our community. In this article, our senior caregivers in Morris County will demonstrate what independent living with support looks like in our community.   Independent Living with Support at Lester Senior Living in NJ  The independent living apartments and assisted living apartments are located in two different buildings separated by the main lobby. While residents from both of these distinctions can come together for meals, fitness classes, movie nights and other activ
Read more

How Seniors Can Avoid Heat Exhaustion

Image
  We love the sun, but we hate the heat! Being that it’s summer in NJ, we’ll be sure to see our share of heat waves. Exposure to extreme heat can result in heat-related illnesses, especially for seniors. Their bodies are less able to regulate their temperatures and cool themselves. When our bodies heat rapidly or when we lose fluids due to perspiration or dehydration, common conditions are cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. In some cases, hyperthermia (absorbing more heat than our bodies can handle) is fatal.  Warning signs of heat-related illnesses Heat exhaustion is characterized as dehydration due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The main symptoms include muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, fatigue and confusion. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related condition. Heat stroke is dehydration coupled with the body physically overheating and unable to bring down its own temperature. The most obvious sign is a body temperature of 104° or higher. Other symptoms includ
Read more

Making Meals More Enjoyable for Your Loved One with Dementia

Image
Mealtime can be a challenging experience for seniors with dementia and their caregivers. As the day progresses and the sun starts to set, older adults with dementia may experience increased confusion, agitation, and anxiety—a phenomenon known as sundowning syndrome. The difficulties that come with sundowning can make it even tougher for both the senior and their caregiver to enjoy meal times together. However, with patience, understanding, and some practical strategies, it’s possible to make meals more enjoyable for everyone involved. Here are some invaluable tips provided by caregivers from our  professional memory care program in Morris County, NJ :  Create a Comfortable Space Just like dressing your best to feel your best, it’s important to set the stage for a pleasant meal in order to actually have a pleasant meal. Create a calm and familiar environment free from distractions. Dim the lights slightly to reduce glare, turn off noisy TVs or music players, and if the weather permits,
Read more