MAE MAE'S BEETROOT BORSCHT
by Great Performances
We’ve got a soft spot for beets at Great Performances. We grow them at Katchkie Farm, our organic farm in upstate New York, and often featured them on the menu at our own Mae Mae Cafe. From our signature beet chips to our fan favorite beet burger, we celebrate the beet. Here we’re sharing a delicious beetroot borscht – that we served throughout the colder months at Mae Mae and especially around Valentine’s Day.
INGREDIENTS
PROCEDURE
- 1 lb raw beets, peeled and chopped
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 celery stick, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 L vegetable stock + additional water if required
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sour cream, horseradish and dill to serve
- Gently fry the finely chopped onion, garlic, celery and garlic in the grapeseed oil over a very low heat until soft and aromatic.
- Add the chopped beets. Cover with stock and add extra water if required until you have 4cm above the level of the beetroot.
- Add a bay leaf and leave to simmer with a lid semi-covering until the beetroot is soft, around 45 minutes.
- Puree the soup then allow to simmer for another 10-15 minutes to thicken and concentrate the flavors. Season with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper before serving. Top with horseradish, sour cream and fresh dill.
More Recipes

Sandy’s Pasta Fagioli: A Multi-Generational Family Staple
Handwritten on note-cards, tucked away in over-stuffed binders, or scribbled in shorthand on the back of a receipt, family recipes always seem to find a

November Food Festival: Pasta Fagioli
Jump to Recipe Each month, our Food Festival series celebrates a dish through its ingredients, preparation, personal stories, and the people who bring food to

How to Plan a Holiday Party in NYC: A Guide for Company Teams
Asked to plan this year’s company holiday party? A step-by-step guide to dates, budget, venues and menus for corporate holiday parties in NYC.

The Hardest Part of Changing Hospitality Partners Isn’t Necessarily the Food
When a mission-driven organization in Midtown brought in a new workplace hospitality provider, the menu was the easy part. The real work was making the change land with everyone the program serves.

A Little Tradition, a Little Adventure, and a Lot of Thanksgiving
Jump to Recipe When two chefs are planning Thanksgiving dinner, keeping things simple is easier said than done. One of us starts with a traditional

Behind the Fall Menu: A Conversation with Chef Andrew Smith
What does it take to turn the flavors of fall into a menu that works for events of every size? For Great Performances Culinary Director

Opening Our Doors: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Great Performances
Last weekend, Great Performances had the pleasure of participating in Open House New York for the third year in a row! We welcomed 75 guests

October Food Festival: Sharlotka Easy Apple Cake
Jump to Recipe Each month, our Food Festival series celebrates a dish through its ingredients, preparation, personal stories, and the people who bring food to