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

5 Ways to Use Your CSA Box This Month
CSA season is almost here, and at Katchkie Farm—the same place our students harvest vegetables, explore ingredients, and cook together in The Sylvia Center’s Learning

Paddling for Purpose: Great Performances Joins the Amazing Bronx River Flotilla
The Bronx River Alliance’s annual Amazing Bronx River Flotilla is a one-of-a-kind fundraising event where participants embark on a five-mile journey down the Bronx River.

GP Behind the Curtain: The Case of the Exploding Truck
“Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.” We were a little less than two hours before the beginning of an event, and the Great Performances

May 2026 Food Festival: Bouchées à la Reine (Vol-au-Vent) with Spaetzle
Jump to Recipe Each month, our Food Festival series celebrates a single ingredient or dish through a chef-driven recipe, practical tips, and serving inspiration rooted

Hervé Knecht on Bouchées à la Reine and the Taste of Coming Home
For Chef Hervé Knecht, Bouchées à la Reine (Vol-au-Vent) with Spaetzle is a dish rooted in memory. Growing up in Alsace, it was something served

A Garden, By Design
At The Sylvia Center, we often talk about the power of hands-on learning. A few weeks from now, our students will walk into the Learning

Big Laughs, Bigger Purpose: Inside Comedy vs Cancer 2026
Jump to Menu Memorial Sloan Kettering Comedy vs Cancer | Jazz at Lincoln Center | Ronnie Davis, Managing Director I adore this event and have

GP Behind the Curtain: The Case of the Too-Short Linens
This story is a disaster of my own making, unfortunately. I had been an Event Producer at GP for about seven months and was working