Chilled Russian Borscht

Ingredients

• 2 pounds medium beets, peeled and quartered
• 11 cups water
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 pound Kirby cucumbers—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup finely diced radishes
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 3 large hard-cooked eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dill
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving

Steps

1. In a large pot, cover the quartered beets with the water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat until the beets are tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beets to a plate.
2. Coarsely shred the beets in a food processor. Return them to the pot and add the sugar, lemon juice and cider vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate the soup until chilled, for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
3. Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the potato cubes and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain and cool under cold water. Pat dry and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the cucumbers, radishes, scallions, eggs, dill and parsley.
4. Ladle the chilled borscht into bowls. Garnish with the vegetable and chopped egg mixture, top with a generous dollop of sour cream and serve.