Welcome to Slacktown, population: numerous. I am Slacky McSlack, Mayor of Slacktown. As you will see throughout March, it will not be a very prosperous cooking month. This is resultant of I have gone back to University to work on my non-existent Psychology career. So with study, work and the birthdays for the million of my friends that decided to be born around this time of year, I ain't got much time for the kitchen. "TRAVESTY!" you weep, "SACRILEGIOUS!" you yell. I know I is horrible GGJ Pilgrims, but before you stone me for my crimes, let's look at this interestingly hued Russian dish.
Borscht, although of Ukrainian origin, is generally more associated with Russia. The main ingredient being beetroot gives it that deep red-purple colour, but there are other chromatic variations such as orange and green borscht. Your next decision is to decide if you want it hot or cold. This impacts on what recipe you use. Hot borscht is generally a heart soup that includes starchy potatoes, carrots, other vegetables and meat. Whereas cold borscht, still made with beetroot, is mixed with a sour dairy (sour cream, soured milk, youghurt) and can include cucumber and radishes. And then there are the regional differences, from the wheat ladden Romanian borscht, to the dried mushroom styled Lithuanian borscht, the staple soup spreads across and beyond the nations of central and eastern Europe.
The Russian variety consists of the requisite beetroot, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, meat and broth. A dollop of sour cream is thrown on individual servings and then sprinkled with some dill (which I believe is one of the most underused herb). And if you feel this hearty soup won't fill you up, then you can always serve it with some bread.
Enjoy, or as they say in Russia, Приятного аппетита! (Prijatnovo appetita)
For some beetroot staining Russian times: http://www.ukraineorphans.net/id51.html
Difficulty: 3
Appearance: 4
Taste: 4
TOTAL: 11
There are a few processes going on here, and if takes less time if you multi-task by doing a few at a time. Not sure why, but cooking seems to be the only time that I can really multi-task. The Molefaces would say that is because I have undiagnosed ADHD. I don't know about......ooh there is something shiny over there!
Now even though I have nothing but pure malevolence towards beetroot, I was loving the colour of the Borscht something fierce. It was a deep and vibrant pink that stained the vegetables and meat, even staining my hands making it look like I had slain people.
Forgive me Russian people, for I am completely biased on this dish. I HATE BEETROOT!!! Anything that stains you like you were involved in a human sacrifice should not be eaten. So let's take beetroot out of the equation (of a dish where beetroot is the main ingredient), and then I can evaluate Borscht. Ah how I love a hearty meal consisting of a broth, vegetables and meat. It is relatively inexpensive and makes a lot of soup (we had so much I could have fed the Russian people twice!). And so filling, sometimes there is no room for bread. A good winter staple. Now if we were to include the beetroot. Let's just say that thankfully it contained meat, for it was the meat that saved the dish. The beetroot permeated everything! This would be delectable to those that actually like the horrid tubular vegetable, but not for me. Although I will say that it did taste better the next day (lasted for a few days). And it was an ingenious idea to throw some sour cream and dill on top. So don't take my repugnance for beetroot as a reason to sample Russia's national dish, give Borscht a try!
(For those playing at home, Russia has participated in 14 Eurovisions since their debut in 1994. Since 2000 they have fared quite well in the finals finishing 3rd twice (2003, 2007), 2nd twice (2000, 2006) and winning the 2008 contest. It has been said this was due to a voting bias of neighbouring countries, but there will be no political talk here. For the 2003 contest, Russia sent the controversial duo t.A.T.u as their representatives. Remember them? For the past two years they have just been out of the top 10, hopefully this year brings them better luck.)
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