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Beet Soup

(recipe, Caroline Cummins)

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Introduction

If you're a beet purist, you can make this soup with nothing more than beets, water, lemon juice, and salt and pepper; the resulting soup will be delicate, like essence of beets. But if you're in the mood for something heartier, add the extra vegetables and use stock. Either way, both versions benefit from a bit of sour cream or yogurt added at the table.

Ingredients

1. 1 Tbsp. oil
2. 1 medium onion, chopped
3. 2 celery stalks, chopped
4. 1 large carrot, chopped
5. 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
6. 6 cups water or stock (chicken or vegetable)
7. 5 cups peeled and chopped beets (about 3 or 4 bunches of beets, or 8 to 10 medium beets)
8. 1 large potato, peeled and chopped (optional)
9. 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, or to taste
10. Salt and pepper, to taste
11. Sour cream or plain yogurt, for garnish
12. Minced fresh dill and/or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Steps

1. In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, sauté the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic in the oil until translucent. Meanwhile, warm the stock. Add stock and the chopped beets and potato and simmer until the beets and potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat.
2. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup to a thick smoothness. Ladle into bowls and serve with dollops of sour cream or yogurt on top and a sprinkling of the fresh herbs, if using.