Borscht

RUSSIAN BORSCHT

Book: Steve' diabetic recipe book
Chapter: SOUP

Beets, Cabbage, Beef. Very filling. Serve w/ heavy bread and lite sour cream. Very low carbs. The bread will add some to your meal to prevent a sugar low. Sodium levels are high but you can substitute fresh or lo salt versions for the canned items. No need to add sugar, xylitol or stevia. The soup is sweet enough as it is. Can add more vinegar, or add mushrooms and turnips. This is not a one beet, poor man's borscht. Very thick and hearty.
Serves: 16

2 pounds beef sirloin steaks, cut up 1/2 to 3/4 inch cubes. Remove as much fat as possible.
4 ounces bacon, cooked to near crisp in soup pot. Save fat for browning beef.
1 49 1/2-ounce can chicken broth
1 32-fluid ounce box beef broth
3 15-ounce cans sliced beets, drained and cut into 3/8 inch julienne or similar
1 medium onion, chopped
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced or pureed tomatoes
1 pound carrots, baby sized or sliced
1 pound shredded cabbage
2 tablespoons butter
Pepper, to taste
3 bay leaves
3 tablespoons vinegar
Lite sour cream, for garnish/topping

In a soup pot, place bay leaves, chicken and beef broths. Start to heat . In a high sided frying pan or pot, nearly crisp the bacon. Remove bacon, cut up or crumble and place in soup pot. In the bacon renderings, sweat or sauté the onions, then place them in soup pot. Brown the beef. Add to the soup pot. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
In the frying pan or pot add a little butter. Add carrots for a few minutes. Add cabbage for a few minutes. When the cabbage is wilted/reduced add to the soup pot. Add rest of ingredients (except sour cream) and simmer 15-30 minutes. You can use the canned beet juice if it isn't a high sodium brand, otherwise, discard. Too salty? Add some diced potato for last simmer. It doesn't really "suck up" the salt. It just spreads the salt around in the greater volume of veggies.

NUTRITION FACTS
Amount Per Serving
Calories 337 Calories from Fat 133
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 1507mg 76%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Sugars 5g
Protein 37g
Vitamin A 123% Vitamin C 34%
Calcium 2% Iron 21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.