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

Our Chefs Visit Katchkie Farm
Since I started working at Great Performances, there have been quite a few things that feel distinctly… GP. The jungle-like office, the colorful graffiti murals,

Fellowship Spotlight: David Quang Pham, Turnover: A New Leaf
Over the past year, David Quang Pham has continued developing Turnover: A New Leaf, the plant-based musical at the center of his 2024 Great Performances

Vano on Pkhali and the Flavors of Georgia
Chef Vano is an Event Chef at Great Performances. He represents Georgia (the country, not the state), where Pkhali (ფხალი), a vegetable pâté, is a common

April 2026 Food Festival: Pkhali (ფხალი) Vegetable Pâté
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 in

How We Say “I Love You, Earth” With Our Menus
When we think about how to say “I love you, Earth” with our menus, it starts at home with the way we look at food

Spring Carrot Top & White Bean Soup
Jump to Recipe About Chefs’ Choir® A chorus of culinary voices from Great Performances—our chefs step out of the kitchen to share recipes, stories, and

The Spare Burger: Flavor, Function, and a Smarter Food System
Every year, Earth Day gives us a moment to pause and think more intentionally about the choices we make. It can feel like a big,

Nourishing Every Mile: Supporting Cycle for Survival with MSK
Jump to Menu Cycle for Survival, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Equinox locations around Manhattan | Ronnie Davis, Managing Director Beginning in 2007, for