Around this time of year, I always make borscht. My daughter, who loves the color pink, said, "I want to eat something with beets!" That reminded me—it’s borscht season. Since 2022, making the first borscht of the season has become a tradition in my family, lasting through the winter until spring.
While cooking borscht, I thought about writing this post with a wish for peace and of course simply wanted to share this hearty soup perfect for the season.
In February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. Even though I was safe in Germany, I remember feeling overwhelmed, recovering from COVID-19 while watching the news. In spring, I found out about a call for cultural projects related to Ukraine by a local arts and culture organization.
KDFS: Kulturfonds Sachsen-Ukraine
As an artist who loves cooking and eating, I started thinking about a project that could connect people through food—like a "red thread" connecting hearts through our stomachs. This idea became “Ukrainian Film and Food Evening.” We cooked with Ukrainians living in the city, shared traditional dishes, watched Ukrainian films, and donated the proceeds to humanitarian projects. A local magazine helped us to promote the event.
We hosted the event twice, and both times we served borscht made with a recipe taught to us by a talented Ukrainian mother who dreams of working as a cook in Germany. The first event was held around this time in late autumn, and last year, I found myself reminiscing as I made borscht again, wishing for peaceful days to return.
The recipe I learned was posted as part of my Soup Stories series. It’s a warming soup with gentle flavors from root vegetables, perfect for cold winters. I hope you’ll give it a try. You may have an image meat is must for borscht but veg version can be done with white beans.
Soup Stories #10: Ukrainian Borscht
This year, I made borscht again, wishing for peace. It was disheartening to hear stories from my Ukrainian artist friend who helped us secure film rights for our screening. The situation in Germany has been gradually changing and there are difficulties. I also as a immigrant in Germany, this saddens me.
Even here in Germany, where we enjoy relative safety, I notice rising costs, poor manners in public spaces, and a sense of stress hanging over the community. It can be just my age made me feel so, but I feel that people are more tense than before.
I hope peaceful days return soon. I want to live slowly, appreciating what I have, and spreading small acts of kindness wherever I can. One day, I’d love to make borscht again and share it with everyone.
この時期ボルシチを作ります。子供に「ビーツを食べたい！」と言われ、「そうそう、ボルシチのシーズンだ」と。2022年からの3年間、この時期にシーズンの初めのボルシチを作って、春までお世話になります。
ボルシチを作りながら、なんで我が家の定番になったのか、平和への願いを込めて投稿しようと思いました。今回は、メインの部分はnoteに書いて、noteとHiveを橋渡ししてみようと思います。もしよかったらnoteの記事にもいいねしていただけるとうれしいです！