The organizers of the Sochi Olympics hope you like beets. Planners expect to serve copious amounts of borscht, the famous beet-based soup, to spectators throughout the city—, to be exact.
As NPR , this isn’t without some irony. Despite its prevalence as a Russian culinary staple, borscht originates from Ukraine. In fact, when Ukrainians protested against Russian policies in the past, they often served borscht to reaffirm their national identity.
Borscht styles range from the cold and sweet Jewish version to the Ukrainian iteration, typically served hot with pork and sour cream. If you’re headed to Sochi, expect a vegetable-centric style with sweet and sour scents.
And, if you’re not going to make it to Russia next month, try one of our six Sochi-inspired recipes, including eggplant caviar, wild mushroom stroganoff, and, of course, borscht.