Poltava Borshch with Chicken and Dumplings

Poltava is a pretty, quaint city on the Vorskla River in eastern Ukraine. Chicken and halushky (small “drop dumplings”) come to the borshch forefront in this region. Cured pork belly bacon (salo) is traditionally used to sauté the vegetables, but melted bacon drippings, butter, or even oil can also be used if salo is not available. When served, a piece of chicken is put into each diner’s bowl along with a few halushky, and then the soup is ladled over top. I have