Winter and summer pleasures … popular hot or cold

At lunchtime, soup is a must, or it is served at home as a starter for dinner. Red beet soup or borshch, eaten all year long, satisfies cravings for the bounty of fresh produce available during the spring and summer months and sustains through the winter. A borshch including pork, ham, and other meats, along with an ample supply of beets and vegetables like cabbage and potatoes is usually filling enough to serve as a meal, while soups such as Wild Mushroom Soup and Fresh Pea Soup are light and elegant starters, often followed by potato pancakes and a more substantial dessert. While meat or meat stock is incorporated into most Ukrainian soups, vegetarian soups are popular during Lent.