Bortsch Soup inspired from Halinas - Chapel Hill, NC

inspired from Halinas restaurant in the old Chapel Hill, NC!

A variation on the traditional Russian, peasant soup, can be served hot or cold.

1 lb beets
2 medium potatoes (about 4 oz. when mashed)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable stock or water
3/4 cup sour cream

for the garnish:
4 tablespoons freshly chopped chives or parsley
sour cream (optional)

Cook the beets until tender, then peel and slice. Boil the potatoes and mash them.
Put the cooled beets, mashed potato, chopped onion an dlemon juice in a blender or food processor and puree. Add salt and pepper, vegetable stock and sour cream and puree for a further 1 minute.
Place the soup in the fridge and chill for 1 hour, then pour into individual serving dishes and sprinkle a little chopped chives or parsley on top to garnish, follow with a dollop of sour cream if desired