BEET BORSCHT

This delicious soup is flavored in the traditional way with Polish sausage.

8 first-course servings (about 1¼ cups each)

8 ounces low-fat smoked Polish sausage, sliced (½-inch)

2 teaspoons margarine or butter

6 cups reduced-sodium fat-free beef broth

1 small head red cabbage, thinly sliced or shredded

4 medium beets, peeled, julienned

2 carrots, julienned

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

2–3 teaspoons sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Chopped dill weed, as garnish

1. Sauté sausage in margarine in Dutch oven until browned, about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except salt, pepper, and dill weed; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; sprinkle each bowl of soup with dill weed.

Per Serving:

Calories: 120

% of calories from fat: 25

Fat (gm): 0.4

Saturated fat (gm): 0.6

Cholesterol (mg): 17.2

Sodium (mg): 437

Protein (gm): 10.9

Carbohydrate (gm): 13.1

Exchanges:

Milk: 0.0

Vegetable: 3.0

Fruit: 0.0

Bread: 0.0

Meat: 1.0

Fat: 0.0