Getting crispy potatoes with a good strong lemon garlic flavor is tricky. Not having it eat your day in the process is also tricky.

This soup can be made with pretty much whatever veggies you have lying around. If you skip the beets, you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone it’s borsch. The nitrites in celery help preserve things, so don’t skip the celery. Borsch tastes even better after a couple or three days in the fridge.