Celebrate Spring: Russian Spinach Soup

By Nolan Marciniec

I know that many gar­den­ers look for­ward to har­vest­ing those first peas of the sea­son. Although I under­stand their delight in fresh green things after a long win­ter, I’ve nev­er been a big fan of peas. For me, it’s that first crop of spinach in the cold frame. 

Many years ago, a neigh­bor gave my Mom this recipe for a sim­ple soup guar­an­teed to van­quish win­ter and wel­come spring.

1 lb fresh spinach, washed and chopped
1 – 2 car­rots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 – 2 turnips or 1 – 2 parsnips, cut into chunks
1 – 2 pota­toes, cut into chunks
4 cups chick­en broth
Dill, prefer­ably fresh, to taste
Hard-boiled eggs, one per serv­ing
Sour cream

Place car­rot, onion, turnip/​parsnip, pota­to, and dill in a soup pot. Add chick­en broth. Bring to a boil. Low­er the heat and sim­mer for about 20 – 30 minutes.

Add spinach and sim­mer for a few minutes. 

Serve hot with a sliced hard-boiled egg and a dol­lop of sour cream.


Spring 2019

Volume 37 , Number 1

Share this

The Latest from Landis

Mar 14, 2023

Picturing Landis through the year

Scenic Landis Arboretum just begs to be captured by photographers, professionals and amateurs alike. Enjoy... read more

Mar 14, 2023

2022 Annual Report

View or Download read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Nolan Marciniec

Re-thinking Garden Pests

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Fred Lape, founder of the George Landis Arboretum

Barn Swallows

In this poem, Arboretum founder Fred Lape calls our attention to the “commonplace” miracle of... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Anita Sanchez

Things Are Looking Up

Tree canopy -- Anita Sanchez Long ago I worked at a nature center, leading walks... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Laurie Freeman

S-L-O-W Birding: A Primer for Beginners

Are you considering birding? Perhaps you’ve heard that birding is a great way to enjoy... read more

News Archive