We all know Cyndi Lauper for hit songs like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” her vibrant hair color and her signature eccentric style. It’s no secret that she’s the embodiment of 1980s pop, but perhaps a lesser-known fact is that the singer also enjoys getting creative in the kitchen.
In an episode of Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware earlier this week, she opened up about taking on the role of sous chef for her mother at an early age. Cyndi even shared that she used to cook for her crew while touring, and there was one surprising dish she made time after time—borscht.
If you don’t know what borscht is, it’s a hearty Eastern European soup that is often made with beets, cabbage, beef and other vegetables. The beets add some true colors to the soup, providing a rich red hue and plenty of nutrients. There’s no doubt that it’s a dish that’s warming and certainly flavorful, though it might be a surprising choice for an on-the-go tour meal.
Hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware surprised Lauper by preparing some freshly made borscht, which they enjoyed throughout the episode. The pop star discussed how the soup habit began, sharing that she learned how to make the dish for one of her friends while touring.
“Well, my friend Jutta, who does my hair … she likes it. And so we’d be on the road, and I looked up different recipes, and I started to make borscht for her,” Lauper said, also mentioning that she always made a vegetarian version since she doesn’t eat beef. We think this was a sweet way of showing appreciation for her friend and crew member.
Even if you’re not performing hit songs like Cyndi Lauper, borscht is a delicious dish that’s worth trying. Our Borscht with Beef stays pretty true to the original style, but if you’re looking for something similar to Cyndi’s recipe, you’ll love this meatless version—just make sure to use vegetable broth. Or if you want to elevate the dish even more, try another vegetarian option where we add a bright and herby yogurt sauce to cool things down.
Either way, now is a great opportunity to channel your inner pop star by making some soup!
