Belarusian Kholodnik: Chilled Beetroot Soup
Belarusian Kholodnik is a traditional, refreshing cold beetroot soup, perfect for warm weather. This vibrant and flavorful dish combines grated vegetables with kefir and sparkling water to create a light, yet satisfying meal. Often served as a main course or substantial appetizer, it is garnished with sour cream and hard-boiled eggs for added richness.
Ingredients
🥕 3 large beetroots, pre-boiled and grated
🥚 5 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and grated
🌿 1 bunch of green onions, chopped
🧂 2 teaspoons salt
🥒 5 medium cucumbers, peeled and grated
🍋 1 lemon, juice extracted
🥛 1 liter of kefir, 2.5% fat
💧 1 liter of cold sparkling mineral water, Обуховская-1 brand
Instructions
1- Prepare Beetroot:
- Boil 3 large beetroots until they are tender. Alternatively, cut them into pieces and microwave them in a bag for about 15 minutes.
- Allow them to cool before grating finely.
2- Prepare Eggs:
- Hard-boil 5 eggs, then cool and peel them.
- Set them aside for later grating.
3- Chop Green Onions:
- Finely chop a bunch of green onions.
- Place the chopped onions into a large pot and add 2 teaspoons of salt.
- Use a potato masher to mash them gently, releasing their aroma and juices.
4- Grate Cucumbers:
- Peel the cucumbers and grate them coarsely.
- Add the grated cucumbers to the pot with the onions.
5- Grate Beetroot:
- Once cooled, grate the boiled beetroots finely.
- Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon over the grated beetroot and mix thoroughly to enhance the flavor and preserve the color.
6- Combine Beetroot:
- Add the lemon-coated grated beetroot to the pot with the other ingredients.
7- Grate Eggs:
- Grate the hard-boiled eggs coarsely and add them to the pot.
8- Add Kefir:
- Pour the 1 liter of kefir into the pot.
9- Add Mineral Water:
- Add 1 liter of cold sparkling mineral water, Обуховская-1 brand, for a light and fizzy texture.
10- Mix and Taste:
- Stir all ingredients in the pot until well combined, achieving a uniform, bright pink/purple color.
- Taste and add more salt if necessary.
11- Serve:
- Serve the Kholodnik immediately while cold.
- Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and half a hard-boiled egg for each serving.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Equipment:
- Large stainless steel pot
- Wooden potato masher
- Coarse and fine grater
- Manual lemon juicer
- Metal spoon
Cooking Tips
- Microwave Cooking: Using a microwave to pre-cook beetroots helps them retain their flavor and color.
- Cucumber Texture: Peel cucumbers for a smoother texture if you prefer; leaving the skin on gives a bit more texture and fiber.
- Cold Ingredients: Ensure kefir and mineral water are chilled before adding for the best results.
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