Chlodnik — traditional cold borscht recipe

Chlodnik, also known as cold borscht, is a traditional soup of Polish and Lithuanian cuisines. The soup is served cold, as its name indicates. Chlodnik is rich in vitamins, has a nice tart aftertaste and is very refreshing. There are two-three basic kinds of chlodnik in Polish cuisine. The one below is the first recipe for chlodnik on Tasting Poland. Enjoy:)


Chlodnik.


Ingredients in this recipe:

photo by k-Blox

  • 0.25 l of beet sourdough or fresh cucumbers sourdough
  • 0.25 l of sour cream
  • 0.5 l of yoghurt
  • 1 medium beetroot
  • 1 bunch of dill
  • 1 bunch of chives
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 bunch of red radishes
  • 1 pinch of powdered sugar
  • salt, pepper
  • to serve: hard-boiled eggs

Recipe:

  1. Mix 0.25 l of beet or cucumbers sourdough with 0.25 l of sour cream and 0.5 l of yogurt.
  2. Time to make chlodnik soup pink coloured - we need some fresh beet juice. Most probably you can't buy it in grocery. Since beetroot is more like a potato, than a juicy fruit, electrical juicer cannot be overestimated :) I should mention salutary effect, that a red beetroot juice has on your health.
  3. Add some salt to taste, and do not forget a pinch of powdered sugar. Soup should be gently but firmly sour.
  4. Vegetables: add a big bunch of finely chopped dill and a small bunch of finely chopped chives.
  5. Peel one fresh, green cucumber and dice it. Cut a bunch of red radishes into slices. Both diced cucumber and sliced radishes are another necessary addition to chlodnik.
  6. Chlodnik should be left to 'mature' in a cool place for 2-3 hours (put it into your fridge).
  7. When ready, serve chlodnik in bowls with a hard boiled egg, cut into quarters. Both eggs and chlodnik should be cold.

I prefer to eat chlodnik as stated above - cold, pure, simple and with no meat. However, some people like to add small pieces of good quality cold cuts, or roast veal. For sure, there's a reason if chlodnik is going to be served as a main dish. Therefore it should has some more sustenance. More exquisite addition is a cooked shrimp, but it isn't Polish tradition at all. And remember that chlodnik should always be served cold (almost directly from your fridge).

I hope that you find this traditional Polish and Lithuanian cold borscht recipe / chlodnik recipe useful. Enjoy your meal! Smacznego! :)