Chilled Belarusian Beet Soup (Kholodnik)

Kholodnik, or Chlodnik, is a delightful cold beet soup from Belarus that dazzles with its bright pink hue and refreshing taste. Perfect for a hot summer's day, this vegetarian dish is balanced with creamy kefir, crisp cucumbers, and protein-rich hard-boiled eggs. Serve chilled for a light appetizer or a satisfying main course.

Ingredients

🥒 2-3 fresh cucumbers
🥚 4 hard-boiled eggs
🥫 900g marinated beets, including marinade (Brand: Green World - Table Beets Marinated)
🥛 1 liter of kefir (Brand: Savushkin Kefir)
🌿 1 large bunch of green onion
🌿 1 large bunch of dill
🥄 Approximately 3-4 tablespoons of sour cream
🌊 Cold boiled water, as needed for consistency
🧂 0.5 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
🍬 Sugar, to taste, if needed

Instructions

1- Prepare the Eggs and Vegetables:

• Hard-boil the eggs, then peel and chop them into small cubes.
• Wash the cucumbers and chop them into small cubes, then add both the eggs and cucumbers to a large pot.

2- Chop and Mix the Herbs:

• Finely chop the green onions and dill.
• Add 0.5 tablespoon of salt to the chopped green onions, then mash/rub them with a spoon to soften and release their juice. Combine with the dill in the pot.

3- Add the Beets:

• Open the jars of marinated beets and transfer them along with their marinade to the pot. The marinade will impart a pleasant tartness. For boiled beets, grate or finely chop them and optionally add a splash of vinegar for acidity.

4- Combine and Adjust Flavor:

• Add the sour cream and pour kefir into the pot.
• Stir the mixture thoroughly until the soup achieves a uniform vibrant pink color. If the Kholodnik is too thick, gradually add cold boiled water until the desired consistency is reached.
• Taste and adjust seasoning; if the soup is too sour, add sugar to balance the flavors.

5- Chill the Soup:

• Place the pot in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld and chill thoroughly for at least 1-2 hours.

6- Serve:

• Serve the Kholodnik in bowls, garnished with a halved hard-boiled egg and a dollop of sour cream on top. Accompany with slices of dark rye bread and fresh green onions on the side.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes (exclude egg boiling)
Chilling Time: 1-2 hours
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes to 2 hours, 15 minutes
Servings: Approximately 6
Equipment: Cutting Board (Wooden, striped design), Knife (White ceramic blade), Large Pot (Stainless steel), Spoon (Metal)

Cooking Tips

• Salting Green Onions: Mashing green onions with salt softens them and maximizes flavor release.
• Using Marinated Beets: Convenient and flavorful—use the marinade for added tartness.
• Consistency and Flavor Adjustment: Add cold water to thin, sugar to balance sourness, and vinegar for extra acidity if needed.

#belarusian #coldsoup #kholodnik #beets #soup #refreshing #summer #vegetarian #easyrecipe

YouTube channel - Наслаждение вкусом

Chilled Belarusian Beet Soup (Kholodnik)