Chłodnik Litewski: Cold Beet Soup
Chłodnik Litewski is a traditional Lithuanian cold beet soup, popular not only in Lithuania but also in Poland and Belarus. The soup became popular in Poland during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth period (1569-1795), when the cultural and culinary influences of both countries intermingled. Today, chłodnik can be found all over Poland during the summer, whether in traditional restaurants or simple eateries.
The base of this soup is grated boiled beets mixed with sour milk, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, or buttermilk. Other ingredients are also added to the soup, including chopped raw cucumbers or radishes, fragrant dill, and hard-boiled eggs.
Preparing Lithuanian chłodnik is easy and quick. It doesn’t require cooking, making it an ideal dish when you want to spend minimal time in the kitchen. Simply grate the beets, mix all the ingredients, let it chill, and serve.
Chłodnik Litewski is (together with Spanish gazpacho) one of my favorite cold soups. If you find yourself in Poznań, try heading to the Pyra Bar restaurant (see Where to Eat in Poznań) for this soup - their chłodnik Litewski is the one featured in the photos in this article. One portion there cost 15 PLN (3.60 EUR), and the soup was excellent.
Bon appétit!
