Recipe for Šaltibarščiai (Lithuanian cold beetroot soup)

Šaltibarščiai often served in summer. Its bright pink hue comes from the beets, and it's prepared with kefir, yogurt, or fermented milk, giving it a smooth and slightly tangy texture. The soup is usually served with boiled potatoes on the side.

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Total time 20 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

Servings: 4

Special diet: naturally gluten-free

Ingredients

1 large beetroot, cooked and grated
200 ml of kefir (or plain yogurt)
75 ml of fermented milk or buttermilk (see recipe)
2 hard-boiled eggs
1/2 Fresh cucumber, diced
1 bunch of fresh dill, chopped
2 finely chopped green onions
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon juice (optional)
Boiled potatoes (as a side dish)

Preparation

1
Prepare the beets: Peel and grate the cooked beets. You can cook them yourself by boiling them or use pre-cooked beets from the store. Let them cool completely.
2
Mix the liquid ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the kefir or yogurt and the buttermilk. You can adjust the amount of buttermilk to achieve the desired consistency. The mixture should be smooth but not too thick.
3
Add the vegetables: Add the grated beets, diced cucumber, chopped fresh dill, and green onions. Blend with an immersion blender. If you'd like a more tangy touch, add a squeeze of lemon juice.
4
Season: Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with chopped dill. Let the soup chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow the flavors to develop and for the soup to become thoroughly chilled.
5
To serve: Ladle the cold soup into bowls. Peel and slice the hard-boiled eggs into quarters or rounds, then arrange them on top of the soup. Serve the Šaltibarščiai with hot boiled potatoes, creating a pleasant contrast between the cold soup and the potatoes.

Note

Adding radishes : You can add thinly sliced radishes to provide some crunch.

Keywords: Šaltibarščiai recipe, Lithuanian gluten-free recipe, gluten-free beetroot soup recipe

Read it online: https://glutenevasion.fr/recette/recette-de-saltibarsciai-soupe-froide-de-betteraves-lituanienne/