Chłodnik (Cold Beet Soup) Recipe

Beets are killer, especially when added to a soup. They can easily be the star or play a supporting role in a dish depending on how they are prepared. They’ve got friendly, fruity sweetness and earthy complexity. Plus, if treated the right way, they can even lend awesome acidity to a dish.

What is Chlodnik?

Chłodnik, chilled summer borscht, is the best thing you can do with beets in the summer. The chłodnik we make at Apteka is somewhat complicated. It involves our own cultured yogurt, made from cashews and almonds, a fermented beet kvass that is the acidic building-block of the soup, a borscht, sour pickled beet tops and kohlrabi, along with fresh radish, cucumbers, and herbs that help finish the dish. But a simpler version built off one trip to the farmers’ market is also lovely. The recipe we’re sharing here is a version that can be done in an afternoon instead of the six days it takes for all parts of the Apteka version.

 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A pink chlodnik soup sits in a bowl with a sprig of green garnish against a pink flower wallpaper.

Chłodnik (Cold Beet Soup) Recipe


  • Author: Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski

Description

If beets aren’t your thing, this flavorful, cold soup may just change your mind.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 to 10 medium beets + nice tops
  • 1 + 1 tbsp fresh chopped garlic
  • 1 to 2 lemons
  • Vegetable stock
  • 1 cup beet kvass (at East End Food Co-op if you can’t find some elsewhere)
  • 1 bunch radish
  • 1 to 2 smaller cucumbers
  • 1 qt of plain dairy-free yogurt or a mix of two you like (Kite Hill or Forager are fine)
  • 1/2 cup chopped chive
  • 1/2 cup chopped dill

Instructions

For the chilled beet top stock:

  1. Find fresh young beets with nice green tops. Separate bulbs, wash and dry them whole and unpeeled, and dress with a little oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap them tightly in foil and roast them at 350 degrees until they’re tender, 2 to 3 hours. Peel and grate.
  2. While the beet bulbs are roasting, prepare the tops by washing and cutting them into 1-inch pieces – stems and leaves.
  3. Sauté the stems and leaves on high heat using just a little oil, seasoning as soon as the tops are in the pan. After the leaves start wilting when being tossed in the hot pan for a minute or so, add a little garlic and lemon juice, toss, and cover the pan for 1 minute. Uncover, cook for one more minute, and flood the pan with 2 cups of stock. Bring to a light simmer, (and if available) add 1 cup of beet kvass, and immediately take off heat and let cool. Our aim is to cook the beets, but preserve their bright color with a soup that will eventually be somewhere between a deep pink to magenta in color.

For the soup:

  1. Grate your trimmed radishes. Peel your cucumber, remove the seeds if it’s a large or mature cucumber, and grate.
  2. In a bowl, add 1 quart of plain yogurt, 2 cups of your cooled grated beets (and any beet juice or roasting jus left in the foil), 2 cups of your chilled beet top stock, the radish and cucumber, a small bunch of chopped chive and dill, 2 freshly minced garlic cloves, salt, pepper, sugar if it’s not yet slightly sweet, and lemon juice.
  3. Balance the soup so that it remains fairly thick, sweet, sour, and refreshing. Let it marry together in the fridge for at least an hour.
  4. Finish in small soup bowls with more chopped chive and dill on top. Serve chilled. Great for up to 3 to 5 days.

Recipe and Story by Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka / Food Styling by Veda Sankaran / Prop Styling by Keith Recker / Wallpaper: Guermantes by Manuel Canovas, Courtesy of Cowtan & Tout

A footer photo with a black background and subscribe info and buttonSubscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.

SUBSCRIBE TO TABLE'S Email Newsletter

Choose your region

We respect your privacy.

spot_img

Related Articles

Potato Leek Soup, the “Frenchyssoise”

The mild-flavored leek is a delightful addition to egg dishes, gratins and pastas, and a stand-out as a delicious side dish when steamed, braised,...

Lamb Sausage

Make these Lamb Sausages into decadent hot dogs.