Okroshka (Russian Cold Summer Soup)
Local name: Окрошка
In short: A chilled Russian summer soup of radishes, cucumbers, potatoes, eggs and dill in tangy kefir thinned with sparkling water. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 330 kcal
Okroshka is the cold soup Russians turn to when summer gets hot. A mix of finely diced cucumber, radish, boiled potato, egg, sausage or chicken and plenty of fresh herbs sits in a cold liquid, either kefir thinned with sparkling water or bread kvass. The result is sharp, cool and filling without being heavy. Keep the vegetables chopped to a similar small size and add the liquid only when you are ready to eat so everything stays crisp.
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in their skins for 20 minutes until tender, and hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Cool both completely in the fridge, then peel.
- Dice the potatoes, eggs and sausage into 1 cm (1/2 inch) cubes. Dice the cucumber and radishes to a similar size.
- Put the scallions and dill in a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and crush them with the back of a spoon until juicy.
- Combine the diced ingredients and the scallion mixture in a large bowl and chill until you are ready to serve.
- Stir the kefir, mineral water, lemon juice and remaining salt in a jug. Taste, adding more water for a lighter soup or more salt if needed.
- Divide the solids between bowls, pour over the cold liquid and serve at once, with sour cream if you like.
Tips
- For kvass okroshka, replace the kefir and water with 1 liter (4 cups) of unsweetened bread kvass and add a teaspoon of mustard and a spoon of sour cream.
- Keep the solids and the liquid apart until serving. Once combined, the soup turns watery and the cucumbers lose their crunch within an hour.
Questions and answers
Is okroshka served hot or cold?
Always cold. Cold liquid is poured over chopped raw and boiled ingredients, which makes it a refreshing meal on a hot day.
What can I use instead of kvass in okroshka?
Kefir mixed with sparkling mineral water is the easiest swap, and many Russian families prefer it. Plain yogurt thinned with water also works.
Can I make okroshka vegetarian?
Yes. Leave out the sausage and add 2 more eggs and an extra potato for substance.
How long does it take to make Okroshka (Russian Cold Summer Soup)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Okroshka (Russian Cold Summer Soup)?
About 330 kcal per serving, with 18 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 330 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
