Vinehret (Ukrainian Beet and Sauerkraut Salad)
Local name: Вінегрет
In short: A chopped salad of boiled beets, potatoes, carrots, sauerkraut and pickles dressed with sunflower oil, colorful and pleasantly sharp. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 150 kcal
Vinehret is the everyday vegetable salad of Ukraine, and it is on nearly every holiday table, too. Boiled beets, potatoes and carrots are cut into small cubes and mixed with sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers and onion, then dressed with plain sunflower oil. It is vegan, inexpensive and keeps well for two days. Stirring the beets with oil first keeps the other vegetables from turning pink, although many cooks like the pink color.
Instructions
- Boil the beets whole and unpeeled in water for 45 to 60 minutes until a knife slides in easily. In a separate pot, boil the potatoes and carrots in their skins for 20 to 25 minutes until tender. Drain and cool completely.
- Peel the beets, potatoes and carrots and cut them into 1 cm (1/2 in) cubes.
- Toss the diced beets with 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large bowl.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, onion and peas. Drizzle with the remaining oil and season with the salt and pepper.
- Fold gently, then chill for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt, then top with the dill and serve.
Tips
- Cook the beets whole and unpeeled so they do not bleed their color. Cool them completely before dicing.
- Rinse the sauerkraut and squeeze it dry if it is very sour, so the salad does not turn watery.
Questions and answers
Can I make vinehret ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps for 2 days in the fridge. For the brightest colors, keep the oiled beets in a separate bowl and fold them in shortly before serving.
Why did my vinehret turn pink?
The beets bled into the other vegetables. Toss the diced beets with oil first, as in the recipe, and fold gently. Some cooks like the pink color, and it does not change the taste.
Is vinehret vegan?
Yes. It contains only vegetables and plain sunflower oil, so it suits vegan and fasting diets.
How long does it take to make Vinehret (Ukrainian Beet and Sauerkraut Salad)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Vinehret (Ukrainian Beet and Sauerkraut Salad)?
About 150 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 19 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 150 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
