Šaltibarščiai are one of the most iconic Lithuanian national dishes. This bright pink cold soup is made with kefyras (fermented milk drink), beetroot and fresh vegetables. It is always served very cold with hot boiled potatoes on the side. In Vilnius, there is even an annual Pink Soup Festival celebrating this dish.
😌 Difficulty: Easy
⏱️ Preparation time: 15 min
🔥 Cooking time: 20 min (for potatoes)
⏳ Total time: 35 min
👥 Servings: 3
Ingredients
- 500 ml kefyras (fermented milk drink, similar to thin yogurt)
- 200 g cooked beetroot, grated
- 1 small cucumber, finely chopped
- 2 boiled eggs, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tbsp green onions (spring onions), finely sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For serving:
- 4-5 medium potatoes, boiled and served hot
Instructions
- Grate cooked beetroot into a large bowl.
- Add chopped cucumber and boiled eggs.
- Add dill and sliced green onions.
- Pour kefyras over the mixture.
- Add salt and black pepper.
- Mix gently until evenly pink.
- Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. The soup must be very cold.
- Boil potatoes separately in salted water until soft.
- Serve cold soup in bowls and hot potatoes on the side.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
The soup should not be smooth. Visible pieces of cucumber, egg, dill and green onion give the authentic homemade texture.