Kefir Okroshka (Cold Yoghurt Soup)
Kefir Okroshka (Cold Yoghurt Soup)
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Author:
Sharon Flynn
Servings
4-6
A kind of Georgian gazpacho that's utterly refreshing on hot days. This cold soup showcases milk kefir in its most delicious form - tangy, cooling, and surprisingly filling without any heaviness. Think of it as a nod to the traditional rye kvass version, but with that creamy Danish summer dessert quality, or a Greek or Lebanese Tarator. I also like to crush walnuts and toast them slightly to scatter on top.
Ingredients
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3 cups milk kefir
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3 cups whey (or substitute with water plus juice of 1 lemon or 2 tablespoons white vinegar)
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2 medium red potatoes, boiled and cubed
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4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
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2 cucumbers, seeded and diced
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1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
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1 cup chopped spring onions
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¼ cup each fresh dill, coriander, and parsley
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1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
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1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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Sea salt to taste
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Georgian Salt for garnish (recipe below)
Georgian Salt
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Makes about ½ cup
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6½ tablespoons good sea salt
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2 tablespoons dried coriander
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1 tablespoon each: dried dill, fenugreek powder, red pepper flakes, marigold petals (if available)
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½ tablespoon dried cumin
Directions
Dissolve horseradish and mustard in a few tablespoons of kefir and let steep while you prepare the vegetables.
In a mortar and pestle, pound the spring onions, dill, coriander, and parsley with a few generous pinches of salt until aromatic and bruised (not a paste - just a few good bashes).
In a large bowl, combine the cubed potatoes with the herb mixture, mixing roughly to work the herbs through.
Stir in the kefir-horseradish-mustard mixture.
Gently fold in the eggs, cucumber, and radish. Season with salt to taste.
Chill for at least 1 hour to let flavours meld.
Pile the vegetable mixture into shallow bowls. Serve alongside a jug of the kefir-whey mixture for guests to pour over themselves, plus small dishes of Georgian Salt, extra dill, cornichons, and any other condiments you fancy.
Variation: For a simpler approach, combine everything together in one pot before chilling, then serve as a traditional soup.
Georgian Salt
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight jar. Keeps for months.
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