Cold Beet Soup (Chłodnik)

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Boiled Egg

1. 1
   Bring a pot of water to a boil, deep enough to cover the eggs by about 2 cm.

   StovePot
2. 2
   Gently lower the eggs into it with a spoon.
3. 3
   Turn down the heat slightly and simmer 10 minutes.

   ⚙ SimmeringStove

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
4. 4
   Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water for 5–10 minutes, and peel from the wide end.

   Ice bath

   💡Cold water right after cooking stops the cooking and separates the membrane from the white: peeling is easy, and the yolk doesn't turn gray.

To assemble

1. 5
   Cook the beets whole, in their skins, in a pot of boiling water for 35–40 minutes, until a knife slides in easily.

   StovePotKnife
2. 6
   Let cool, then peel and grate the beets on the coarse side of a grater.

   PeelerGrater
3. 7
   Cut the cucumbers into very small cubes and chop the hard-boiled eggs.

   KnifeCutting board
4. 8
   In a large bowl, mix the beets with the kefir, lemon juice, salt and black pepper.

   Bowl
5. 9
   Add the dill, green onion and cucumbers, stir and taste.
6. 10
   Cover and chill for at least overnight.

   Refrigerator
7. 11
   Serve cold in bowls, with the chopped hard-boiled eggs.

   Ladle