Dive into Lithuanian culture with this classic cold beet soup, known as Šaltibarščiai.
This soup is a favorite in Lithuania, especially during the hot summer months. It is notorious for its vibrant pink color and refreshing taste.
It is silky and smooth with the addition of crunchy cucumbers, and the subtle bite of shredded beets for added texture.
The soup itself is not cooked as you would expect. Instead, the beets are cooked before being shredded, and then all the veggies are mixed with kefir to create the soup texture.
Šaltibarščiai is served cold with a side of salted, roast potatoes and soft-boiled eggs if you truly want to experience this soup in the traditional Lithuanian way.
Why you will love this Cold Beet Soup recipe…
Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup (Šaltibarščiai)
Ingredients
- 3 medium beets, boiled and grated
- 2 cups kefir (6% is best)
- ½ cup sour cream (optional for extra creaminess)
- 1 small cucumber, finely diced
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper (optional)
- ½ cup cold water (if needed, for desired consistency)
For serving:
- Boiled potatoes with butter and dill
- 2 soft-boiled eggs, halved
Instructions
Ingredients
- Boil the beets until tender (about 30–40 minutes), then let them cool. Peel and grate them finely.
- In a large bowl, combine kefir, sour cream, and grated beets. Stir until well mixed.
- Stir in the diced cucumber, green onions, and fresh dill.
- Add salt and black pepper to taste. If the soup is too thick, add a little cold water to reach your desired consistency.
- Let the soup sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to enhance the flavors.
- Serve cold with chopped hard-boiled eggs on top.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
This soup is traditionally served with a side of salted, roast potatoes and soft boiled eggs. I suggest dressing the potatoes with salted butter and fresh dill for added flavor. The texture of the crispy potatoes work perfectly with the soft and slightly crunchy soup.
Expert Tips🧑🍳
Storage Suggestions
Lithuanian Šaltibarščiai FAQs
What does šaltibarščiai taste like?
This soup is earthy from the beets, and tangy from the kefir. It’s cut with the freshness of the cucumber to balance everything out.
What is the purple soup in Latvia?
There is a similar dish to šaltibarščiai in Latvia known as aukstā zupa.
How do you pronounce šaltibarščiai?
The phonetic pronunciation is “shull-tee-barsh-chay”.
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