Red beet juice is the basic ingredient of chlodnik, and this is why the soup has a beautiful pink color. Just like a well prepared red borscht, chlodnik is a delicious Polish food. This soup has a delicate sour-sweet taste. Sweetness originates from natural sugar content in beetroot, whereas the addition of some sour milk, kefir or yoghurt brings a sour flavor about.
Besides the beetroot, sour cucumbers and young beet leaves are common ingredients of a chlodnik soup. The fact that this Polish soup is dished up cold is an unique feature. Actually, the name of this soup derives from a word chlod (in fact "chłód") that means coolness. As such, chlodnik is usually prepared and served during hot summers.
Polish Soups: Barszcz bialy
