Okroshka - veggie soup based on kvas or buttermilk

Okroshka Vegetable soup with kvas

Ingredients (4 servings)

·         2 potatoes (boiled in skin)

·         1 English cucumber of medium size (or 2-3 baby cucumbers)

·         0.5lb of bologna (can be replaced with the same amount of boiled veal or beef)

·         4 eggs

·         1 small bunch of radish

·         2 bunches of green onions

·         1 bunch of fresh dill (optional)

·         3 tbsps of Dijon mustard

·         1.5-2 quarts of kvas (Russian bread drink), you may replace it with buttermilk diluted with cold boiled water or mineral water (You can buy kvas in a Russian store or make it yourself - see recipe for kvas below)

·         Salt to taste

Directions:

Chop the first 6 ingredients in cubes, pour kvas over the mixture, add Dijon mustard (1 tbsp per serving) and serve.

Kvas is a Russian bread drink, and you can buy it in Russian stores. You can also make it yourself. Here's the recipe:

Kvas:

Ingredients:

 Rye bread - 1 loaf

Water-  1 gallon

Sugar - 3 cups

Yeast - 2 pkgs (1/4 oz each)

10 raisins

Instructions for home-made kvas:

 Break bread in pieces, pour hot boiled water, mix, cover and leave for 3- 4 hrs stirring occasionally. Strain, discard bread, add liquid sugar (dissolved in a bit of warm water), add yeast, and leave for  7-12 hrs. When it begins to foam violently, strain it again, pour into 1-gallon bottle, add raisins, cork it tightly, and after 2-3 hrs at room temp, put it in refrigerator. Kvas will be ready in 3-4 days. Serve with ice.