Chilled Beet Soup with Buttermilk, Cucumbers, and Dill

With origins in Poland, this creamy beet soup will beat the heat during the summer. Its vibrant fuchsia tones come naturally from the beets and will bring the color to your table!

Ingredients

Servings: 4

• 1 pound beets with greens (about 2 medium beets)
• Kosher salt
• 2 medium cucumbers, peeled, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
• 1 kosher dill pickle, coarsely grated (about 1/2 cup), plus 1/2 cup pickle brine
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk or kefir (preferably low- or full-fat)
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tsp chopped scallions
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved
• 4 tsp finely chopped dill

Instructions

1. Using a large knife, separate greens and stems from beets. Thoroughly wash greens and stems; set aside.
2. Scrub beets, transfer to a medium pot, and cover with 1″ water. Cover pot and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium, uncover, and cook until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Drain beets; discard cooking liquid. Let cool.
4. Meanwhile, chop beet greens and stems. Transfer to a large pot and add 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, without boiling, until greens are tender, about 5 minutes.
5. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
6. Peel and coarsely grate beets, preferably wearing gloves. Add to pot with cooled greens.
7. Gently stir in cucumbers, pickle, pickle brine, buttermilk, sour cream, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Cover pot and chill soup at least 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if desired.
9. Divide soup among bowls; top with eggs and dill.

You can now grow your own dill using our Culinary Classics Bottle Kit or our Herb Seed Collection.