A traditional hot Slavic soup of beetroot, potatoes and tomatoes — full of color, bold in flavor and served with sour cream and fresh herbs. It is a filling yet easy-to-digest dish, perfect for lunch or dinner.
- Category
- soup
- Portion
- 400 g
- Yield
- 10 servings
- Nature (TCM)
- neutral
TCM: A balanced hot soup, filling yet easy to digest.
Ingredients
- Beetroot (peeled and chopped) – 500 g
- Potatoes (peeled and diced) – 600 g
- Tomatoes – 800 g (4–5)
- Carrots (peeled and chopped) – 300 g (1–2)
- Onion (peeled and chopped) – 100 g (1)
- Stock – about 2 l
- Salt – to taste
- Citric acid – a pinch (optional)
- Butter for braising the vegetables – 40 g
For serving
- Sour cream – 30 g
- 1 BBQ bun brushed with garlic oil
- Fresh herbs (e.g. parsley, dill) – ½ bunch
Method
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot.
- Add part of the carrots, the onion and the potatoes to the boiling water.
- Add the chopped beetroot, cover the pot and simmer gently.
- Melt the butter in a pan and add the rest of the beetroot and carrots.
- Enrich the vegetables with tomatoes: pour hot water over the tomatoes, peel and chop them.
- Add the tomatoes to the vegetables in the pan and braise for 5–7 minutes, until softened.
- Transfer the vegetable mixture to the pot with the potatoes and beetroot.
- Season with salt, sugar and citric acid to taste.
- Cover the pot and simmer another 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and let it steep for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Serving
Serve the cviklovník hot, with a spoonful of sour cream in each portion and sprinkled with fresh greens or herbs.
Key ingredients
- Carrot
- Beta-carotene (vitamin A) for skin and eyesight, fibre, natural sweetness.
- Tomatoes (peeled / passata)
- Lycopene (an antioxidant), the umami base of sauces.
- Onion
- Prebiotic fibre for the gut flora, anti-inflammatory flavonoids.
- Sour cream
- Milk fat and probiotics; rounds off and cools spicy or sour soups.
- Butter
- Milk fat; carries flavour and rounds things off.
- Garlic
- Antibacterial and antiviral; supports immunity and the circulatory system.
- Potatoes
- Complex carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin C; a filling side.
- Beetroot
- Betaine and nitrates; traditionally supports the liver and circulation.
Why it’s good for the body
- Beetroot is rich in antioxidants and fiber.
- Potatoes and vegetables provide nourishing carbohydrates and vitamins.
- Fresh herbs support digestion and appetite.
Traditional and functional notes on the ingredients — not medical claims.
Notes
- This cviklovník is vegetarian. If you like, you can add meat or meat stock to make it more filling.
- Adding lemon juice or citric acid brightens the flavor and the color.
- It can also be adapted without butter for a vegan version.