Chłodnik Ogórkowy (Polish Cold Cucumber Soup)

Step 1

Make mashed potatoes: cut potatoes into large chunks and add to a large pot. Add cold water and salt the water well. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain the potatoes and pour with cold water to cool them down (for this particular recipe we don´t want the mashed potatoes to be hot). Cut butter into small cubes and add to the pot where the potatoes were cooking. Mash the potatoes using a potato ricer or mashed directly into the pot. Stir to melt the butter. When the butter is melted add sour cream, milk, and garlic powder. Season well with salt and pepper, stir to combine. Set aside to cool down.

Step 2

Cook eggs: Add eggs to boiling water, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the hot water and immediately brake the shells by shaking the pot, immediately add cold water. Set aside for a minute or two to cool down slightly then peel the eggs. Cut the eggs into wedges.

Step 3

Make chłodnik: Peel the cucumber. Shred 3/4 of the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater. Sprinkle with salt and set aside for 15 minutes. Squeeze out excess water (don´t do this very thoroughly).

Step 4

Cut the remaining 1/4 cucumber and all the radishes into small dice. Chop dill and chives. Grate the garlic on small holes of a grater.

Step 5

Add buttermilk to a large bowl. Add all the shredded cucumber, 1/2 of the diced cucumber, 3/4 of the diced radishes, all the dill, chives, and garlic. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Step 6

Assemble: Laddle cucumber soup into two bowls, add a large dollop of mashed potatoes to the bowl. Top each bowl with egg quarters. Sprinkle the remaining diced cucumbers and radishes. Garnish with sprouts, season the eggs lightly with salt and pepper.

Step 7

Enjoy!