Russian Cold Soup (Okroshka)
Aug 09, 2025 03:06 AM
Looking for a refreshing soup that doesn't require cooking? This classic recipe is made with finely diced vegetables, boiled eggs, and a protein like ham or sausage, all mixed with a cold liquid base. The result is the prettiest soup you'll ever make, bright, crunchy, tangy and served ice-cold.
It was introduced to me by my brother decades ago (somewhere around the 90s!), as he was learning Russian and his teacher always had signature dishes for him to try. It was a soup I grew to like and, together with classic gazpacho, is unbeatable for sweltering days.
It’s no-cook: Everything is pre-cooked or raw. You just dice, chill, and mix.
Mix and match ingredients: Choose between proteins (ham, sausage, chicken, fish), liquid (kvass, kefir, buttermilk or yogurt) and vegetables. Or skip the protein and make it vegetarian.
It’s filling: Between the eggs, protein, and hearty veg, this soup eats like a meal.
The name means “to crumble” or “chop finely,” and that’s exactly what you do with all the ingredients. It’s a go-to dish when the weather is hot and you want something satisfying without turning on the stove.
Grilling, salads and no-bake desserts are a must for hot weather days. And this soup definitely delivers!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup diced cucumber, from 1 large cucumber
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped radishes, about ½ pound
- 2 cups diced boiled potatoes, about 2 medium
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, diced
- 2 ¼ cups diced ham, cooked chicken or pork sausage, about 1 pound
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon kefir or natural yogurt
- cold water to thin the kefir or yogurt
Prep Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
20 minutes
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