Sorrel soup facts for kids
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Sorrel soup with egg and croutons
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| Alternative names | Green borscht, green shchi, green soup |
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| Type | Soup |
| Region or state | Eastern and Northeastern Europe |
| Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
| Main ingredients | Water or broth, sorrel leaves, and salt |
Sorrel soup is a tasty soup made mainly from water or broth, sorrel leaves, and salt. It's also known as green borscht or green shchi because of its color. This soup is very popular in many countries, especially in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region. You can find it in places like Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and among Ashkenazi Jewish communities.
Sometimes, other green leaves are used instead of or with sorrel. These can include spinach, chard, or nettle leaves.
What's in Sorrel Soup?
Sorrel soup often has other ingredients added to make it even better. These can include egg yolks or whole eggs. The eggs might be hard-boiled or scrambled right into the soup.
You might also find potatoes, carrots, or rice in the soup. In some recipes, especially in Ukraine, a type of green borscht can even include beetroot.
How It's Made
The soup can be made with any kind of broth, like chicken or vegetable broth, instead of just water. This gives it more flavor.
When it's ready, sorrel soup is usually topped with smetana. Smetana is a type of sour cream popular in Eastern Europe. You can enjoy the soup either hot or chilled, depending on your preference.
Why It Tastes Sour
Sorrel soup has a special sour taste. This is because of something called oxalic acid found in the sorrel leaves. In many Slavic languages, this is even called "sorrel acid."
When you add sour cream (smetana) to the soup, the sour taste might become less strong. This happens because the oxalic acid reacts with the calcium and other parts of the cream. Some people describe the taste of sorrel as "tannic," similar to spinach or walnuts.
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Green borscht with egg and sour cream
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Green borscht made with spinach instead of sorrel and with potatoes
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Ukrainian green borscht including both sorrel and beetroot
See also
- In Spanish: Sopa de acedera para niños
