🌍 Eastern European recipesDrink

Kvass

By Groceree

Also known as Bread Kvass

Dark rye bread toasted and steeped in hot water, then lightly fermented with sugar, yeast and raisins into a tangy, slightly fizzy, barely alcoholic drink. Sold from street tanks across Russia and Ukraine in summer.

Last updated

A glass mug of dark amber fizzy fermented drink beside slices of dark rye bread
Servings
Makes about 2.5 litres
Prep
20 min
Cook
25 min
Total
1 day 1 h

Ingredients

  • rye bread400 g
  • water3 l
  • caster sugar150 g
  • dried yeast1 tsp
  • raisins30 g
  • mint (optional)4 sprigs

Instructions

  1. 01

    Heat the oven to 180°C. Slice the and toast the slices until very dark and dry, about 20 minutes.

  2. 02

    Bring the to the boil. Put the in a large pot or heatproof jar, pour the over, cover, and leave for 6 to 8 hours.

  3. 03

    Strain, pressing the lightly. Stir in the until dissolved.

  4. 04

    When the liquid is lukewarm, stir in the and the , if using, cover with a cloth, and leave at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours until it bubbles.

  5. 05

    Strain into plastic bottles or swing-top bottles, leaving 3 cm of space at the top, add a few of the to each, seal, and leave at room temperature for 6 to 12 hours, until a plastic bottle feels firm when squeezed.

  6. 06

    Refrigerate, open each bottle briefly once a day to release the gas, and drink within a week, well chilled.

Notes

  • The darker you toast the bread, the darker and richer the kvass.
  • Kvass is also the base of okroshka, a cold summer soup.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
60 kcal
Protein
1 g
Carbs
14 g
Fat
0 g

Estimated from the ingredients.

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