What are czwikli? Preparing the classic Easter table

Beetroot salad is a dish with Slavic-Austrian roots, popular in Galicia, Poland, and partially in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Most often, beetroot salad refers to grated boiled beetroot, seasoned with horseradish (sometimes with the addition of vinegar, sugar, salt, and oil). It is a simple yet very expressive appetizer with a sharp-sweet taste. Typically, they (the word is used in the plural) are prepared before Easter, as beetroot salad perfectly complements the taste of cold cuts, homemade sausages, and aspic.

The word comes from the Polish word ćwikła, and the name of the dish is derived from the phrase ćwikła z chrzanem, which means beetroot with horseradish. In Ukraine, due to dialectal influences and the impact of Galician cuisine, the word transformed into цвіклі.

In Poland, beetroot salad is often prepared sweeter, while in Galicia, they prefer spicy versions with a dominance of horseradish. Some housewives also add grated apple for a fresher taste.

Thus, the word цвіклі is indeed the plural form. And “цвікля” is the singular, although in practice only the plural is used, as the dish is always served in portions, not as a piece.In Ukraine, this word has mainly taken root in the west, while the dish has become an element of festive tables across the country. But let’s leave the historical excursion and move on to the recipe.

We boil the beets until fully cooked, then cool them down. We chose very small beets, as they cook faster and are generally sweeter. The beets can also be baked in the oven, wrapped in foil.We peel the horseradish root. We peel the beets.

We chose a ratio of beets to horseradish of 1:5. In our subjective opinion, this is the most optimal ratio of spiciness, acidity, and sweetness. If you want a spicier taste - increase the amount of horseradish. For a sweeter and less spicy version - add more beets. For a more sour taste - add more vinegar.When my grandfather made beetroot salad, it was strange and funny for me to watch him grind it using a Soviet meat grinder with dull blades, sitting in… a gas mask!!! However, when I faced making beetroot salad myself, I regretted not having that device. Freshly grated horseradish irritates the eyes extremely strongly!And it is very hard to grate. We have a food processor, but the grater attachment couldn’t handle it. This devilish root turned out to be manageable only with the meat grinder at practically maximum speed.Similarly, we grind the beets using the meat grinder. We add salt, pepper, and vinegar, and balance to the desired taste. The beetroot salad is ready!

It pairs well with homemade smoked sausage, bacon, and lard. About how to make smoked delicacies at home, we wrote here.

Enjoy your meal!