Barszcz czysty czerwony

Borscht is a popular beet soup found in many Central and Eastern European countries. Although the most common Polish version is a thick borscht prepared with beetroot and various root vegetables, the unique Polish version comes in the form of a clear strained broth. This dish is known as barszcz czysty czerwony and its base is usually fermented beet juice, also known as kvass, or stock that includes beetroot juice together with lemon juice or vinegar. The broth is strained and it can be served cold or warm, as well as in bowls or mugs. A typical combination is to serve the soup together with small filled dumplings called uszka. This combination stems from Jewish tradition since the dish was traditionally served on Sukkot, a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishrei.