5 Popular Okroshka Recipes: with Kvass, Kefir, Mineral Water, and Ayran

15.08.2026

5 Popular Okroshka Recipes: Classic, with Kvass, Kefir, Mineral Water, and Ayran

Okroshka is especially good on a hot day, when you crave a cold, fresh, and filling dish. You can prepare it with kvass, kefir, ayran, mineral water, or a mixture of fermented milk drink and water.

There is no single “correct” okroshka recipe. In one family, sausage is a must, in another, chicken or beef is used, and someone else may make it meat-free. The dressing also varies: from sweetish kvass to sour kefir with mustard.

Below, you’ll find five popular okroshka recipes with exact gram measurements and approximate calorie content. You can choose the classic version or make a lighter okroshka suitable for a calorie-controlled diet.

The calorie value is approximate. Actual values depend on the kvass used, the fat content of the fermented milk products, the type of meat, sausage, and the size of the eggs.

Contents

1. Which Okroshka is the Tastiest?

2. Classic Okroshka with Kvass and Sausage

3. Okroshka with Kefir and Chicken

4. Light Okroshka with Mineral Water and Yogurt

5. Okroshka with Ayran and Beef

6. Vegetarian Okroshka with Chickpeas

7. Calorie Content of Different Types of Okroshka

8. How to Make Delicious Okroshka

9. Can You Eat Okroshka While Losing Weight?

10. How to Calculate the Calorie Content of Homemade Okroshka

Which Okroshka is the Tastiest?

The taste of okroshka largely depends on the base.

Okroshka with kvass turns out fresh, slightly sweet, and is closest to the classic version. It's best to choose unsweetened kvass with pronounced acidity.

Okroshka with kefir has a softer and creamier taste. To prevent it from being too thick, kefir is usually diluted with cold water.

Okroshka with mineral water is light. Mineral water is often mixed with yogurt, kefir, or sour cream.

Okroshka with ayran has a pronounced fermented milk base and usually does not require additional dilution.

The choice of ingredients is just as important. Most recipes are based on cucumbers, radishes, potatoes, eggs, green onions, and dill. For satiety, sausage, chicken, beef, or legumes are added.

1. Classic Okroshka with Kvass and Sausage

This is one of the most recognizable okroshka options. Potatoes, eggs, and boiled sausage make the dish hearty, while cucumbers, radish, and greens add freshness.

Ingredients

For a pot of about 2.4 liters:

• Boiled potatoes: 300 g

• Boiled eggs: 4 pcs, about 200 g

• Cucumbers: 300 g

• Radish: 200 g

• Boiled sausage: 250 g

• Green onions: 50 g

• Dill: 30 g

• Unsweetened kvass: 1 L

• Sour cream 10%: 80 g

• Mustard: 20 g

• Salt and black pepper to taste.

How to Prepare

1. Boil potatoes and eggs in advance, let them cool completely.

2. Dice the potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, radish, and sausage into small cubes.

3. Finely chop the green onion and dill.

4. Place all ingredients in a pot and gently mix.

5. Mix the sour cream with mustard and a few spoons of kvass.

6. Add the dressing to the pot, pour in the remaining kvass.

7. Add salt and pepper.

8. Refrigerate the okroshka to chill thoroughly.

Approximate Calorie Content

Per 100 g:

• Calories: 70 kcal

• Protein: 3.1 g

• Fat: 3.6 g

• Carbohydrates: 5.4 g

Per 400 g serving:

• Calories: about 278 kcal

• Protein: 12 g

• Fat: 14 g

• Carbohydrates: 22 g

The calorie content of this variant depends mostly on the sausage, kvass, and amount of sour cream. To make okroshka lighter, you can reduce the sausage to 150-200 g or replace some sour cream with plain yogurt.

2. Okroshka with Kefir and Chicken

Okroshka with chicken breast contains more protein and less fat than the classic sausage version. It is great for a filling summer lunch.

Ingredients

For a pot of about 2.7 liters:

• Cooked chicken breast: 300 g

• Boiled potatoes: 250 g

• Boiled eggs: 4 pcs, about 200 g

• Cucumbers: 350 g

• Radish: 200 g

• Green onions: 50 g

• Dill: 30 g

• Kefir 1%: 1 L

• Cold water: 300 ml

• Mustard: 20 g

• Salt and pepper to taste.

How to Prepare

1. Boil or bake the chicken breast with little or no oil.

2. Let the meat, potatoes, and eggs cool completely.

3. Dice the chicken and potatoes into small cubes.

4. Chop eggs, cucumbers, and radish.

5. Chop the green onion and dill finely.

6. Mix kefir, cold water, and mustard.

7. Combine all ingredients and pour over the kefir base.

8. Add salt and pepper.

9. Chill the okroshka before serving.

Approximate Calorie Content

Per 100 g:

• Calories: 57 kcal

• Protein: 6 g

• Fat: 1.7 g

• Carbohydrates: 3.9 g

Per 400 g serving:

• Calories: about 229 kcal

• Protein: 24 g

• Fat: 7 g

• Carbohydrates: 16 g

If kefir seems too sour, there's no need to add sugar. Try using a less sour kefir or increase the amount of cucumbers. For a more vibrant taste, you can add a little lemon juice.

3. Light Okroshka with Mineral Water and Yogurt

Okroshka with mineral water is light and refreshing. Natural yogurt makes the base milder, while lemon juice adds a pleasant tang.

Ingredients

For a pot of about 2.6 liters:

• Cooked chicken breast: 250 g

• Boiled potatoes: 250 g

• Boiled eggs: 4 pcs, about 200 g

• Cucumbers: 350 g

• Radish: 250 g

• Green onions: 50 g

• Dill: 30 g

• Natural yogurt 2% (unsweetened): 400 g

• Cold mineral water: 800 ml

• Lemon juice: 30 ml

• Mustard: 20 g

• Salt and pepper to taste.

How to Prepare

1. Dice the cooled potatoes, eggs, and chicken breast.

2. Add chopped cucumbers and radish.

3. Finely chop the green onion and dill.

4. In a separate bowl combine yogurt, mustard, and lemon juice.

5. Gradually add mineral water and mix.

6. Pour the prepared base over the ingredients.

7. Add salt, pepper, and chill.

Approximate Calorie Content

Per 100 g:

• Calories: 50 kcal

• Protein: 5.1 g

• Fat: 1.6 g

• Carbohydrates: 3.6 g

Per 400 g serving:

• Calories: about 201 kcal

• Protein: 20 g

• Fat: 6 g

• Carbohydrates: 14 g

It is best to add highly carbonated water just before serving. This way, the okroshka will retain its fizzy freshness. For advance preparation, regular still or lightly-carbonated water is suitable.

4. Okroshka with Ayran and Beef

Beef gives okroshka a richer taste. Ayran already contains water and salt, so add extra liquids and salt gradually.

Ingredients

For a pot of about 2.7 liters:

• Boiled lean beef: 250 g

• Boiled potatoes: 250 g

• Boiled eggs: 4 pcs, about 200 g

• Cucumbers: 350 g

• Radish: 200 g

• Green onions: 50 g

• Dill: 30 g

• Ayran: 1.2 L

• Cold water: up to 200 ml

• Prepared horseradish: 20 g

• Pepper to taste

• Salt if needed.

How to Prepare

1. Boil the beef until tender and let it cool completely.

2. Dice the meat, potatoes, and eggs.

3. Add chopped cucumbers and radish.

4. Chop the herbs.

5. Mix ayran with horseradish.

6. Taste the base and add cold water if necessary.

7. Pour the ayran base over the ingredients and mix.

8. Add pepper. Salt only after tasting the prepared dish.

Approximate Calorie Content

Per 100 g:

• Calories: 57 kcal

• Protein: 4.6 g

• Fat: 2.6 g

• Carbohydrates: 3.4 g

Per 400 g serving:

• Calories: about 226 kcal

• Protein: 18 g

• Fat: 10 g

• Carbohydrates: 14 g

For a lighter option, choose beef without large visible fat. Boiled meat can be prepared in advance and stored separately from the chopped vegetables.

5. Vegetarian Okroshka with Chickpeas

If you don’t eat meat, you can replace it with boiled or canned chickpeas. Legumes add protein, fiber, and make okroshka more filling.

Ingredients

For a pot of about 2.5 liters:

• Cooked chickpeas: 300 g

• Boiled potatoes: 250 g

• Cucumbers: 350 g

• Radish: 250 g

• Green onions: 50 g

• Dill: 30 g

• Kefir 1%: 1 L

• Cold water: 300 ml

• Mustard: 20 g

• Salt and pepper to taste.

How to Prepare

1. If using canned chickpeas, drain the liquid and rinse them with water.

2. You can mash half of the chickpeas lightly with a fork. This makes the okroshka base thicker.

3. Dice potatoes, cucumbers, and radish.

4. Add green onions and dill.

5. Mix kefir, water, and mustard.

6. Combine all ingredients.

7. Add salt and pepper.

8. Chill thoroughly before serving.

Approximate Calorie Content

Per 100 g:

• Calories: 49 kcal

• Protein: 2.7 g

• Fat: 0.8 g

• Carbohydrates: 7.3 g

Per 400 g serving:

• Calories: about 195 kcal

• Protein: 11 g

• Fat: 3 g

• Carbohydrates: 29 g

For a fully plant-based version, replace kefir with an unsweetened plant-fermented milk product. Its calorie and protein content may vary, so you’ll need to recalculate the recipe values.

Calorie Content of Different Types of Okroshka

The lowest figure per 100 g does not always mean a dish is more filling. When choosing a recipe, consider not just calories, but also the amount of protein, serving size, and your overall daily diet.

Okroshka with chicken contains more protein. The version with sausage usually has more fat. Okroshka with chickpeas is a good option for those wanting to increase legumes and plant-based foods in their diet.

How to Make Delicious Okroshka

Completely Cool the Ingredients

Potatoes, eggs, and meat should be cold. If you mix warm ingredients with kefir or kvass, the taste of okroshka will be less fresh.

Cut Ingredients Evenly

Small cubes are easier to eat, and the flavors are distributed more evenly. Avoid grating all the vegetables: they will quickly release too much liquid.

Crush the Green Onions

You can mash some of the onions with a little salt. This softens them and brings out more aroma.

Don't Add All the Liquid at Once

First, mix the chopped ingredients with part of the base. Then, gradually add kvass, kefir, water, or ayran until you reach the desired thickness.

Be Careful with Salt

Sausage, ayran, mustard, and horseradish may already contain salt. First, assemble the dish, taste it, and only then add more salt if necessary.

Add Dressing Just Before Serving

If you’re making okroshka for several meals, it’s convenient to store the chopped ingredients and liquid base separately. This way, vegetables keep their texture longer, and you can adjust the taste for each serving.

Can You Eat Okroshka While Losing Weight?

Okroshka can be included in a weight loss diet. The dish itself does not speed up weight loss, but it's easy to fit into a moderate calorie deficit.

To make okroshka more suitable for weight control:

• Use chicken, turkey, or lean beef instead of fatty sausage

• Choose kefir with 1-2.5% fat content

• Measure sour cream and mayonnaise by weight (in grams)

• Use more cucumbers, radish, and greens

• Don’t automatically add a lot of bread to okroshka

• Count sweet kvass as a source of calories

• Watch the portion size

A serving of light okroshka (350-450 g) can be a complete lunch. If you feel hungry soon after, check the amount of protein. Sometimes the issue is not the bowl size, but that there’s too little meat, eggs, poultry, or legumes in the dish.

You can learn your daily calorie needs in the article «Calorie Norms for Weight Loss: How to Calculate Using the Mifflin - St. Jeor Formula».

How to Reduce the Calorie Content of Okroshka

The most calorie-dense components of okroshka are usually not the vegetables.

Reduce the Amount of Sausage

Instead of 250 g sausage, you can use 150 g and add more cucumbers or replace the sausage with chicken breast.

Control the Dressing

Sour cream, mayonnaise, and full-fat yogurt significantly affect the final calorie count. Weigh them rather than adding “by eye.”

Check the Composition of Kvass

Calorie content varies between types of kvass. For okroshka, it’s easier to use unsweetened drink and refer to the nutrition label.

Don’t Remove All Filling Ingredients

Okroshka made only from cucumbers, radish, and kefir will be low-calorie but may not be very filling. It’s better to keep eggs, chicken, meat, or chickpeas, and lower the calorie content by reducing sausage and high-fat dressing.

How to Calculate the Calorie Content of Homemade Okroshka

The calorie content of okroshka can vary greatly, even if the name is the same. One pot might contain more potatoes, another more sausage, or someone may add sour cream to each plate separately.

To get an accurate result:

1. Weigh all ingredients

2. Write down the calorie value of each product

3. Include kvass, kefir, ayran, yogurt, and sour cream

4. Add the calories from all ingredients

5. Weigh the finished okroshka or sum up the total mass of all components

6. Divide the total calories by the weight of the dish

7. Multiply the result by 100

For example, if the whole pot has 1500 kcal and weighs 2500 g:

1500 / 2500 × 100 = 60 kcal per 100 g.

A 400 g serving will contain:

60 × 4 = 240 kcal.

A detailed guide with examples is available in the article «How to Count Calories in a Complex Dish: Soup, Pilaf, Salad, and Casserole».

How to Add Okroshka to SIT30

To avoid recalculating the same okroshka for each bowl, save it as a custom recipe.

1. Open the recipe addition section

2. Enter potatoes, eggs, vegetables, meat, and other ingredients

3. Add kvass, kefir, ayran, or another base

4. Be sure to include sour cream, mustard, mayonnaise, and other dressings

5. Indicate the actual weight of the finished dish

6. Save the recipe

7. When adding okroshka to your food diary, specify only the weight of your portion

The app will calculate calories and nutrients per 100 g. If you change the recipe next time, for example by replacing sausage with chicken, create a new recipe or edit the ingredients.

Calculate the calorie content of okroshka in the SIT30 calorie counter

Frequently Asked Questions

Which kvass is best for okroshka?

It’s best to choose unsweetened kvass with a pronounced tang. Drinks that are too sweet can overpower the taste of the vegetables, meat, and herbs. When counting calories, use the nutrition info from the specific kvass label.

Which is better for okroshka: kvass or kefir?

It depends on your taste preferences. Kvass provides a more traditional and slightly sweet taste. Kefir makes okroshka creamier and tangier. For calorie comparison, check the specific products.

Can okroshka be made without potatoes?

Yes. Without potatoes, the dish will be lower in calories, but may also be less filling. You can partially replace the potatoes with extra cucumbers, radish, meat, or eggs.

What can replace sausage in okroshka?

Boiled or roasted chicken, turkey, lean beef, tongue, chickpeas, or beans work well. For calorie control, chicken breast and turkey are especially convenient.

Can okroshka be dressed with mayonnaise?

Yes, but mayonnaise should be counted separately. Even small amounts significantly increase the calorie content of a serving. Natural yogurt, kefir, or moderate-fat sour cream make lighter dressings.

How many calories are in a bowl of okroshka?

This depends on the ingredients and portion size. In the recipes provided, a 400 g serving contains about 195 to 278 kcal. Adding extra sour cream, mayonnaise, or bread separately increases the total calorie content of your meal.

Conclusion

Okroshka can take many forms: classic with kvass, protein-rich with kefir and chicken, light with mineral water, hearty with ayran, or vegetarian with chickpeas.

For more accurate dietary control, it’s important to account for all ingredients, including the liquid base, sausage, meat, and dressing. Save your favorite version in SIT30, specify the total yield of the finished dish, and just weigh your portion in the future.

Also Read in the SIT30 Blog

• How to Count Calories in a Complex Dish: Soup, Pilaf, Salad, and Casserole

• How to Count Calories Properly: Scales, Portions, Oil, and Drinks

• Healthy Soups and Cream Soups: Light Lunch Ideas

• Calorie Norms for Weight Loss: How to Calculate Using the Formula

• How Much Protein Do You Need When Losing Weight: Daily Norm