What you need to know about Šaltibarščiai: the famous pink soup with its own festival (plus recipe)
From pink soup slides to a pink parade through the city: welcome to one of Europe’s most colorful festivals. On May 31, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius will turn pink again during the third edition of the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest. The star of the show? Šaltibarščiai, the iconic pink, cold beet soup that ushers in summer there. And yes, we’re sharing the recipe too.
What exactly is šaltibarščiai?
Šaltibarščiai (pronounced: shool-tie-BAR-shy) is a cold soup made with ingredients including cooked beets, cucumber, egg, spring onion and kefir (a superfood, indeed). It is served ice-cold, usually with hot potatoes on the side. Freshly tangy, brilliantly pink and ultra-refreshing. Think: gazpacho meets yogurt dressing, but Baltic-style.
From soup to spectacle: the Pink Soup Fest
Last year, more than 42,000 visitors showed up, and this year promises to be even bigger. What can you expect? Sliding into a giant pink bowl, pink cocktail creations, music, quizzes and fashion shows. And, of course, lots and lots of šaltibarščiai.
New this year: the Pink Parade
A brand-new addition to the program is the Pink Parade through the center of Vilnius. Pink outfits, soup-themed accessories, inflatable eggs and bright pink wigs? Yes, exactly that. Anything goes, as long as it’s just as festive and pink as the soup.
Sliding into a bowl of soup (yes, really)
At Bastion Hill, you’ll find a 50-meter-long pink slide that ends in a giant inflatable bowl. Children, adults, party animals: everyone slides into the soup.
Pink Waiters’ Marathon
A sort of cross between a Parisian café run and a beer marathon: waiters race through the city with bowls of soup on their trays. Spill it = you’re out.
Costume competition with soup-themed prizes
Come dressed as an egg, beet or an entire bowl of soup: the best pink outfit wins. Bonus points for creativity and glitter.
More than just soup
Alongside liters of šaltibarščiai, you can sample desserts and cocktails made with beet or kefir, food trucks, live music and creative workshops. Fun for families, foodies and anyone with a fondness for pink madness.
The pink soup train
From Vilnius to Riga, with a bright pink interior and cold beet soup as your travel companion? This is the happiest train ride of your life. Between May 14 and August 10, the Pink Soup Train runs with an interior that is completely pink. And naturally, they serve – yes, you guessed it – šaltibarščiai on board. Baltic culinary heritage, but on rails.
The healthiest little soup in the world
According to Taste Atlas , šaltibarščiai is the world’s best cold soup. And it’s healthy too: kefir lowers cholesterol, is packed with probiotics and is even suitable for many people with lactose intolerance.
In 2023, national pride even led to a friendly rap battle between Lithuanians and Latvians over who really invented the soup. (Spoiler: everyone wins with soup.)
The recipe: how to make šaltibarščiai
Ingredients:
- 4 cooked beets (grated or finely chopped)
- 4 cups kefir (or buttermilk/yogurt)
- 1 cup cold water (for the right consistency)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- 3 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
- 3 tablespoons fresh dill (chopped)
- 2 spring onions (chopped)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Serve with hot boiled potatoes
Preparation:
Put everything together in a large bowl. Mix, season, chill in the refrigerator for half an hour and serve. Simple, healthy, refreshing and just a little extravagant.
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