Kyselo

Kyselo

Krkonošské kyselo
Origin
Alternative name(s)	Krkonošské kyselo
Place of origin	Czech Republic
Region or state	Krkonoše
Details
Course served	Soup, Entrée, Main course
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredient(s)	sourdough, mushrooms, caraway
Variations	Żurek or Sour rye soup (Poland)
Approximate calories per serving	cca 250 kcal (depends on ingredients)
Other information	Recipe can be found on Wikibooks Cookbook

Kyselo (or krkonošské kyselo) (German: kübelsauer, Czech: kyselo) is a soup based on sourdough and mushrooms. It is a traditional Czech cuisine from poor folk food originating in the Northern Bohemia mountain region Krkonoše. It is very substantial and it contains an abundance of quality proteins, B vitamins, dietary fiber and other important nutrients. Usage of sourdough is closely related to fermented flour usage in the Polish sour rye soup.

History

Kyselo has been a traditional daily food of poor people in the Krkonoše mountain region for centuries, primarily in the winter. It is made from locally accessible, cheap, storable ingredients (the mushrooms are usually used dried) and nutritious ingredients so it provides substantial energy for hard mountain life and work. Historically kyselo was made without eggs. Eggs in early times were produced mainly for sale on the market, not for one's own family, so eggs were only eaten on some holidays. Potatoes became widespread among poor people of Czech lands in the late 18th century, so before that time soups of this type were also made without potatoes.

Usage of sourdough indicates that kyselo has ancient origins, probably in medieval (and prehistoric) fermented cereal porridges.

The Krkonoše region is on the Czech–Polish border, and kyselo is a close relative of the famous Polish sour rye soup. Other Slavic cuisines also have variations of soups based on soured flour or other modes of fermentation, such as Russian Okroshka. A more distant relative of kyselo is for example Japanese miso soup, which also uses a fermented basic ingredient — miso paste.

Folklore and popular culture

As a staple food, kyselo plays an important part in local legends and fairy tales, especially in connection to the mythical mountain lord Krakonoš (German: Rübezahl). It is said that he gave sourdough to people and invented kyselo. In Krkonoše there is also a mountain named Kotel (Polish: Kocioł, German: Kesselkoppe) which means cauldron. When fog rises from the valley at bottom of Kotel, people say that Krakonoš is cooking the kyselo.

The name "kyselo" (but not the taste of soup itself, which is strictly regional) is well known in the whole Czech Republic because of Večerníček children's television series Krkonošské pohádky (Fairy Tales from Krkonoše), in which Anče, one of the main characters, cooks kyselo in almost all of the episodes.

Etymology

The word "kyselo" has etymology its origins in the word "kyselý", which in Czech language means "sour". The sourdough which kyselo is made from is called "chlebový kvásek" or "chlebový kvas" (not to be confused with the Russian "kvass").

Sometimes another sour mushroom-based Czech soup kulajda or its variants are mistakenly called "kyselo". The difference is that "kulajda" and similar soups do not use sourdough but sour cream or milk and vinegar. To reduce this misunderstanding, kyselo is often called "Krkonošské kyselo" ("Kyselo of Krkonoše").

In Eastern regions of the Czech Republic and in Slovakia there is a soup called kyselica, but it is a variation of sauerkraut soup.

Ingredients and preparation

The basis of kyselo is strong broth made from mushrooms and caraway in water. It is thickened by sourdough which is poured into the broth. Then it is supplemented by onion sauted in butter, boiled and then roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs and seasoned with salt and vinegar.

Due to its ancient origins, kyselo has no fixed recipe and the preparation is a little different in every family. The recipe is passed on by oral tradition. There are local variants of kyselo in Krkonoše: without eggs or with hard-boiled eggs, boiled but not roasted potatoes, with or without cream, etcetera.

Nowadays one can purchase an industry-made instant powder kyselo base for use in big canteens.

Sourdough

Sourdough is the first basic ingredient of kyselo. It should ideally be made from rye flour. It can be bought at local food stores in Krkonoše. In the rest of the world it may be bought at some bakeries or it can be made from water, flour and old bread. Families in Krkonoše usually grew their own sourdough for years in special cookware called "kyselák" or "kvasák".

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are the second most important ingredient in kyselo. Central European edible species such as cep and similar species are used. The mushrooms are usually used dried in the winter.

Serving

Kyselo is traditionally served hot in a soup plate or bowl. In some restaurants it is served in an edible bread bowl. Sometimes it is garnished with chopped scallion, parsley or other green herbs. The soup is eaten with a tablespoon. The potatoes are often served on a special plate (one for the whole table) and everyone can add any quantity as needed. Usually salt and vinegar are also on the table for personal seasoning preferences.

Kyselo is a very nutritious food so it is often served as a main (and only) course, but in small quantities it could be also served as an entrée.

See also

• Recipe for kyselo on Wikibooks Cookbook
• Krkonoše, the region where kyselo originates.
• Sourdough, key ingredient of kyselo.
• Fermentation (food), key food processing technology for kyselo.
• Sour rye soup, Polish variation of kyselo.
• Krakonoš (German: Rübezahl), mythical inventor of kyselo.
• Kulajda, another Czech mushroom sour soup.
• Hapanvelli Finnish pea and sour dough soup