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Official Guinness World Record certificate for 611-kg traditional Russian cold soup 'okroshka' arrives in Penza

The record was set on June 30, 2012. It took three hours to cook the dish

PENZA, December 25 (Itar-Tass) — A record-breaking traditional Russian cold soup, okroshka, weighing more than 600 kilograms that was cooked this summer in the Penza region has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records. The official Guinness World Record certificate has finally arrived in Penza and will be handed over to the regional administration on Wednesday.

The record was set on June 30, 2012 during the regional festival of entrepreneurs Shurum-Burum. It was registered by representatives from the international agency Interrecord. The weight of the dish cooked by chefs from a number of Penza-based restaurants was 611.5 kilograms. Ingredients included about 24 kilograms of garden radish, more than 45 kilograms of beef, 33 kilograms of eggs, 34 kilograms of cucumbers, more than 40 kilograms of potatoes, 4.6 kilograms of horse radish, 4.8 kilograms of mustard, lots of onion, sour cream, dill, three kilograms of salt, and 400 litres of kvass, a fermented beverage made from black or regular rye bread. It took three hours to cook the dish.

The classic okroshka soup is a mix of mostly raw vegetables (like cucumbers and spring onions), boiled potatoes, eggs, and a cooked meat such as beef, veal, sausages, or ham with kvass. Okroshka is usually garnished with sour cream. The ingredients are diced and then mixed with kvass just before eating; the ratio of chopped food to kvass is similar to that of cereal to milk. This allows the vegetables to retain their texture. Okroshka is mostly served in summer because the soup combines the refreshing taste of kvass and the lightness of a salad. Salt and sugar can be added according to taste. Okroshka is always served cold.