Rye Bread Kvass without Yeast
Description
This kvass is made without adding yeast, resulting in an incredibly rich flavor and a distinct bread-like aroma. It turns out moderately sweet, lightly carbonated—not too fizzy, but not flat either—and perfectly quenches thirst. If you're preparing it for making okroshka, you can slightly reduce the sugar and then sweeten the finished drink to taste. After making kvass once, you can use the leftover starter to brew it again and again. The drink is ready to serve.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
First, prepare all the necessary ingredients for making the starter.
- 2
Step 2
Cut the rye bread into medium cubes and place them in a clean jar.
- 3
Step 3
Add sugar to the bread.
- 4
Step 4
Pour warm water into the jar and mix. The water should not reach the very top, as the liquid may overflow during cooking.
- 5
Step 5
Cover the jar with gauze, tie it with a string or secure with a rubber band. Place the jar in a deep plate and put it in a warm place for 3 days. If it's very hot in the house, two days may be enough.
- 6
Step 6
After three days, the starter is ready. Strain off the liquid, as it is not suitable for consumption. Mix everything well; this will be our starter for preparing the main kvass.
- 7
Step 7
Prepare rye croutons for cooking. Cut the rye bread into medium cubes and spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven and dry at 180-200 degrees until golden and crisp. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the croutons cool completely.
- 8
Step 8
Place the starter culture into a clean jar.
- 9
Step 9
Add sugar.
- 10
Step 10
Place the cooled rye croutons.
- 11
Step 11
Pour warm water into the jar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover the jar again with gauze and secure it. Place the jar in a dish and put it in a warm place for 24 hours.
- 12
Step 12
Strain the finished kvass, pour it into a clean jar, cover, and chill before serving. For the next batch, measure the required amount of starter from the remaining sediment and prepare a new batch of kvass.
- 13
Step 13
Enjoy your meal!