Beetroot with Horseradish

📜 Origin & History

Ćwikła (Polish: Beet and Horseradish Salad; German: Beets with Horseradish) is a classic Polish side salad made from cooked or roasted beets (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris; Polish: Burak ćwikłowy) and freshly grated horseradish (Armoracia rusticana; Polish: Chrzan)—seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Ćwikła is an indispensable element of the Polish Easter breakfast (Śniadanie Wielkanocne): alongside Bigos (sauerkraut stew), Żurek (sour rye soup), Kiełbasa (sausage), and hard-boiled eggs, Ćwikła is one of the traditional Easter side dishes brought to the Holy Saturday (Wielka Sobota) church blessing (Święconka). Chrzan (horseradish; Armoracia rusticana) is a defining spice of Polish cuisine: freshly grated, it has an intense, sharp mustard-like pungency from allyl isothiocyanate. Similar preparations are known throughout the East Central European region: in Ukraine as Cvikla, in the Czech Republic as Červená řepa s křenem. Ćwikła is sold pre-packaged in Polish supermarkets (brands: Roleski, Kamis, Łowicz) and is a popular everyday product. In Germany, Ćwikła is available in Polish supermarkets (Sklep polskie); fresh horseradish seasonally at markets; beets year-round.