Polish · Authentic-ish Polish
Cwikla Beetroot and Horseradish
43 kcal a serving, against 70 for the traditional version. That is 27 kcal off, or 39%, with 1.5g of protein. Serves 6. 40 minutes, plus cooling.
What the traditional version is
Roasted beetroot grated and mixed with freshly grated horseradish, a dash of vinegar, salt and enough sugar to round off the bite. Bright, punchy and just sweet enough to tame the heat.
What changed, and what each change costs
Sugar for sweetener
Sugar does two jobs: smooths out the acidic vinegar tang and mixes with the beetroot juice to form a loose syrup. The swap for a pinch of sweetener keeps things sharp without all the calories.
What it costs you. You lose a little body. Real sugar gives the finished relish a slight gloss and thicker texture. Without it, Cwikla is a bit runnier and the vinegar comes through louder. If you want it sticky, you know what you need to do.
No change to beetroot or horseradish
Both are very low in everything but flavour. Swapping them out doesn't help - and the whole point is that beetroot and horseradish are the stars.
What it costs you. There isn't one. Unless you swap the beetroot for some kind of protein bar, but that's not a world I fancy living in.
The numbers
| Per serving | Traditional | Lightened |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 70 | 43 |
| Protein | 1.5g | 1.5g |
| Fat | 0.2g | 0.2g |
| Saturated fat | 0g | 0g |
| Carbohydrate | 16.6g | 9.4g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 2.1g | 3.4g |
Every figure is computed from the recipe's own weighed ingredient list against public food composition databases. The appendix in Authentic-ish Polish prints the exact database row used for each ingredient, so any number here can be checked.
Allergens. mustard, sulphites.
The method is in the book
If you want the sticky, jammy Cwikla that clings to sliced kielbasa like a guilty secret, you'll spot straight away what's missing: sugar doesn't just sweeten, it thickens. The sweetener version is more vinegary and doesn't quite hug the meat in the same way. That said, it's still got all the beetroot earthiness and horseradish fire you want, and it does a fine job of waking up cold pork or sausage without bringing a bag of sugar to the party. Use it with abandon, just don't serve it to your Polish auntie unless you've got thick skin.
The quantities and the method for this dish are in Authentic-ish Polish, along with 56 more. It is not out yet. The swap kit is free in the meantime.