Kisel – is a well-known and popular sweet drink in Russia. This healthy drink contains berries or fruits, also sugar and water, and thickened with a potato starch. Kisel can be served cold or hot, sometimes it’s poured over ‘cottage cheese bake’ or ‘syrniki’. The kisel thickness can vary depending on how much potato starch is used; the thickest version does look like a mousse or jelly and can be eaten with a spoon, however the thin kisel is the most common version in Russia and usually consumed as a drink.
Kisel is generally made with fresh berries or fruits (red currants, cherries, cranberries, apples – are most common flavors which are widely available in Russia), but during the winter sweet jams or frozen berries are used to make it. The very first Russian kisels were thick and made with oat, wheat, rye or pea flours, and it dates back over one thousand years.
Nowadays there are lots of instant kisel mixes, which you can find at Russian stores, but I do assure you that to make you own kisel is very easy and definitely better and tastier. I made mine with fresh red currants; you can use any fresh or frozen berries. Enjoy!
Kisel - Russian sweet drink
To make thick kisel add more starch.
Ingredients
200-300g fresh red currants, rinsed
5-7 tbsp sugar (or more, depends on your taste)
2l water
3 tbsp potato starch (or cornstarch)
Method
- Keep aside some red currats. Strain the rest through a sieve into a saucepan. Add water, sugar and bring to boil. Reduce the heat, taste and adjust the sweetness.
- In a small cup, mix starch with few tablespoons of cold water. Add it to the saucepan along with red currants that you’ve kept. Give it a good stir and turn off the heat.
- Pour in a glasses or cups. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
milkandbun 
Such a refreshing drink/dessert. Looks wonderful! 🙂
Thank you, Ronit! It’s very Russian 🙂
Yes, I have Russian friends here NY and I know how tasty this is. 🙂
Wonderful…will try it sometime:)
Let me know please how it will turn out for you, Lina. 🙂
Cool!
Beautiful and refreshing, I’ve never tried it, but it has to be :). Love those gorgeous photos too.
Yes, you can see-how easy to make this drink! You can prepare kisel even during the winter using frozen berries and it can be warm. 🙂
looks very delicious. Will try it out with some frozen berries.
Glad to hear! 🙂
Never heard of this, what a fun looking drink!
You know, there are so many recipes in this world.. 😀 and I’m happy to share what I know thru my blog! 🙂
This drink looks so refreshing and beautiful!
Thank you for commenting, Julie! Hope you and your family will love this drink. 🙂
This looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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