substitute for kvass in okroshka?

[Charlie998]

I'm a big fan of okroshka. In the summer, around Wimbledon time, it would be perfect, but back here in the UK I can't find a decent substitute for kvass. The recipe for okroshka below, which I found on the web, is sort of OK, but the (dry) cider doesn't really work. In Russia, I've seen bottles of concentrate, which can be used to make kvass and recipes for kvass are legion on the web. Any ideas how to make a good substitute from common ingredients?

chazza

here's the recipe I tried

1 c Meat, cooked
1 Cucumber
2 Eggs, hard-boiled
3 Onions, green
1 ts Sugar
2 ts Dijon mustard
half c Sour cream
4 c Apple cider

This chilled meat and vegetable soup is a popular Russian dish. It's served
with ice cubes in it. Since there's no substitute for Russian Kvass, a
fermented and slightly alcoholic liquid made from grain, the ingredients in
this recipe will have to do.

[sweetiepie]

If you are still not satisfied with the substitute you found I can offer you a very simple recipe for kvas.
For this recipe you will need:

1 cup rye bread cut into pieces and dried in the oven
5 cups boiling water
1tbsp sugar (you can put more if you like it sweeter)
1tsp yeast

Put dried pieces of bread in the big jar. Add boiling water and leave to soak for 5 hours. Then add sugar and yeast and leave in the warm place to ferment. Fermentation usually lasts between 12 and 24 hours depending on the air temperature. Then strain and put in the fridge.

You can also substitute kvas in Okroshka for kefir (butter milk). You will have to dilute it with water though if it is too thick. Okroshka with kefir has different taste which I actually prefer to the one with kvas. It tastes unbelievable!

[Ak-Murza]

What kind of east do you use? Dry?Frozen? My doughter bakes her own bread,she used the dry east that comes in foil
packets.Can I use it?

[sweetiepie]

Any yeast will do. If you are using dry yeast, mix it with a little quantity of water until the mixture is smooth first and then add to the jar. If you are using frozen yeast, defrost it first and then mix with the liquid.

[Ak-Murza]

Thanks...