Latvian Beer Soup with Cheese Croutons

Festive table setting with Latvian beer soup, cheese croutons, candles, and winter decor evoking cozy Baltic holiday vibes.

 

A unique sweet-and-savory soup from Latvia made with beer, eggs, and caraway seeds, served with creamy cheese croutons – a cozy, surprising dish your guests won't forget.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Latvian
Servings 3
Calories 420 kcal

Ingredients
  

🥣 For the Beer Soup:

  • 500 ml Beer
  • 100 g Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • Caraway seeds – to taste

🧀 For the Cheese Croutons:

  • 500 g Farmer’s cheese or ricotta
  • 50 g Butter
  • 1 Egg
  • 50 g Sour cream
  • Caraway seeds – to taste
  • 100 g White bread

Instructions
 

🥄 Step 1: Start with the Soup

  • Pour half of the beer into a saucepan and bring it to a boil with some caraway seeds. While that’s heating, separate the egg yolk and whisk it with the sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly add the remaining cold beer to this egg mixture and whisk well.
    Now carefully pour the egg-and-beer mixture into the hot beer in the pot. The temperature will drop — that’s okay. Gently heat the soup again, but do not let it boil. Once it’s hot and smooth, the soup is ready.
    A rustic ceramic bowl filled with creamy yellow cheese soup, garnished with finely chopped parsley and sprinkled with grated cheddar, set on a wooden tabletop.

🧀 Step 2: Let’s Make the Cheese Croutons

  • These are something special — cheesy, buttery, and slightly spiced with caraway.
    Start by warming the cheese with melted butter in a saucepan. In a separate bowl, beat the egg with sour cream, a pinch of salt, and caraway seeds. Add this mixture gradually into the warm cheese, stirring constantly.
    Once the cheese mixture is thick and smooth, pour it into a buttered dish and chill until it firms up. When it's set, cut it into bite-sized cubes. These are your cheesy croutons — a perfect partner for the beer soup.
    A creamy bowl of cheese soup with a smooth golden-yellow surface, topped with shredded cheddar, fresh parsley, and croutons, served in a white ceramic bowl on a wooden table.

Notes

Golden cheese croutons cut into small cubes on a wooden board, with a bowl of Latvian beer soup in the background.

🥣 Latvian Beer Soup with Cheese Croutons: A Cozy Recipe from My Kitchen

Let me tell you something — when I serve this soup at home, my husband never leaves a drop behind. And honestly, even guests who “don’t like beer” suddenly become fans. Why? Because this isn’t just a soup — it’s a warm, slightly sweet, spiced-up comfort in a bowl. So today, I’m sharing one of my favorite Latvian recipes: Beer Soup with Cheese Croutons.

🧀 A Cook’s Tip

Be picky with your cheese! Poor-quality cheese can ruin this dish. Choose fresh, natural farmer’s cheese or ricotta with no artificial flavors or strange smells. It should have a consistent texture — not too dry, not too runny.

🫖 Time to Serve

Ladle the warm beer soup into bowls and add a few cheese croutons on top. The mix of warm beer, caraway spice, and creamy cheese is just heavenly.
Now, who’s knocking at the door? Could it be Santa, drawn in by the aroma? Or maybe just your curious neighbors hoping for a taste? In any case — pull up another chair. There’s plenty to share! ✨
Latvian recipes
Keyword beer recipes, caraway soup, Latvian beer soup, Latvian cuisine, soup with cheese croutons
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