Beetroot and Horseradish Relish (Chrain)
Beetroot and horseradish relish, known as chrain, is a sharp Eastern European condiment steamed to tenderness in the Varoma. Sweet earthy beetroot meets fiery fresh horseradish, balanced with wine vinegar, caraway and a touch of sugar. The Thermomix steams the beetroot evenly without babyselling a pot, delivering a vibrant, jewel-red accompaniment for smoked fish and roasted meats.
About this recipe
Beetroot and horseradish relish, the famous chrain, becomes wonderfully straightforward with the Thermomix TM7, the all-in-one kitchen machine that steams, weighs and blends in one bowl. Searching for a chrain recipe or a vibrant beetroot condiment usually means boiling beetroot for an hour and scrubbing purple pans afterwards. Here, the Varoma steamer does the work gently, preserving the deep ruby colour and earthy sweetness of the beetroot while you get on with anything else. Once cooled, the beetroot and fiery fresh horseradish combine with wine vinegar, warm caraway, sugar and seasoning into a coarse, punchy relish that wakes up smoked salmon, roast beef and cured meats instantly. This is a perfect make-ahead condiment for festive tables, weekend brunches or a quick weeknight dinner accompaniment, and it stores beautifully in sterilised jars. If you love condiments with real bite, this Thermomix TM7 version of chrain deserves a permanent place in your fridge.
Preparation tips
- Wear disposable gloves when peeling the steamed beetroot to avoid purple-stained hands, and place a sheet of baking paper under your chopping board to catch the beetroot juices easily.
- Let the steamed beetroot cool completely before adding the horseradish, as heat diminishes the pungency of fresh horseradish and you want the chrain to retain its sharp, sinus-clearing bite.
- Spoon the finished relish into sterilised glass jars, cover with a little extra wine vinegar and store in the fridge for up to three weeks; the flavour deepens pleasantly after a day or two.
Recipe variations
- For a milder kid-friendly version, reduce the horseradish to a small knob and add a spoonful of apple sauce for natural sweetness; the beetroot keeps the lovely ruby colour while the relish becomes gentle enough for children.
- For a festive seasonal variation, add a finely chopped tart apple and a pinch of ground cloves along with the caraway; this gives the chrain a warming, Christmas-market character that pairs beautifully with smoked fish and holiday roasts.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Steaming the whole beetroot in the Varoma keeps its ruby colour and sweetness intact without any boiling water splashes. [Multi-Function]
- The integrated scale weighs the beetroot and horseradish directly into the dish, so the vinegar-to-sugar balance stays consistent every batch. [Built-in Scale]
- Mixing the cooled beetroot with horseradish and caraway produces an evenly coarse relish texture faster than hand-chopping. [Time Savings]
- Grinding whole caraway seeds fresh releases a warm aroma that pre-ground spices simply cannot match in this chrain. [Multi-Function]
- Heating the water for steaming starts the hands-free cooking process, letting you prepare jars and horseradish meanwhile. [Hands-Free]
Ingredients
- water
- beetroot
- horseradish, fresh
- red wine vinegar
- ground caraway
- sugar
- sea salt
- ground black pepper