Chrain

Chrain is a spicy paste made of grated horseradish. It is a common condiment for meat and fish dishes in Ashkenazi Jewish, Israeli, American Jewish, Argentine Jewish, Austrian, Canadian Jewish, Slovene, northern Croatian, Belarusian, Czech, German, Polish, Romanian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian and Ukrainian cuisine. The English word chrain comes from Yiddish כריין, which is in turn a loanword from Slavic languages.

There are two common forms of chrain in the Jewish and Slavic cuisines. White chrain consists of grated horseradish and vinegar, and sometimes sugar and salt, while red chrain includes the addition of beetroot. These types of chrain are distinct from other horseradish-based condiments in that they are pareve (contain no dairy products), making it acceptable at both meat and dairy meals according to Jewish dietary law. In contrast, many Central European varieties include cream, while some Russian recipes call for chrain with smetana (sour cream). There are also varieties including apples, lingonberry, cranberry and oranges.

The use of chrain in Eastern European Jewish communities is ancient, and is first attested in writing from the 12th century. Though it has had several historical uses, chrain is most commonly associated in modern times with gefilte fish, for which it is considered an essential condiment. In Eastern European cuisines chrain is a typical condiment for various fish dishes, as well as for meat and fish zakuski, such as kholodets (aspic) and beef tongue.