This Russian salad is certainly one of my favourite dishes for a potluck or barbecue! Additionally known as an Olivier salad, it’s a tasty, simple recipe with colourful layers of peas, carrots, eggs, ham, cheese, and pickles tossed in creamy mayo.
Make this dish forward, add potatoes, or omit the ham to make it vegetarian. For those who love all-in-one salad recipes like a traditional Cobb salad or Chef salad, you’ll love this one!
If there’s one dish I’ll by no means cross up at our Memorial Day picnic, Easter lunch, and Christmas dinner, it’s this simple Russian salad. I lick a plate clear of this salad with a aspect of kifli. It’s a ham salad recipe with layers of tasty, savory elements, from salty ham and tender veggies to feta cheese and tangy pickles.
For those who’ve adopted me for some time, you’ll know I’m Macedonian, not Russian. However this Ruska salata is SO in style in Macedonia and Jap Europe that it could as nicely be a recipe from again dwelling!
Why You’ll Love This Russian Salad Recipe
- Colourful layers. Identical to ogres and onions (sure, Shrek reference), my Russian salad has layers. After all, every part will get tossed collectively on the finish. However the rainbow of colours within the bowl makes for the prettiest presentation on the potluck desk.
- Wealthy and creamy. You don’t must whip up a elaborate dressing for this ham salad. The recipe retains it creamy with one ingredient: good ol’ mayonnaise. It lets the remainder of the flavors do the speaking!
- Really easy. I imply, most salads must be simple to make, however this one is SO easy. As soon as the elements are prepped and chopped, every part will get layered earlier than it’s saved within the fridge. It takes half-hour or much less!
- Make-ahead. Whether or not I’m meal-prepping this recipe as a mason jar salad or getting a headstart on the household picnic or barbecue menu, a layered Russian salad, aka Olivier salad, is ideal for getting ready the day earlier than. Simply carry the mayo alongside while you’re able to serve.
Why Is It Known as Russian Salad?
It’s humorous you ask, as a result of I’ve run into just a few Russians who’ve by no means even heard of a Russian salad. The dish was initially known as Olivier salad after the Moscow-based chef that invented it. Ultimately, it turned “Russian salad”, “olivye”, and “ensalada rusa” in different components of Europe.
The recipe has modified loads over time. You’ll discover variations with potatoes, hen, and even cow’s tongue. So, whereas my Russian salad resembles the unique, it takes just a few liberties (and positively no tongue!) whereas maintaining the greens, cured meat, eggs, and mayo.
Elements You’ll Want
These are some notes on what you’ll must make this Russian salad. Have a scroll all the way down to the recipe card after the submit for a printable record with recipe particulars.
- Candy Peas – Contemporary, frozen, or canned candy peas all work right here. For those who’re utilizing canned or frozen, you’ll want to rinse (or thaw), drain, and dry the peas beforehand.
- Eggs – Laborious-boiled, then cooled and diced.
- Carrots – Additionally cooked after which diced up.
- Ham – Use leftover cooked ham or choose up a ham from the deli part on the retailer.
- Pickles – These could be dill pickles, Kosher, or candy pickles, or you should use one other pickled veggie, like onions.
- Cheese – I exploit a mix of crumbled feta and diced Monterey Jack cheese. Be happy to swap in any cheese you’d like. Attempt cheddar, Pepper Jack, provolone, and even Velveeta cheese.
- Mayonnaise – IMO, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is your best option for creamy salad recipes like this Russian salad, potato salad, and pasta salad.
Methods to Make Russian Salad (Olivier Salad)
With all of the dicing and chopping happening on this Olivier salad recipe, it’s the proper excuse to whip out the Slap Chop (in case you additionally made that purchasing channel impulse buy). In any other case, seize the chance to work on these knife expertise.
As soon as the elements are prepped to assemble, all it is advisable do is add them one after one other to a giant salad bowl. Ideally, use a glass bowl so you possibly can see all these fairly layers! Maintain the salad within the fridge in an effort to serve it chilled. Proper earlier than serving, add the mayo and toss to coat. Nonetheless, I choose so as to add the mayonnaise together with the opposite elements and let it meld with the remaining.
Add Potatoes!
These of you already accustomed to “olivye” salad or ensalada rusa may be questioning, “However the place are the potatoes?” Don’t fear. I skip them, however that doesn’t imply it’s important to. Boil and chop crimson or child potatoes such as you would for a potato salad and layer the chunks in with the remainder of the elements. Voila! Russian potato salad. Think about including slightly further mayonnaise to compensate for the additional potatoes.
Meal Prep This Salad
Layered salads like this one are good for meal prep, because the elements are hardy sufficient to assemble forward with out getting soggy. My favourite option to make this Russian salad prematurely is to layer every part right into a mason jar. Dollop the mayo on high, and shut the lid tightly. It’s able to tackle the go, simply give the jar a shake earlier than lunch the following day!
Storing Leftovers
Since this Russian salad doesn’t include salad leaves, it shops nicely within the fridge for 4-5 days. Retailer it in an hermetic container. The mayo dressing could turn into slightly watery with time. I prefer to stir in slightly further when serving leftovers.
Extra Jap European Recipes
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- 15 ounces canned small candy peas, rinsed, drained, and dried
- 6 eggs, boiled, cooled, diced
- 3 giant carrots, cooked and diced
- 1½ cups diced ham
- 1½ cups crumbled feta cheese
- 1½ cups diced pickles
- 1 block (8-ounces) Monterey jack cheese, diced
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, (in my view, for this salad, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is the most effective)
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Assemble the salad. Layer all elements, aside from mayonnaise, in a tall salad bowl.
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Costume the salad. When able to serve, high with ¼ cup of mayonnaise. Combine nicely and add extra mayonnaise if wanted. Serve chilly.
- Make forward: This salad could be made 2 to three days forward. Refrigerate and depart off the mayonnaise till able to serve.
- Embrace the mayonnaise: I choose this salad after the mayonnaise has had time to mix with the opposite elements, so I’ll combine it in earlier than refrigerating to permit the flavors to meld.
- Add extra: This recipe is only a information, so that you don’t should comply with the ingredient quantities precisely. Whether or not you’re making a Russian salad for six folks or 60, be at liberty so as to add as a lot ham, cheese, eggs, and mayonnaise as you want.
Energy: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 15g | Fats: 14g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Ldl cholesterol: 188mg | Sodium: 774mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 5430IU | Vitamin C: 1.8mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could fluctuate in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
