This Russian salad is one in all my favourite dishes for a potluck or barbecue! Additionally referred to 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. If you happen to love all-in-one salad recipes like a basic 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.
If you happen to’ve adopted me for some time, you’ll know I’m Macedonian, not Russian. However this Ruska salata is SO widespread in Macedonia and Jap Europe that it might as effectively 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, all the things 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 ought to be simple to make, however this one is SO easy. As soon as the elements are prepped and chopped, all the things 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 making ready the day earlier than. Simply convey the mayo alongside once you’re able to serve.
Why Is It Referred to as Russian Salad?
It’s humorous you ask, as a result of I’ve run into a couple of Russians who’ve by no means even heard of a Russian salad. The dish was initially referred to as Olivier salad after the Moscow-based chef that invented it. Finally, it turned “Russian salad”, “olivye”, and “ensalada rusa” in different elements of Europe.
The recipe has modified lots over time. You’ll discover variations with potatoes, hen, and even cow’s tongue. So, whereas my Russian salad resembles the unique, it takes a couple of liberties (and undoubtedly no tongue!) whereas conserving 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 listing with recipe particulars.
- Candy Peas – Contemporary, frozen, or canned candy peas all work right here. If you happen to’re utilizing canned or frozen, be sure you rinse (or thaw), drain, and dry the peas beforehand.
- Eggs – Onerous-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 may be dill pickles, Kosher, or candy pickles, or you should utilize one other pickled veggie, like onions.
- Cheese – I take advantage of a mixture 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 the only 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 occurring on this Olivier salad recipe, it’s the proper excuse to whip out the Slap Chop (in case you additionally made that procuring channel impulse buy). In any other case, seize the chance to work on these knife abilities.
As soon as the elements are prepped to assemble, all you must do is add them one after one other to an enormous salad bowl. Ideally, use a glass bowl so you’ll be able to see all these fairly layers! Hold the salad within the fridge to be able to serve it chilled. Proper earlier than serving, add the mayo and toss to coat. Nevertheless, 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 aware of “olivye” salad or ensalada rusa is likely to 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 purple 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. Take into account including a little bit additional mayonnaise to compensate for the additional potatoes.
Meal Prep This Salad
Layered salads like this one are excellent for meal prep, because the elements are hardy sufficient to assemble forward with out getting soggy. My favourite approach to make this Russian salad prematurely is to layer all the things 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 effectively within the fridge for 4-5 days. Retailer it in an hermetic container. The mayo dressing might turn into a little bit watery with time. I prefer to stir in a little bit additional 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, (for my part, for this salad, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is one of the best)
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Assemble the salad. Layer all elements, aside from mayonnaise, in a tall salad bowl.
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Gown the salad. When able to serve, high with ¼ cup of mayonnaise. Combine effectively and add extra mayonnaise if wanted. Serve chilly.
- Make forward: This salad may be made 2 to three days forward. Refrigerate and depart off the mayonnaise till able to serve.
- Embody 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 must observe 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 data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.