Russian salad, Olivier salad or sallatë Ruse as it’s called in Albanian is a traditional Russian and Eastern European side dish usually prepared for holidays or special occasions. In Albania this eye catching, delicious and colorful vegetable dish was made particularly for New Year’s Eve dinner and it was present on almost all tables. Main ingredients are potatoes, carrots, eggs and mayonnaise. Olivier salad is best when all ingredients are diced to the same size. Dice everything pea-sized for best look, taste and texture.
Russian Salad (Sallatë Ruse)
Beets and Potatoes Vinaigrette Salad
Beets and potatoes vinaigrette salad is a staple dish along with Olivier salad at most Russian gatherings. Very popular also in many other Eastern European countries. Beets and potatoes salad is a combination of root vegetables with a vinegar dressing. The beets, potatoes, and carrots may be boiled or roasted in the oven. This is a healthy, nutritious and vibrant salad made with diced boiled root based vegetables and perked up by some onion and zesty pickles. The name vinaigrette comes from a mixture of diced cooked vegetables dressed with vinegar. There are so many variations of this recipe. In many Slavic countries its customary to make Olivier and vinaigrette salad for the holidays, especially for New Years dinner celebrations. This is a great vegetarian side dish, alternative to a standard potato salad with great flavor. Here is the recipe, give it a try it does not hurt they are just vegetables!