#MeatlessMondays – Grandma´s “Russian Salad”

Russian Salad

Let me start by telling you that this is not my actual grandmother´s recipe. I gave it that name because I found it in one of my mom´s cookbooks, called La Cocina de la Abuela (grandma´s kitchen). Throughout the years, I´ve tried several recipes from that book, and always liked them, so when I was preparing my shopping list for the organic farmer´s market on Saturday, I looked in there for inspiration.

Russian Salad 1

In page 35, I found an easy Ensalada Rusa (Russian salad), that is a classic side dish or appetizer in many Peruvian kitchens. However, I wasn´t in the mood for something that simple (potatoes, carrots and peas), as I have lately been trying to eat a rainbow in every meal.

Russian salad 2

I was about to turn the page, when a headnote above the recipe caught my eye. It contained a mini recipe for an old, (perhaps the original), Russian salad preparation, popular in Lima in the early 20th century. This one contained not only the 3 veggies already mentioned, but also asparagus, cauliflower, string beans, fresh beans, beets, and corn. Bingo! The ingredients went down on the list, and this is the result.

Russian salad 3

 

Ensalada Rusa
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer. Side dish.
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • ½ a large, or 1 small cauliflower, cut in cubes
  • 1 bunch of asparagus, cut in small pieces
  • ½ cup peas
  • 1 carrot, cubes
  • 1-2 cups potatoes, cut in cubes
  • 3 small, or 1-2 large beets
  • 1 cup fresh beans
  • ½-1 cup string beans, cut in small pieces
  • ½-1 cup corn kernels
  • Salt and pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2-4 tablespoons lime juice
  • Mayonnaise
  • 2 hard boiled eggs
Instructions
  1. Steam or boil the veggies (it`s better to cook them before cutting, and to do it separately as different veggies have different cooking times).
  2. Mix all the vegetables, except the carrot, and add salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice. Mix well.
  3. In a pyrex, put a layer of veggies, then cover with a thin layer of mayonnaise (store-bought or fresh), and then with another layer of veggies.
  4. Finish with mayonnaise, hard boiled eggs, and carrot cubes, to decorate.

 


Comments

  1. this is very delicious salad

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