Olyas Russian Beet Salad Recipes

RUSSIAN BEET SALAD "VINEGRET"

Steps:

• Cook the beets in boiling water or roast the beets until tender. I prefer to roast beets.Â
• In another pot, place the potatoes and carrots. Cover the vegetables with cold water. Cover the pot, bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook just until the carrots and potatoes are both cooked through and you are able to pierce them all the way through with a paring knife. You want to make sure that they are cooked through all the way, but not too much, since they will otherwise fall apart and turn to mush when mixed later on with the rest of the ingredients in the salad.
• Cool the beets, carrots and potatoes until cool enough to handle. I use a paper towel to help remove the skin from the cooked beets (it works like a charand use a butter knife to peel off the skin from the carrots and potatoes.
• Chop the beets, carrots and potatoes finely, so that they are about the same size. Of course, you can chop them larger than I did if you prefer.
• Chop the pickles to be approximately the same size as the beets, carrots and potatoes. Finely mince the shallot or onion, whichever you are using.
• Drain the sauerkraut. If the sauerkraut has really long pieces, you can chop them in half or thirds.
• Mix all the vegetables, including the sauerkraut and pickles in a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour in the sunflower oil and the vinegar. Mix to combine. Store in the refrigerator.
• You can make this salad up to 3 days in advance. You can also add fresh herbs right before serving, such as dill, green onions or parsley.
• Yields: 6-8 servings

OLYA'S RUSSIAN BEET SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes, carrots, and beets into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil and turn off heat. Allow pot to sit on burner until potato mixture cools, 1 to 2 hours.
• Place onion in a large bowl and cover with vinegar; set aside.
• Peel and chop potatoes, carrots, and beets; add to onion mixture. Mix peas, sunflower seed oil, dill, sea salt, and black pepper into potato mixture and stir well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 4 hours to overnight.

RUSSIAN BEET SALAD WITH HERRING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the potatoes, carrots, and beets in the boiling water until cooked but still firm, 15 to 20 minutes for the potatoes, 25 to 30 minutes for the carrots, and 40 minutes for the beets. Allow each to cool to the touch before further handling. Remove and discard the skins from the potatoes and beets. Shred the potatoes, carrots, and beets, keeping them separate.
• Arrange about half the onion and half the herring fillets in a layer in the bottom of a bowl. Cover the layer with about half of the grated potatoes, then a layer of about half the carrot, and finally about half the beet. Spread about 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise over the salad; season with salt and pepper. Repeat the layers in the same order to finish building the salad. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour. Serve cold.