Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

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This Russian Beet Salad is made from grated cooked beets, combined with mayo and sour cream for creaminess. Garlic and chopped nuts complete the flavor and texture profile.

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (1)

Welcome to Day 2 of Beet Week! If you have missed yesterday's intro, check it out here.

There also is a giveaway for an awesome food processor (at the bottom) and a recipe for delicous red (beet) pasta in yesterday's post.

So yesterday, we had beets for dinner as an awesome pasta, and today, we have beet salad. Yum!

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (2)

Beets Have a Transforming, Fascinating Flavor Profile

I am always amazed with beets. First of all, there is the amazing, intoxicating colour once you remove the (sometimes very dirty-looking) skin.

And then there is the flavor. Raw, they tasteso earthy and kind ofwild. Then you cook (or roast) them and they turnalmost sweet! I am not saying that the earthiness completely disappears when they are cooked, but (depending on cooking time) it is greatly reduced.

This flavor transformation is definitely happening in this Russian Beet Salad as well.

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (3)

This Russian Recipe Comes From Mom

As with most Russian recipes (or more accurately the countries of the Former Soviet Union), I learned this beet salad from my mom. I have helped her make this salad on many occasions, but usually I was just grating the beets. I let my momapply her expertise in fine-tuning the remaining ingredients for aperfect creamy texture.

This harvest season, I suddenly found myself with a surplus of beets. With my mom 8 hours away, I decided it was time to learn to make this Russian Beet Salad all by myself - from start to finish.

The Recipe Begins With Cooking the Beets

First, the beets must be cooked. I place them in a saucepan covered in water and boil them on medium heat until they are very soft. This takes 45-60 minutes. You can also roast the beets in the oven or steam them in the Instant Pot.

Next, I need disposable gloves. They are essential when preparing red beets and you don't want to run around with stained fingers for the next 24 hours or so.

Once the beets are cooked, you can pretty much just pull off the skin - no need for a peeler. To grate the beets, a food processor with shredding disc comes in very handy (Hint hint: I am giving one away here). But since they are quite soft when cooked, a handheld graterdoes a quick job too.

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (4)

Add Garlic, Mayo/Sour Cream, and Nuts!

The salad is seasoned with just salt + pepper, parsley, and a healthy dose of pressed or grated garlic. The garlic is a perfect companion to beets (in my opinion), but feel free to scale down the garlic to taste.

The creaminess of the salad comes from a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream. The amounts I mention in the recipe box below are approximates. Since beets don't come in all uniform sizes, feel free to also adjust these as needed.

And now my favorite part of the salad: nuts! I love the crunchy texture contrast thatthe nuts (use pecans or walnuts) provide to the creamy salad.

A few more nuts and parsley for garnish and there you have a colorful and oh-so-flavorful salad!

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (5)

Creamy Russian Beet Salad

5 from 4 votes

This Russian Beet Salad is made from grated cooked beets, combined with mayo and sour cream for creaminess. Garlic and chopped nuts complete the flavor and texture profile.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Salad

Cuisine Russian

Servings 6 servings (as a side)

Ingredients

  • 3 medium beets ~1.5 pounds/680 g
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • ¼ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed or grated
  • 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • extra parsley and nuts for garnish

Instructions

  • Cook the beets in a large saucepan with plenty of water until they are very soft (45-60 minutes).

  • When the beets have cooled enough, pull off the peel (using disposable gloves) and grate the beets.

  • Combine the grated beets with mayonnaise, sour cream, nuts, garlic, parsley and salt & pepper to taste.

  • Garnish salad with nuts and parsley. Chill for at least 1 hour for flavors to meld together.

Keyword Russian Beet Salad

Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below! Share a picture on social media with tag #leelalicious !

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Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (6)

More Delicious, Colourful Salad Recipes

Check out these similar salad recipes!

  • Corn Avocado Salad
  • Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad
  • Green Goddess Salad

Random Questions

What is a Russian beet salad?

A Russian beet salad is a dish made from grated cooked beets, combined with mayo and sour cream for creaminess. It often includes garlic and chopped nuts for added flavor and texture.

Where did beet salad come from?

Beet salad has its roots in Russian cuisine, where it has been a popular dish for generations. It is known for its vibrant colors and rich, earthy flavors that are characteristic of Russian cooking.

What is beetroot salad made of?

Beetroot salad typically consists of cooked beets that are grated or thinly sliced, mixed with various ingredients such as garlic, herbs, and a dressing made from a combination of mayonnaise and sour cream. Nuts are often added to provide a crunchy texture.

What is Russian salad dressing made of?

Russian salad dressing is typically made of a blend of mayonnaise and sour cream, combined with seasonings such as salt, pepper, and sometimes mustard or vinegar. This creamy dressing is commonly used in various Russian salads, including beet salad.

Why is Russian dressing so good?

Russian dressing is known for its rich and creamy texture, along with its well-balanced flavors. The combination of mayonnaise and sour cream provides a smooth and velvety base, while the addition of spices and herbs adds depth and complexity to the overall taste. The dressing's versatility allows it to complement a variety of ingredients, making it a popular choice for many dishes.

Russian Beet Salad Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

FAQs

What does Russian salad contain? ›

Chop potatoes and carrot. Peel and chop eggs. Mix potatoes, carrot, eggs, pickles, peas, ham, and dill together in a large bowl. Stir in mayonnaise until salad is evenly coated.

What is beetroot salad made of? ›

Directions. Stir grated beets, vinegar, oil, parsley, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Serve immediately or for best results, refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

How to serve beets? ›

You can use cooked beets in salads, to make hummus or to blend into smoothies. They can be diced for slaw, quartered for a grain bowl or mashed to make a dip or spread. Their thick and chewy texture is even great in a galette or quesadilla.

What is Russian Salad dressing made of? ›

Typically piquant, it is today characteristically made of a blend of mayonnaise and ketchup complemented with such additional ingredients as horseradish, pimentos, chives, mustard, and spices.

Is Russian Salad healthy or not? ›

It is a very complete dish that provides various benefits depending on the ingredients, most common are potatoes, green peas, beans, and carrots: Rich in minerals: iron, phosphorus, potassium. Vitamins: A, B, C, E, and K.

What makes beetroot taste better? ›

Roasting beets deepens their natural sugars while tempering bitterness. Bake whole, wrapped beets at 400°F for 60-75 minutes until easily pierced by a fork. Allow to cool before peeling and juicing. Incorporating roasted beets creates a smoother, mellower, almost nutty-flavored blended juice.

Can I eat beetroot salad everyday? ›

Too much oxalic acid (which is found in high amounts in beets) can also interfere with calcium and magnesium absorption. Oxalic acid is higher in raw beets than in cooked ones. Whether raw or cooked, beetroot is a very healthy root vegetable when eaten in moderation, perhaps 2–3 small beetroots 1–2x a week.

How healthy is beet salad? ›

Packed with nutrition, beets have antioxidants like betalains that fight cell damage and inflammation, potentially offering protection against cancer and heart disease. Health benefits of beets include more stamina during exercise, heart disease and stroke prevention, and lower blood pressure.

What is the tastiest way to eat beets? ›

Delicious. Roasted with goat cheese. – The classic, all-time favorite preparation. Roast beets until they are tender and juicy, then eat them with some spicy greens and piquant goat cheese.

What is the healthiest way to eat red beets? ›

The best way to cook beets to retain nutrients is to steam them. Steaming beets for no longer than 15 minutes is recommended. If you have a steamer, steam them until you can easily insert the tip of a fork into the beets.

What are Russian common ingredients? ›

Cabbage, potatoes, and cold-tolerant greens are common in Russian and other Eastern European cuisines. Pickling cabbage (sauerkraut), cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables in brine is used to preserve vegetables for winter use. Pickled apples and some other fruit also used to be widely popular.

What are the typical ingredients in Russian food? ›

Seasonal, local ingredients, such as vegetables, mushrooms, grains, pork, fish, poultry, dairy, and local honey populate Russian plates. Russian people do not shy away from sour flavors, and in fact enjoy a significant amount of pickled vegetables and soured dairy products due to their ease of winter storage.

Why is it called Russian Salad? ›

Russian salad was originally called Oliver salad based on the Moscow-based Belgian chef who invented it. During the 20th century, the dish spread throughout Europe and adopted the name Russian salad.

Is Russian Salad dressing the same as Thousand Island? ›

While there are a lot of overlapping ingredients, there are also some key differences between these two iconic slathers. To start, both are mostly made from a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, but generally, Russian dressing is a little spicy while Thousand Island tends to be on the sweeter side.

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