Salads
Vinegret beetroot salad
Vinegret is one of the simplest and cheapest Russian home salads: boiled vegetables, sauerkraut, dill pickles and sunflower oil. Yet it is bright, juicy and equally at home on a weekday lunch table or a holiday spread. There is no mayonnaise, so it is lighter than many classic salads and it happens to be vegan. One trick separates a neat vinegret from a pink mush: toss the beetroot in oil on its own first, then combine it with the other vegetables.
Method
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Scrub the beetroot, potatoes and carrots and boil them in their skins: beetroot 50 to 60 minutes, carrots 25 to 30, potatoes 20 to 25, until tender. Cook the beetroot in a separate pan.
Let the vegetables cool completely, about 30 to 40 minutes, then peel.
Dice the beetroot into 1 cm cubes, put it in its own bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of oil. The oil coats it so it stains the other vegetables less.
Dice the potatoes, carrots and pickles to the same size. Finely chop the onion.
Squeeze the sauerkraut dry and cut any long strands shorter.
Combine everything with the beetroot, add the remaining oil, season with salt and fold gently. Leave for 15 minutes for the flavours to come together.
Tips for success
- Do not mix the beetroot in without oiling it first, or the whole salad turns uniformly pink.
- Never dice warm vegetables: the potatoes break up and the salad spoils faster.
- Salt carefully and last, since pickles and sauerkraut are already salty.
- Use spring onions instead of onion for a milder flavour.
Serving and storage
Serve as a salad on its own or as a side with herring, boiled potatoes or meatballs. Rye bread goes well with it.
Keeps covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. The beetroot colour spreads over time, but the taste stays good.
Variations
- Add 150 g drained canned peas.
- Add a can of red kidney beans for a more filling salad.
- Festive version: add 150 g diced herring fillet.
Calories and macros
Per serving (about 238 g):
Per 100 g: 73 kcal, P 1.4, F 3.6, C 9.1. An estimate based on average ingredient values. Your daily calories ›
