Ensalada Rusa (Dominican Potato and Beetroot Salad)
A creamy, pastel-pink potato salad with beetroot, carrots, peas, egg and onion in mayonnaise. The Dominican 'Russian salad' is a must at Christmas and every family party.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Cook the potatoes and carrots
Put the potatoes and carrots in a large pot (at least 4 L / 4 qt), cover with the water and add the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cook 10-12 minutes until tender but still holding their shape. Drain and let cool completely before using.
- 800 g potatoes
- 2 carrots
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 L water
✅ Done when: a knife slides in easily but the pieces still hold their shape
Mix the dressing
In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise with the vinegar and a little black pepper until smooth.
- 150 g mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- to taste black pepper
✅ Done when: smooth and well combined
Combine
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Add the beetroot
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Chill and serve
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Cook the potatoes and carrots
Put the potatoes and carrots in a large pot (at least 4 L / 4 qt), cover with the water and add the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cook 10-12 minutes until tender but still holding their shape. Drain and let cool completely before using.
- 800 g potatoes
- 2 carrots
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 L water
✅ Done when: a knife slides in easily but the pieces still hold their shape
Mix the dressing
In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise with the vinegar and a little black pepper until smooth.
- 150 g mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- to taste black pepper
✅ Done when: smooth and well combined
Combine
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Add the beetroot
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Chill and serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Russian salad descends from the Olivier salad, created by a chef in Moscow in the 1860s. Simpler versions spread through Europe and then to Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the Dominican Republic, beetroot gives it a pink colour, and it became an essential side dish for Christmas dinner, birthdays and Sunday lunches.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Creamy, colourful and refreshing, it's the side dish that appears at every Dominican celebration.
💡 Fun Fact
In Spain the same salad is called 'ensaladilla rusa', and in Russia itself it's still known as 'salat Olivye'.
Russia, adopted across Latin America
18.49°N, -69.93°W
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