Olivier salad

Olivier salad(Russian:салат Оливье,romanized:salat Olivye,pronunciation) is a traditionalsaladdish ofRussian cuisine. Its creation is generally attributed toLucien Olivier.
It is popular in thepost-Soviet statesand around the world. In different modern recipes, it is usually made withdicedboiledpotatoes,carrotsand brineddill pickles(orcucumber), together with optionaleggs, vegetable or fruit ingredients such as greenpeas,celeriac,onionsandapples, optional meat ingredients such as diced boiledchicken, cured sausage,ham, orhot dogs, with salt, pepper and mustard sometimes added to enhance flavor, and dressed withmayonnaise.
In Russia and other post-Soviet states, as well as in Russophone communities worldwide, the salad has become one of the main dishes onzakuskitables served during New Year's Eve ("Novy God") celebrations. In Poland it is commonly served at Christmas and Easter.
In many countries, the dish is commonly referred to asRussian salad,in a few Scandinavian countries (Denmark and Norway) it is calleditaliensk salat(Italian salad, to acknowledge the popularity of this dish in Northern Italy- where however the common name is Insalata russa) and inDutchit is calledhuzarensalade(hussars' salad). In former Yugoslav countries it is calledruska salata(Russian salad).Francuska salata(French salad) is a similar dish. In Romania it is known as "salata (de) boeuf", which meansbeef saladinFrench.In France, it is referred to asmacédoine de légumes, whereas the Polish version, in which there's usually no meat, is simply known assałatka jarzynowa, orvegetable salad.
The original version of the salad was invented in the 1860s by a cook of French and Belgian origin,Lucien Olivier, the chef of the Hermitage, one of Moscow's most celebrated restaurants. Olivier's salad quickly became immensely popular with Hermitage regulars, and became the restaurant's signature dish.
At the turn of the 20th century, one of Olivier'ssous-chefs, Ivan Ivanov, attempted to steal the recipe. While preparing the dressing one evening in solitude, as was his custom, Olivier was suddenly called away. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ivanov sneaked into Olivier's private kitchen and observed hismise en place, which allowed him to make reasonable assumptions about the recipe of Olivier's famed dressing. Ivanov then left Olivier's employ and went to work as a chef for Moskva, a somewhat inferior restaurant, where he began to serve a suspiciously similar salad under the name "metropolitan salad" (Russian:Столичный,romanized:Stolichny). It was reported by the gourmets of the time, however, that the dressing on the "Stolichny" salad was of a lower quality than Olivier's, meaning that it was "missing something."
Later, Ivanov sold the recipe for the salad to various publishing houses, which further contributed to its popularization. Due to the closure of the Hermitage restaurant in 1905, and the Olivier family's subsequent departure from Russia, the salad could now be referred to as "Olivier."
One of the first printed recipes for Olivier salad, by Aleksandrova, appearing in 1894, called for half ahazel grouse, two potatoes, one small cucumber (or a largecornichon), 3–4 lettuce leaves, 3 large crayfish tails, 1/4 cup cubed aspic, 1 teaspoon of capers, 3–5 olives, and 11⁄2tablespoon Provençal dressing (mayonnaise).
As often happens with gourmet recipes which become popular, the ingredients which were rare, expensive, seasonal, or difficult to prepare were gradually replaced with cheaper and more readily available foods.
The earliest published recipe known to date appeared in the Russian magazineНаша пища(Nasha pishcha'Our Food') No. 6 (31 March 1894). This magazine, published from 1891 to 1896 and edited by M. Ignatiev, stated that the original recipe contained "mogul sauce" or "kabul sauce" (similar toWorcestershire sauce), manufactured by John Burgess & Son(the brand he reputedly used) andCrosse & Blackwell.
The bookРуководство к изучению основ кулинарного искусства(Rukovodstvo k izucheniyu osnov kulinarnogo iskusstva,'Guide to the Fundamentals of Culinary Arts') (1897) by P. Aleksandrova gave a recipe containinggrouse,crayfish, potatoes, cucumber, lettuce, aspic, capers, olives and mayonnaise. The author wrote that veal, partridge or chicken could be substituted but the authentic recipe contained grouse.
In post-revolutionary Russia, cheaper ingredients were substituted for the originals: grouse was replaced by chicken or sausage, crayfish by hard-boiled egg, cucumbers, olives and capers by pickled cucumbers and green peas.
Earlier, it always included cold meat such ashamorveal tongue, orfish. The mid-20th century restaurant version involved not just vegetables, but also pickled tongue,sausage,lobstermeat,truffles,etc.garnished withcapers,anchovyfillets,etc.Some versions molded it inaspic.
In modern usage, it is usually boiled diced vegetables bound in mayonnaise, withDoktorskaya-type sausage. The most common alternative version, where the sausage is replaced with boiled or smoked chicken, is calledStolichny salad, after Ivanov's version.
A multitude of other versions, named, unnamed, and even trademarked, exist, but only Olivier and Stolichny salad have entered the common vernacular of post-Soviet states.
Today's popular version of Olivier salad—containing boiled potatoes, dill pickles or fresh cucumbers, peas, eggs, carrots, onion and boiled beef/chicken or bologna, dressed with mayonnaise—is a version of Ivanov's Stolichny salad, and only faintly resembles Olivier's original creation. This version was a staple of anySovietholiday dinner, especially of aNovy God(New Year's Eve) dinner (to the extent that its presence was considered on a par withSoviet Champagneormandarin oranges), due to availability of components in winter. Even though more exotic foods are widely available in Russia now, its popularity has hardly diminished: this salad was and maybe still is the most traditional dish for the home New Year celebration for Russian people.
Festive Russian and post-Soviet states' homemade versions are traditionally at the cook's whim. While some of the ingredients are considered to be basic and essential, others are either favoured or dismissed as a threat to supposed authenticity.
The biggest Olivier salad, weighing 1,841 kilograms (4,059 lb), was prepared in December 2012 inOrenburg.
InSerbia, Olivier salad is calledRussian saladand is very common on theNew YearandChristmastable.
The salad is widely popular asруска салата(ruska salata) inBulgaria,Serbia, andNorth Macedonia, andsallatë ruseinAlbania. The Bulgarian version of the salad usually consists of potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles and some sort of salami or ham. InBosnia and Herzegovina, both theruska salataandfrancuska salata(which is essentially Russian salad prepared without meat) are very popular, especially during holidays.
InCroatiaandSlovenia, it is typically prepared without meat, and is usually calledfrancuska salatain Croatian andfrancoska solatain Slovene, both meaning'French salad'. On top of the typical peas, corn and carrots, some Croatian varieties also contain diced apples.
TheRomanianvariant, calledsalată de boeuf'beef salad', is considered a traditional dish. It is a combination of finely chopped beef (or chicken) and root vegetables, folded in mayonnaise and finished withmurături, traditional Romanian mixed pickles. It can also be made vegetarian.
InTurkey, it is known asRus salatası'Russian Salad'. The Turkish version consists of boiled and sliced carrots and potatoes, sliced cucumber pickles, boiled peas and mayonnaise and is sometimes decorated with boiled and sliced eggs, black olives and beet root pickles. It is served asmezeand is used as a filling for some sandwiches andkumpir(jacket potato). Another Turkish name for Olivier salad isAmerikan salatası'American salad', a euphemistic misnomer originating from theCold Warperiod.
In Slovakia, it is calledzemiakový šalát'potato salad'. There are several versions; however, it typically consists of boiled and cubed vegetables (potatoes, carrots), finely chopped onions and pickles in a mayonnaise dressing, often with diced hard-boiled eggs and canned green peas. It is seasoned with salt, black pepper and mustard. Some fluid from the pickles may also be added.
InCzech, it is called simplybramborový salát'potato salad'. It consists of boiled and cubed vegetables (potatoes, carrots, parsley and celery root), finely chopped onions and pickles in a mayonnaise dressing, often with diced hard-boiled eggs, some kind of soft salami and canned green peas. It is the side-dish of choice to go withschnitzelor breadedcarp, staple Christmas meals in the Czech Republic.
Polishsałatka jarzynowaorsałatka warzywna('vegetable salad', often simply calledsałatka) is vegetarian, consisting of peas, hard boiled eggs, and themirepoix, always cut into small cubes, seasoned with mayonnaise, salt, pepper. Recipes usually vary by region (tart apples or pickles can be added) and even by household, sometimes even adding meat (e.g. ham). One such notable exception isszałot(Polish pronunciation:[ˈʂawɔt]), aSilesianvariety which may include not only boiled potatoes, carrots, peas and boiled eggs, but also bacon, sausages orpickled herring.Such salads are often served on family celebrations, in particular onChristmas Eve.
InHungary, the meatless version is calledfranciasaláta'French salad'. Versions with meat added are calledOrosz hússaláta'Russian meat salad'. With or without meat, it is a popular food all year round.
In Greece, it can be found on almost any restaurant's menu and is calledρώσικη σαλάταrossiki salata; it usually contains no meat.Ensaladilla rusa'Russian little salad'is widely consumed inSpainand it is served as atapain many bars. It typically consists of minced boiled potato, minced boiled carrots, canned tuna, minced boiled eggs, peas, and mayonnaise.In Italy,insalata russahas the same ingredients. A similar version is also popular in Portugal, where it is calledsalada russa. It is usually served either as a standalone dish or as a garnish to fish dishes, particularly fish fillets.
In Iceland and Norway, it is calledrussisk salat, and contains carrots and green peas in mayonnaise dressing. It may also include small shrimp.Often the salad is paired with smoked meat on bread. A similar but distinct salad known asitaliensk salat( this link provides a different recipe for Scandinavianitaliensk salatand does not verify any connection to Olivier salad so) is also available in Scandinavian countries, consisting of shredded cabbage and carrots in a mayonnaise dressing.The two salads,russisk salatanditaliensk salat, are often confused.In Finland, the regional saladitaliansalaatticontains carrots, peas and ham in mayonnaise dressing but replaces potatoes with spaghetti or macaroni. In the Netherlands, there is a similar salad calledHuzarensalade'Hussar Salad', but this salad already existed in the 1840s. Its name probably derives from the Dutch hussar regiments, and refers to the original ingredient of horsemeat.
Olivier salad (Persian:الويه) is popular inIran, where it is known assalad Oliviehand usually made with potatoes, eggs, Persian pickled cucumbers, carrots, chicken, peas and mayonnaise, and is frequently a sandwich filler.
It is a popular salad inVietnam,Bangladesh,Pakistan, andIndiaas well, where it is usually made with potatoes, peas, apples or pineapples, and mayonnaise and is frequently used as a side dish in cafes. Another version of Russian salad is also very popular in Pakistan which bears no resemblance to Olivier salad and instead is a cabbage and apple slaw.
Japanese potato salad(potesara,ポテサラ), is often said to be ayoshokuversion of the Olivier salad, differing in a semi-mashed consistency of the potato, chopped ham as a main meat ingredient (instead of traditional poultry) and a liberal use ofrice vinegarandkarashimustard in its dressing.
Olivier salad is believed to have been introduced as a "Capital salad" or "Niislel salad"  inMongoliaduring the Soviet period. It usually consists of minced ham, minced boiled eggs, minced boiled carrots, and potatoes dressed with mayonnaise. It is widely popular amongst Mongolians, especially during the festive seasons.
In the early 20th century, a large number of Russians lived in Shanghai.  They were calledShanghai Russiansand formed the largest European groups living in Shanghai.  As a result, Olivier salad became a common household dish among local Chinese living in the city center of Shanghai.  It is calledShanghai-style saladand is one of the most popular dishes inHaipai cuisine, a Western-style cooking that is unique to Shanghai.  The traditional Shanghai variation of Olivier salad consists of potatoes, egg whites and a type of sausage (红肠) which is similar to the Polish kielbasa sausage, but produced locally in Shanghai and is similar to the sausage with the same Chinese name produced in Harbin, China.  Sometimes apples or green peas are added to the salad.  Egg yokes are used to make mayonnaise for the salad dressing.  Over time, new variations evolved with additional ingredients added or with different salad dressing used.
The dish is also very popular in many Latin American countries where it is calledensalada rusaand has been reduced to its minimum: minced boiled potatoes and carrots, green beans and abundant mayonnaise-based dressing. InArgentina, it is usually served on its own as a first course, or with a very thinly sliced beef wrapping calledmatambre, in a dish calledmatambre con rusa. Argentines of Eastern European Jewish origin may make the salad with tuna. InPeru,Chile,Colombia,VenezuelaandArgentina, it is a traditional Christmas side dish. In theDominican Republic, the dish is made with diced boiled vegetables including beets, carrots, potatoes and sometimes corn, mixed with mayonnaise and spices. It is often served as a side dish.The version most frequently prepared and served inBrazilis similar to that in other Latin American countries, and often called simplymaionese.