Olivier salad
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eggs, meat, mayonnaise | |
Olivier salad (Russian: салат Оливье, romanized: salat Olivye, ⓘ) is a traditional salad dish of Russian cuisine. Its creation is generally attributed to Lucien Olivier.[1]
It is also popular in other
In Russia and other post-Soviet states, as well as in Russophone communities worldwide, the salad has become one of the main dishes on
History
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. [citation needed]
At the turn of the 20th century, one of Olivier's sous-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 his mise 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, tr. 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."[citation needed]
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 a
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. [citation needed]
Ingredients
The earliest published recipe known to date appeared in the Russian magazine Наша 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 to Worcestershire sauce), manufactured by John Burgess & Son[Note 1] (the brand he reputedly used) and Crosse & Blackwell. [citation needed]
The book Руководство 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 containing grouse, 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. [citation needed]
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 as
.In modern usage, it is usually boiled diced vegetables bound in mayonnaise, with Doktorskaya-type sausage. The most common alternative version, where the sausage is replaced with boiled or smoked chicken, is called Stolichny 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.
Modern Olivier
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 any
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 in Orenburg.[3][4]
Southeast Europe
In Serbia, Olivier salad is called Russian salad and is very common on the New Year and Christmas table. The salad is widely popular as руска салата (ruska salata) in
In Croatia and Slovenia, it is typically prepared without meat, and is usually called francuska salata in Croatian and francoska solata in Slovene, both meaning 'French salad'. On top of the typical peas, corn and carrots, some Croatian varieties also contain diced apples.
The Romanian variant, called salată 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 with murături, traditional Romanian mixed pickles. It can also be made vegetarian.
In Turkey, it is known as Rus 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 as meze and is used as a filling for some sandwiches and kumpir (jacket potato). Another Turkish name for Olivier salad is Amerikan salatası 'American salad', a euphemistic misnomer originating from the Cold War period.
Central Europe
In Slovakia, it is called zemiakový 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.
In Czech, it is called simply bramborový 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 with schnitzel or breaded carp, staple Christmas meals in the Czech Republic.
In Hungary, the meatless version is called franciasaláta 'French salad'. Versions with meat added are called Orosz hússaláta 'Russian meat salad'. With or without meat, it is a popular food all year round.
Southern Europe
In Greece, it can be found on almost any restaurant's menu and is called ρώσικη σαλάτα rossiki salata; it usually contains no meat. Ensaladilla rusa 'Russian little salad' is widely consumed in Spain and it is served as a tapa in many bars. It typically consists of minced boiled potato, minced boiled carrots, canned tuna, minced boiled eggs, peas, and mayonnaise.[6] In Italy, insalata russa has the same ingredients. A similar version is also popular in Portugal, where it is called salada russa. It is usually served either as a standalone dish or as a garnish to fish dishes, particularly fish fillets.
Northern Europe
In Iceland and Norway, it is called russisk salat, and contains carrots and green peas in mayonnaise dressing. It may also include small shrimp.[7] Often the salad is paired with smoked meat on bread. A similar but distinct salad known as italiensk salat is also available in Scandinavian countries, consisting of shredded cabbage and carrots in a mayonnaise dressing. The two salads, russisk salat and italiensk salat, are often confused.[8] In Finland, the regional salad italiansalaatti contains carrots, peas and ham in mayonnaise dressing but replaces potatoes with spaghetti or macaroni. In the Netherlands, there is a similar salad called Huzarensalade '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.[9]
Asia
Olivier salad (Persian: الويه) is popular in Iran, where it is known as salad Olivieh and usually made with potatoes, eggs, Persian pickled cucumbers, carrots, chicken, peas and mayonnaise, and is frequently a sandwich filler.[10]
It is a popular salad in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India as 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.
Olivier salad is believed to have been introduced as a "Capital salad" or "Niislel salad" in Mongolia during 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. [citation needed]
Latin America
The dish is also very popular in many Latin American countries where it is called ensalada rusa and has been reduced to its minimum: minced boiled potatoes and carrots, green beans and abundant mayonnaise-based dressing. In Argentina, it is usually served on its own as a first course, or with a very thinly sliced beef wrapping called matambre, in a dish called matambre con rusa. Argentines of Eastern European Jewish origin may make the salad with tuna. In Peru, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, it is a traditional Christmas side dish. In the Dominican 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. [citation needed]
See also
Notes
- ^ Now owned by the Greencore Group [1] Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
References
- ^ a b "A salad that no nation wants to call their own". tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Russian Salad (Olivier)
- ^ "Самый большой салат "Оливье"" [The largest Olivier salad] (in Russian). The book of records of Russia. 2012-12-16.
- ^ "Мировой рекорд по приготовлению салата "Оливье" установлен в Оренбурге" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 2012-12-16. Archived from the original on 2012-12-19.
- ISBN 83-88966-07-3(in Polish)
- ^ "ensaladilla-rusa-recipe-russian-potato-salad". spanishsabores.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
- ^ "Delikat Russisk Rekesalat". Delikat (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-06-05.
- ^ "Mærkelige madnavne: Hvorfor hedder det italiensk salat og russisk salat? | Samvirke". samvirke.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ Nicoline van der Sijs (2022-10-01). "Etymologica: de huzarensalade". Neerlandistiek.nl.
- ^ Salad Olivieh - My Persian Kitchen
Further reading
- Alan Davidson, The Oxford Companion to Food, Oxford, 1999. ISBN 0-19-211579-0.
- Anna Kushkova, "At the Center of the Table: The Rise and Fall of the Olivier Salad", Russian Studies in History 50:1:44-96 (Summer 2011) publisher's page (pay)
External links
- Media related to Olivier salad at Wikimedia Commons