What is salatka jarzynowa made of?

The ingredients Alexandrov-Ignatieff mentions are half a hazel grouse, a big pickled gherkin, two potatoes, 3-4 lettuce leaves, 3 crayfish tails, a teaspoon of capers, 3-5 olives, half a cup of cubed meat jelly and 1.5 tablespoons of sauce Provençal or mayonnaise.

What is Polish cucumber salad made of?

Place cucumbers into a colander and sprinkle generously with salt; let stand until soft, about 5 minutes. Squeeze liquid from cucumbers and transfer to a bowl with dill. Mix sour cream, lemon juice, and sugar together in a bowl; add to cucumbers and toss to coat. Season with pepper.

What vegetables does Polish eat?

cabbages, peas, cucumbers, beets, turnip, broad beans, lentils, onions, carrots, parsnip, kale and dill .

How to make ovcharska salad?

Ovcharska salata is a simple variation of the famous Shopska salata. Essentially, it is Shopska salata (cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese) with the addition of mushrooms, eggs, and ham . The salad is typically tossed with vegetable oil, left to rest for a few minutes, and it is then ready for consumption.

Why soak cucumbers in salt water before making cucumber salad?

When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away . This means that the cucumber will release less water into whatever dish you're adding it to, such as tzatziki, tabbouleh, Greek salad, or potato salad.

Should I peel cucumber for salad?

Should you peel your cucumbers for cucumber salad? Again, it depends on the variety and maturity of the cucumber . English or Persian cucumbers have thin skins which you do not need to peel. Regular market cucumbers may have thicker peels that can be tough and bitter, so it's best to peel those.

Salatka Jarzynowa - My Mom's Traditional Polish Salad Recipe (2024)

Have you heard of the authentic Polish vegetable salad? It’s a dish you can find in every home in Poland during any kind of celebration: from Christmas to birthdays, and name days (yes, we celebrate them in Poland!).

Polish vegetable salad is super easy to make and it tastes amazing. All you need is a few veggies, eggs, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.

Why Polish Salad Is So Popular?

One of the reasons why salatka jarzynowa recipe is well-known by every Polish housewife is that the veggies that you use to cook rosol (Polish chicken soup broth) are almost the same as in the Polish salad.

These are:

carrot
celery root
parsley root

When Polish housewives had these veggies left, they needed to find a way to do something with them. They figured that all they should do is to boil some potatoes and eggs, add ogorek kiszony (fermented cucumber), peas, mayonnaise, and the delicious breakfast for the next day is ready!

The other popular dish to make from rosol leftovers is Polish pasztet.

Did Polish Veggie Salad Really Originate In Poland?

The book Echoes of old Warsaw: In a kettle of flavors + 100 old recipes by Karolina Głowacka has a recipe for the Salatka jarzynowa.

We call it a traditional Polish Christmas salad, and it is a must-have at the Polish Christmas table. But despite being popular since the Polish People’s Republic, Polish veggie salad did not originate in Poland.

Salatka Jarzynowa - My Mom's Traditional Polish Salad Recipe (1)

It actually originated in Moscow at the Hermitage Restaurant in the 1860s. Invented by the Belgian chef Lucien Olivier, the salad became extremely popular and was soon called Olivier’s salad.

The original salad contained veal tongue, grouse, crayfish tails, lettuce, caviar, smoked duck, capers, and the popular Olivier dressing made from French wine vinegar, olive oil, and mustard.

Salatka Jarzynowa - My Mom's Traditional Polish Salad Recipe (2)

As the salad gained popularity among the middle classes too, the expensive ingredients were replaced by cheaper foods – cucumbers, potatoes, capers, and more.

Now, almost every country has a version of the Oliver salad. The modern salad is popular as a Polish Christmas salad and as a salad for family celebrations.

Salatka Jarzynowa - My Mom's Traditional Polish Salad Recipe (3)

How To Serve Polish Salad?

Traditionally, Polish style potato salad is served cold.

You can have it with meat (such as kielbasa) or bread. Even though it may be used as an add-on for the dinner, it’s not really recommended. The salad should be cold, as well as all the other ingredients of the meal.

There are two schools of making Polish veggie salad, and they differ by one ingredient, which is… potatoes. While some say that potatoes ruin the taste of Polish Veggie Salad, others can’t imagine this dish without it. Surely to take one of the sides, you need to try it both ways.

Good news for those who love herring in oil! You can add it to the veggie salad as well! Chop it into fine pieces and mix it into the salad. See my Polish Herring In Oil Recipe if you want to make it at home. Keep in mind though that salad with herring will not last too long, so prepare a smaller portion.

Tips For Making Polish Vegetable Salad

Wash well the veggies and cook with the peel on, this prevents them from overcooking and helps to keep the taste inside
The finer you dice the ingredients, the better.
The veggies are best to dice when cold.
Try not to overcook veggies, best to remove them from boiling while still tender, otherwise, they might go mushy in the salad.
This Polish salad tastes best cold!
You can make the salad a few hours in advance and refrigerate!
It is a common practice to make it a day before serving, allowing all the flavors to combine. Make sure you store it in the refrigerator.
If you cannot find celery root, you can skip it.
Add more apples or a tablespoon of honey if you want it sweeter.
Add more dill pickles or a tablespoon of mustard if you want it tangier.
Freshly chopped leek or onions can add some intensity to the flavor, you may add some if you like.
Serve with Polish sourdough bread!
If you’re looking for a simpler salad to make in a hurry, try this Groszek z Marchewką.

FAQs About The Salatka Jarzynowa

What Variations Of Polish Vegetable Salad Can I Make?

Depending on the recipe, you can either add an apple or not. It makes the salad sweeter. I don’t really like Polish salad with an apple but my mom loves it.

If you don’t have a traditional Polish ogorek kiszony, you can replace it with pickles. I wouldn’t recommend adding apple in that case, as the salad will be too sweet.

What Is The Polish Celery Root Salad Called In Other Countries?

This Polish celery root salad has different names in different countries that vary based on the ingredients or region. Here are a few of them.

Sallatë Ruse – Albania
Ruska Salata – Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia
Francuska Salata – Croatia
Bramborový Salát – Czechia
Italian Salad – Denmark, Norway, Iceland
ρώσικη σαλάτα (Rossiki Salata) – Greece
Insalata Russa – Italy
Salada Russa – Portugal
Olivier Salad and Stolichny Salad -Russia
Olivier Salad – Iran, Persia, India
Capital Salad – Mongolia
Russian Salad – Serbia
Francoska Solata – Slovenia
Ensaladilla Rusa – Spain
Ensalada Rusa – Latin American countries
Rus Salatası – Turkey

Salatka Jarzynowa - My Mom's Traditional Polish Salad Recipe (5)

Do I Have To Use Canned Peas?

No, you don’t have to use canned peas. You can use fresh peas if you want to. Just remember to boil them before use.

Can I Make The Polish Salad Vegan?

Yes, to make the salad vegan or vegetarian, do not add boiled eggs to the salad. You also need to replace the mayo with eggless mayonnaise made using vegan ingredients such as soy or chickpea broth.

Is It Possible To Store Leftover Salatka Jarzynowa?

Yes, you can put the leftover Polish vegetable salad in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Serve straight from the refrigerator!

Do not freeze leftover potato salad as the texture will change.

How To Make Polish Salad?

Yield: 10 servings

Salatka Jarzynowa - Traditional Polish Salad Recipe

This authentic Polish vegetable salad called Jarzynowa Salad is made in every Polish household for celebrations and Christmas. It's really easy to make at home!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

3 potatoes
2parsley roots
4 carrots
1celery root
1 onion or white part of the leek
4 big fermented cucumbers (ogorek kiszony)
1 can of the sweet peas
1 apple (optional)
6 boiled eggs
10 tablespoons of mayonnaise
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Peel celery root, carrot, potatoes, and parsley roots.
Boil them until they are soft.
Boil the eggs.
Chop finely all the ingredients. For more effortless chopping you can use a special tool, a vegetable slicer.
Add mayonnaise.
Season the Polish salad with salt and pepper.
Put the Polish salad to the fridge and eat when it's cold.

Notes

If you want the salad to be more healthy, you can use 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 5 tablespoons of Greek yogurt.
Remember to season your salad gradually! Although it requires quite a lot of salt and pepper, if you overdo it, there’s no way back. Add a small amount of salt and pepper, mix it well and taste it after a minute or two. Then add some more if needed. With practice, you will learn the right amount of your spices.