Ensaladilla Rusa

35 mins

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Learn how to make an authentic ensaladilla rusa with this classic tapas recipe. Ensaladilla rusa is also known as Russian salad or Ensaladilla Olivier thanks to its inventor Lucien Olivier, a Russian chef who created this salad in his Moscow restaurant Hermitage around 1860. My grandma's tip when she made her ensaladilla was to pour a little bit of the oil from the bonito tuna into the salad. Traditionally served with a cold beer and some picos de pan breadsticks, ensaladilla rusa can be made in advance and served as part of a selection of tapas or as a side dish to grilled fish or barbecued meats.

Ingredients
Method

2 King Edward potatoes, peeled
2 carrots, peeled and cut lengthways
4 tbsp of frozen peas
1 whole red pepper, cut in half lengthways, seeds and core removed
3 large eggs
20 pitted manzanilla olives, cut in halves
1 tbsp baby capers
200g bonito tuna or white tuna in olive oil, drained
8 tbsp of mayonnaise
½ tbsp flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Pre-heat your oven grill for 5 minutes. Place the two peppers halves, skin side up on a tray, drizzle with one tablespoon of the olive oil and place under the grill, until the skins are completely black all round. Remove from the grill, cover with a kitchen cloth or aluminium foil and allow the cooked peppers to rest and steam for 10 minutes. After this time, you will be able to peel them very easily. Cut the peppers into long strips and save for the garnish.
Place the potatoes and carrots in a large sauce pan, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt and bring the water to the boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. After this time, add the eggs and cook for a further 5 minutes, add the peas and cook for a further 5 minutes too. Drain and cool down under cold running water.
Once cold, peel the hard-boiled eggs, keeping 2 eggs yolks on the side for the garnish and chop the rest into small pieces. Chop the potatoes and carrots into small cubes..
In a large bowl, mix the cooked peas, potatoes, carrots, with the chopped hard-boiled eggs, manzanilla olives, baby capers and tuna. Season well with salt, add the mayonnaise and chopped parsley and mix well.
I like to serve my Russian salad individually, by filling a small ring mould with the salad mix, top with some mayonnaise and finely grated hard-boiled egg yolk and garnish with some strips of roasted red pepper and an olive. Remove the ring mould, drizzle round some good quality extra virgin olive oil and serve with some picos de pan bread sticks and a cold beer.

Ingredients

2 King Edward potatoes, peeled
2 carrots, peeled and cut lengthways
4 tbsp of frozen peas
1 whole red pepper, cut in half lengthways, seeds and core removed
3 large eggs
20 pitted manzanilla olives, cut in halves
1 tbsp baby capers
200g bonito tuna or white tuna in olive oil, drained
8 tbsp of mayonnaise
½ tbsp flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Method

Pre-heat your oven grill for 5 minutes. Place the two peppers halves, skin side up on a tray, drizzle with one tablespoon of the olive oil and place under the grill, until the skins are completely black all round. Remove from the grill, cover with a kitchen cloth or aluminium foil and allow the cooked peppers to rest and steam for 10 minutes. After this time, you will be able to peel them very easily. Cut the peppers into long strips and save for the garnish.
Place the potatoes and carrots in a large sauce pan, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt and bring the water to the boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. After this time, add the eggs and cook for a further 5 minutes, add the peas and cook for a further 5 minutes too. Drain and cool down under cold running water.
Once cold, peel the hard-boiled eggs, keeping 2 eggs yolks on the side for the garnish and chop the rest into small pieces. Chop the potatoes and carrots into small cubes..
In a large bowl, mix the cooked peas, potatoes, carrots, with the chopped hard-boiled eggs, manzanilla olives, baby capers and tuna. Season well with salt, add the mayonnaise and chopped parsley and mix well.
I like to serve my Russian salad individually, by filling a small ring mould with the salad mix, top with some mayonnaise and finely grated hard-boiled egg yolk and garnish with some strips of roasted red pepper and an olive. Remove the ring mould, drizzle round some good quality extra virgin olive oil and serve with some picos de pan bread sticks and a cold beer.

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Chef's Profile

Javier De La Hormaza

Javier is a Basque born, trained chef and hospitality professional, owner of Basco Fine Foods, a Spanish food and drink importer based in Yorkshire. He regularly runs client food and drink events around the country and he is a course tutor at Hartingtons of Bakewell cookery school. Javier's passion lies on bringing quality Spanish ingredients and recipes to as many people as possible.

Twitter: @bascofinefoods
Instagram: @mrbasco