Delia Smith Russian Salad Food

EASY RUSSIAN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the carrots and potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 4 mins, then throw in the peas and cook for 4 mins more until all the vegetables are tender. Drain, cool for a few mins, then tip into a bowl with the cornichons, mayonnaise and parsley, if using. Mix well and season to taste. Delicious with leftover roast beef or lamb, wedges of pork pie or cold sliced ham or chicken.

AUTHENTIC RUSSIAN SALAD 'OLIVYE'

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add potatoes and carrot. Return mixture to a boil and add eggs; cook until potatoes are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and slightly cool mixture. Chop potatoes and carrot; peel and chop eggs.
• Mix potatoes, carrot, eggs, pickles, peas, ham, and parsley together in a large bowl; stir in mayonnaise until salad is evenly coated.

RUSSIAN SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and carrots, cut them into small cubes and boil them in water and salt for 15 minutes until they are soft but still firm; drain and leave to cool down. Boil the eggs in water with a pinch of salt for 10 minutes.
• Put the eggs, lemon juice, salt and a drizzle of olive oil in the blender, and start beating all while pouring in olive oil until you are left with a thick mayonnaise, taste and season if necessary.
• Mix the potatoes, carrots and peas together, add the hard-boiled (peeled and chopped) egg, add the flaked tuna fish (save a small amount for garnish) and cover with the mayonnaise, stir well and place in the refrigerator.
• Serve the salad on apperitif spoons garnished with tuna flakes and a strip of sweet red pepper.

BELARUSSIAN CARROT SALAD

Steps:

• Grate the carrots in a food processor using a fine grater blade.
• Place grated carrot in a bowl and pour over the vinegar and salt; mix ingredients well to make sure everything is evenly coated; Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours (preferably overnight) while the flavours develop; When you are ready to assemble the salad, check how much juice the carrots have made and if necessary pour excess juice away.
• Dry-roast the coriander seeds in a small frying pan over a medium heat (to do this, stir and toss the seeds in the pan for about 2 minutes, until they look toasted and start to jump); crush the roasted seeds lightly with a pestle and mortar .
• Heat the oil in the same frying pan, add the onion and fry until golden; allow to cool slightly then drain the oil through a sieve on to the carrots; the onion has now served its purpose and can be used in another dish, or discarded.
• Add the coriander seeds, garlic and cayenne pepper to the carrots, stir well and serve.

DELIA'S CHEF'S SALAD

Steps:

• Before you start, preheat the grill to its highest setting and let it heat up for at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine all the dressing ingredients in a jug or bowl and whisk them together well, tasting to check the seasoning.
• Now place the bacon on some foil on the grill pan, and grill until it's very crisp - about 7 minutes - then remove it to drain on some kitchen paper and crumble it into small pieces.
• Next slice the garlic sausage, first into 1/4in slices, then cut the slices into 1/4in strips. After that, wipe the mushrooms and slice them fairly thinly (but not paper-thin).
• Next crumble the cheese and peel and slice the avocados.
• To serve the salad, tear up the lettuce leaves and place them in a large bowl with the watercress and arugula. Scatter in the bacon, sausage, mushrooms, cheese and avocado and mix well.
• Just before serving, add half the dressing and mix together. Add the remaining dressing and toss again so that everything gets a good coating.
• Finally, sprinkle over the scallions and serve immediately. This needs lots of good rustic bread on the table.