Vinegret Salad is a delicious and healthier alternative to American Potato Salad. It features cooked beets, potatoes and carrots along with tangy dill pickles and green peas. This traditional Ukrainian/Russian recipe has loads of flavor and great for side dish or dinner.
Vinegret Salad
Just like homemade Borscht and breakfast Oladi, or Korean Beet Salad Vinegret is one of those recipes I grew up eating on a regular basis.
It's made with winter vegetables and is especially popular in colder months, when fresh cucumbers and tomatoes are no longer available on farmer's markets.
Vinegret, also called Vinaigrette is quintessentially a Russian recipe. Just like Korean-Style Carrots, Vinegret is also quite popular in all post-Soviet countries.
People love it because most of them grow their own vegetables and then store it for winter. They also make dill pickles and sauerkraut, which is essential for classic Shchi Soup.
Given all this, vegetables that are needed for Vinegret are almost always available in most homes without the need to go to the grocer.
Vinegret
You'll most likely see Vinegret as a side dish on a Christmas or New Years Eve table. Its simplicity made this salad one of the most popular dishes that everyone loves.
Up until 19th century, Vinegret was dressed with a Vinaigrette sauce consisting of vinegar, oil and mustard. Nowadays, the most popular dressing is either sunflower oil or mayo.
Whenever I make Vinegret Salad, I like to stick to oil dressing.
If you follow Low Carb or Keto diet, you can substitute roasted celery root for potatoes.
There are several key ingredients that make this Vinegret Salad so special and delicious:
- boiled potatoes
- beets
- carrot
- onion
- dill pickles
These ingredients make the base of the salad. After they have been added, you can choose to add one or several of the below ingredients.
Vinaigrette Salad add-ons:
- canned green peas
- sauerkraut
- marinated mushrooms
- canned Cannelini beans
- apple
- green onion
My favorite Vinegret recipe always features green peas or sauerkraut depending on what I have on hands.
Another thing that I've been loving to do lately is sauté the onions versus adding it raw. This step is optional and you can add raw onion, but I feel like sautéing adds just a bit more flavor to the salad.
Can Vinaigrette be made ahead?
Yes, you can cook and cut beet, potatoes and carrots 2 days in advance and store them in a fridge. Add dill pickles along with other ingredients at the very end when you're ready to serve.
How long will Vinegret Salad last?
Properly stored, Vinaigrette will last for 2 days in the refrigerator. I recommend storing it the airtight containers with lids. (I like these glass containers).
Similar Recipes
I hope you'll enjoy this healthy vegan potato recipe. Let me know what you think.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below and rate it. I always appreciate the feedback. Also, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
If you're looking for a quick overview of the recipe, please check out my Vinegret web-story.
Recipe
Vinegret Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes
- 2 large carrots
- 1 can sweet peas drained and rinsed
- 3-4 dill pickles or more if you like
- 1 large beets
- 1 medium onion finely minced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or sunflower oil
- 2 sprigs green onion diced
- ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or more to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add beet, potatoes and carrots. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook until vegetables are tender when poked with a knife. (see Note 1 for vegetables cooking time)
- At the same time, heat olive oil in a large saute pan and over medium heat. Add onions and cook stirring occasionally until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer onions to a bowl.
- When vegetables are tender, carefully remove them from water and place in a bowl with cold water. This will allow them to cool faster. Once they are cool to handle, peel and cut the vegetables along with dill pickles into small cubes.
- In a large bowl combine cut vegetables (see Note 2), green onion, green peas, sautéed onion, salt and pepper. Give everything a stir and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you’re looking to upgrade your mixing bowls, these 3-piece set glass bowls are super versatile, microwave and dishwasher safe and are Amazon Bestsellers. They make a useful gift for yourself or your loved ones. Plus, the price is just over $10. Check them out on Amazon.
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
K Melamed says
Where is the vinegar?
Iryna Bychkiv says
I actually prefer it without vinegar. However if you feel like the salad is lacking acidity, you can use a tablespoon of apple cider or white wine vinegar.
Cherylynn says
If you do use sauerkraut as an add on, how much would be the proper amount to use? Thank you.
Iryna Bychkiv says
One cup of sauerkraut would be a good amount.
Larysa Theriault says
had this salad mom use to make--have not had any since her passing 20 years ago--thank you for the reminder-must try and make this for old time memories My mother was Russian father Ukrainian. Either way it was a great salad- we called it "Russian Salad"
Iryna says
Larysa, thank you so much for your comment! Vinegret salad is very delicious indeed and easy to make. I hope you'll give it a try soon:)
Oryna Schiffman says
Hey Irina,
This is one of my favorite salads! Grew up on it — in Ukraine. Why, may I ask are you calling it Russian?...
Iryna says
Hi Oryna! Yes, I grew up on this salad too, very yummy. Despite that it's very popular in Ukraine, from my understanding and research it's considered more of a Russian salad. Although, if going deeper, some historians claim that it actually originated in France. Nevertheless, it's one of those dishes that's hard to say where it came from, just like potato pancakes or varenyki. We all love them but the true origin is controversial.
emily zileinski says
Yum, this recipe is so colourful! it will look great on my table for christmas this year!
Easyfoodsmith says
Love this gorgeous and healthy salad. so yum!
Iryna says
Thank you! It's really good:)
natalia bartkova says
I love this salad and I am doing it very often.