When you come to Russia you should try “Vinegret” salad which is considered traditionally Russian and no wonder as the main ingredients, beet, pickling cabbage and cucumbers were the favorite products of the Slavs. Thanks to its bright colors the dish has a festive appearance, besides it is very delicious and healthy. It is more winter salad as in winter there are so many pickles carefully procured by our babushkas in summer.
So to make the classical version of this salad you will need:
- Boiled beet
- Boiled potatoes
- Boiled carrot
- Pickling cabbage
- Salted cucumbers
- Fresh onion
- Green peas
- Sunflower oil
- Some salt
All is cut into pieces, mixed and dressed with oil. Originally the Vinegret was dressed with some vinegar, so you can use it as well.
To a certainty it is not known when the Vinegret appeared in Russia but they say that the beet and the pickling cabbage have always been popular with Slavs and the potato appeared in Russia only during the reign of Peter the Great. The name of Vinegret came from the French word “Vinegrette”. Once the famous French cook Antoine Karem who was invited to work at court of the tsar Alexander the I saw the Russian cooks making a salad of beet with vinegar. He was rather surprised and exclaimed “Oh vinegre!”. After that the salad acquired the name “Vinegret” in Russia and in many other countries it is named “Russian salad”.
