Sałatka Jarzynowa (Polish Vegetable Salad)
Local name: Sałatka jarzynowa
In short: A chunky salad of diced potatoes, carrots, root vegetables, peas, pickles, apple and egg in mayonnaise, the Polish holiday table staple. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 50 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 255 kcal
No Polish Christmas, Easter or New Year's party is complete without sałatka jarzynowa, a bowl of diced boiled vegetables bound with mayonnaise. Potatoes, carrots, parsley root, celery root, peas, pickles, an apple and boiled eggs are all cut to the same small size, which is half the charm. It is made a day ahead so the flavors meld, then piled on a platter or spooned onto rye bread.
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes, carrots, parsley roots and celery root and put them unpeeled in a large pot of salted water. Boil for 25 to 30 minutes, until a knife slides in easily. Drain and cool completely, then peel.
- Hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes, then cool them in cold water and peel. Cook the peas in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and cool.
- Cut the potatoes, carrots, parsley roots, celery root, eggs, pickles, apple and onion into small, even cubes about 7 mm (1/4 in) wide.
- Combine everything in a large bowl with the peas. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle brine, salt, pepper and sugar.
- Fold gently with a large spoon until evenly coated, taking care not to mash the potatoes.
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight. Taste, adjust the salt and pickle brine, and serve cold, garnished with dill.
Tips
- Cool the vegetables completely before dressing them. Warm vegetables absorb the mayonnaise, and the salad turns oily or thin.
- Make it a day ahead and taste before serving. Chilling dulls salt and sourness, so you may need a little more pickle brine or salt.
Questions and answers
Is sałatka jarzynowa the same as Russian salad?
They are close relatives, built on boiled vegetables and mayonnaise. The Polish version stresses parsley root, celery root, pickles and apple, and is usually meatless, though ham or chicken is sometimes added.
How long does it keep?
Up to 3 days in the fridge, covered. The flavor improves on day two. Do not freeze it, because the mayonnaise and potatoes turn watery.
Can I make it vegan?
Use vegan mayonnaise and leave out the eggs, adding extra peas or a handful of cooked chickpeas for body. It tastes slightly different, but it works well.
How long does it take to make Sałatka Jarzynowa (Polish Vegetable Salad)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 50 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sałatka Jarzynowa (Polish Vegetable Salad)?
About 255 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 255 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
