Zemiakový Šalát (Slovak Potato Salad with Pickles and Peas)
Local name: Zemiakový šalát
In short: A creamy Slovak potato salad with carrots, peas, gherkins, apple and boiled eggs in a mustard mayonnaise dressing, served cold. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Zemiakový šalát is the potato salad of the Slovak holiday table, most closely linked with Christmas Eve, when it is served with fried carp or schnitzel. Boiled potatoes, carrots, parsnip, peas, gherkins, apple and eggs are diced and folded into a mustardy mayonnaise dressing. It needs time to chill and settle, so it is best made the day before.
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold salted water and bring to a boil. After 10 minutes, add the carrots and parsnip. Cook for 15 minutes more, until all are just tender, adding the frozen peas for the last 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, boil the eggs for 10 minutes, then cool them in cold water. Drain the vegetables and spread them out to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Peel the potatoes, carrots and parsnip and cut them into 1 cm (3/8 in) dice. Peel and chop the eggs.
- In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots, parsnip, peas, eggs, gherkins, apple and onion.
- Stir the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle brine, salt and pepper together, then fold the dressing gently into the salad so the potatoes keep their shape.
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Taste, adjust the salt, stir in the parsley and serve cold.
Tips
- Cool the vegetables completely before dressing them. The potatoes keep their shape and the mayonnaise does not turn oily.
- Make the salad the day before. Overnight in the fridge the flavors blend and the salad is easier to serve.
Questions and answers
Can I make zemiakový šalát without mayonnaise?
Yes. Replace half the mayonnaise with plain yogurt or sour cream for extra tartness, or dress the salad with oil, vinegar and mustard for a lighter version.
How long does Slovak potato salad keep?
Covered in the fridge it keeps for 3 days. Because it contains eggs and mayonnaise, do not leave it out for more than 2 hours.
What do you serve with Slovak potato salad?
Fried carp or schnitzel are the classic partners at Christmas. It also goes well with grilled sausages, roast chicken or cold cuts.
How long does it take to make Zemiakový Šalát (Slovak Potato Salad with Pickles and Peas)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zemiakový Šalát (Slovak Potato Salad with Pickles and Peas)?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 35 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 35 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 720 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
