Description
This Romanian Beef Salad (Salată de Boeuf) is a creamy, flavorful dish traditionally served at festive gatherings like Easter! Despite its name, it can be made with beef, chicken, or even a vegetarian variation. Finely diced potatoes, carrots, pickles, and peas are mixed into a rich, tangy mayo-based dressing, creating a deliciously smooth yet slightly crunchy texture.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Salad
- 2 medium potatoes (boiled & diced)
- 2 medium carrots (boiled & diced)
- 1 cup cooked beef or chicken (diced) (or substitute with boiled eggs for vegetarian version)
- 1/2 cup pickles (diced)
- 1/2 cup canned or frozen peas (thawed)
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt & pepper to taste
For Garnish
- 2 hard-boiled eggs (sliced)
- Sliced pickles or roasted red peppers
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
-
Cook & Dice the Ingredients
- Boil potatoes and carrots until fork-tender. Let cool, then dice.
- Dice the cooked beef or chicken into small pieces.
- Finely chop pickles and prepare peas.
-
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
-
Mix the Salad
- In a large bowl, combine potatoes, carrots, meat (or egg), pickles, and peas.
- Gently fold in the dressing, ensuring everything is well coated.
-
Shape & Decorate
- Traditionally, this salad is shaped into a rounded or rectangular form on a platter.
- Smooth the top with extra mayonnaise and decorate with hard-boiled eggs, pickles, and red peppers.
-
Chill & Serve
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for the best flavor.
Notes
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the meat and use extra peas, boiled eggs, or tofu.
- Flavor Boost: Add a touch of horseradish or capers for a tangy kick.
- Make It Lighter: Use half yogurt and half mayo for a lighter dressing.
- Make Ahead: Best when made a few hours in advance to let flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad, Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook (after boiling ingredients)
- Cuisine: Romanian, Eastern European, Easter
