Ensaladilla Rusa

Ensaladilla Rusa - Russian Salad

By Janet Mendel, from her book 'Tapas, a bite of Spain'

Recipe for the ever popular Russian Salad that you will see on the counter of many tapas bars in Andalucia.

Makes 18 tapas or 6 starters.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 75g /2½ oz fresh or frozen shelled peas
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 piquillo peppers, chopped (2 tablespoons)
• 1 hardboiled egg, chopped
• 1 spring onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped pickle
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 120ml/ 4 fl oz mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Cook the potatoes and carrots in boiling water to cover until tender. The carrots will take about 12 minutes; the potatoes a total of 20 minutes. Cook the peas until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain vegetables and chill them.

Peel the potatoes and cut them in 12mm / ½ in dice. Cut the carrots lengthwise in quarters then slice crosswise into small dice. Combine the potatoes, carrots and peas in a bowl. Add the salt, oil, chopped piquillo peppers, egg and onion.

In a small bowl combine the pickle, mustard, parsley, mayonnaise and vinegar. Whisk until smooth. Stir into the potatoes. Let the potatoes stand 2 hours at room temperature or, covered and refrigerated, up to 24 hours. Serve cold or room temperature.

This recipe is one of the many in Janet Mendel's book - Tapas, a bite of Spain.

Buy your copy of Tapas, a bite of Spain

Tapas, a bite of Spain

A feast for foodies - the definitive tapas cookbook from Spain's best-loved English food writer. An authentic taste of Spain, "Tapas" is the book all tapas aficionados have been waiting for!Brimming with authentic tapas recipes and serving suggestions, Janet Mendel's firsthand research make this simply the best ever tapas cookbook. Each entry provides a cameo historical narrative on the origins of the dish, its constituents and derivations, a full recipe, plus a full-color illustration.

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Read our interview with Tapas A Bite of Spain’s author, Janet Mendel.

Read our interview with photographer Michelle Chaplow for stories behind the scene in photographing tapas for A Bite of Spain.