Ensalada Rusa

Ensalada Rusa is the Dominican take on the classic Russian potato salad (Olivier salad), and it has become an indispensable part of holiday meals and celebrations across the country. Diced potatoes, carrots, beets, green beans, and hard-boiled eggs are folded together in a generous amount of mayonnaise, sometimes with the addition of peas, apples, and pickles.

The Dominican version tends to be creamier and more generously dressed than its European ancestor, and the inclusion of beets gives many versions a distinctive pink hue. It is served cold as a side dish alongside roasted pork, chicken, or other main courses at Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and family gatherings of all kinds.

Ensalada Rusa arrived in the Dominican Republic through European culinary influence in the early 20th century and quickly became adopted as a festive dish. Today, no Dominican holiday table is complete without a large bowl of this colorful, creamy salad.