Russian Salad with Tuna

The Russian Salad (or Russia) is a dish that varies from country to country. In Italy, the version with tuna is very popular especially as an appetizer for festive occasions. Below, you will find the recipe to prepare a tasty Italian-style Russian Salad with tuna.

Ingredients

• 300 g of potatoes
• 200 g of carrots
• 200 g of frozen peas
• 150 g of green beans
• 200 g of mayonnaise
• 200 g of canned tuna, drained
• Salt, to taste
• White pepper (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by cleaning and cutting the potatoes and carrots into cubes of about 1 cm. Cut the green beans into small pieces.
2. Boil the potatoes and carrots in slightly salted water until they are tender but still firm, for about 10 minutes. Add the green beans after about 5 minutes since they have a shorter cooking time.
3. Cook the peas in boiling salted water for about 5-7 minutes if they are frozen, or follow the packaging instructions. They should be tender but not mushy.
4. Once cooked, drain the vegetables and run them under cold water to stop the cooking process and maintain a bright color.
5. Let the vegetables dry well and cool completely.
6. In a large salad bowl, combine the cold vegetables. Add the drained and gently crumbled tuna.
7. Season with mayonnaise, a pinch of salt, and if you like, some white pepper. Mix gently until all the ingredients are blended.
8. Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap and let the Russian Salad rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

Curiosity

The Russian Salad is presumably named after its origin created by a Belgian chef in Russia in the 19th century. It is interesting to note that each European country has then adapted the recipe to local tastes. In Italy, other ingredients like chopped hard-boiled eggs or capers are often added.

Enjoy your meal!