Romanian Beef Salad (Salada de boeuf) is a traditional, popular recipe usually made during the holidays, like Christmas, New Year's Eve, or Easter.
The main ingredients are root vegetables, cooked beef mixed with pickled vegetables, and mayonnaise.
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❓What is this Beef Salad (Boeuf Salad)
I would not be truly Romanian if I did not share this salad recipe with you. Boeuf Salad is usually made with cooked meat (that could be boiled meat, chicken, or even pork), potatoes, root vegetables, pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise. It is a staple at Romanian holiday tables, especially during Christmas, New Year's, and Easter. This salad is served as an appetizer or as a side dish next to fried or roasted meats.
The name "Salata de Boeuf" is quite intriguing because, although it's considered a traditional Romanian dish, the name itself is French. "Salata" means "salad" in Romanian, while "de Boeuf" translates to "of beef" in French.
However, its roots are more cosmopolitan than one might think. The dish was likely influenced by French or Russian cuisine, possibly as a simplified or localized version of the Russian Olivier Salad.
Salads that are similar to Salata de Boeuf are known by different names and variations in several countries. The closest cousin is probably the Russian Olivier Salad, which is immensely popular in Russia and many other former Soviet states like Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
The Olivier Salad typically includes boiled potatoes, carrots, peas, eggs, and some form of protein, which can be chicken, ham, or even bologna. You'd also find adaptations in the Balkans, like the Serbian "Ruska Salata" (Russian Salad).
In Spain and many countries in Latin America, this salad is trendy and often served as tapas. It is called Ensaladilla Rusa and has tuna, boiled eggs, and roasted peppers.
One thing is for sure, no matter where Romanians live worldwide, this salad will be on the table for the holidays. There is no right or wrong way to make this salad. Every family has its own recipe, and all of them are delicious.
💝Why you will love this Romanian Salad?
- Flavorful Combination: The mix of tender beef (or other meats), root vegetables, pickles, and a creamy mayo-mustard dressing creates a harmonious balance of flavors that is rich and satisfying.
- Versatile and Customizable: This salad is adaptable to various tastes and occasions. You can use different meats or adjust the quantity of pickles and mayo to suit your preference.
- Festive and Colorful Presentation: Its visually appealing presentation, especially when decorated with olives, boiled eggs, and parsley, makes it an attractive addition to any meal, particularly during celebrations and holidays. It also feeds a crowd.
📝 Key Ingredients
Here is what you need for this delicious Boeuf salad. Make sure you scroll to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
- Meat: The original recipe requires beef, but chicken or turkey are widely accepted. Ham is also an option.
- Potatoes: I use Russet potatoes or Yukon.
- Root vegetables: Carrots, parsnip, celeriac
- Peas: I like using frozen peas and cooking them a little bit, but canned peas would also work. Just make sure you drain them very well before you add them to the salad.
- Pickles: I like pickled cucumber and red peppers in vinegar.
- Mayonnaise: Homemade mayonnaise or store-bought are both accepted.
- Mustard: Use regular mustard. You can also use a spicy mustard if you like your salad to have some kick.
- Salt and pepper
To decorate the salad, you can use the following:
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Black or Green Olives
- Pickles
By the way, I am not an artist, so please be kind with my Christmas tree on top of the salad (see picture below). It is not the perfect one, but it was edible, so we were happy with it! 🙂
👩🍳 How to make this Boeuf Salad
Step 1. The meat and the root vegetables should be cooked. If you use peas, they should be cooked as well. Frozen peas cook for a few minutes in salted water, while canned peas should be drained well before using them.
Step 2. Dice the cooked meat and vegetables and place them in a large salad bowl.
Step 3. Dice the pickled vegetables and add them to the bowl.
Step 4. Add mayo and mustard, and season with salt and pepper. Mix.
The finishing touches on a traditional Romanian Boeuf Salad usually involve a couple of key steps. After assembling the salad, its surface is smoothed out, often using a spatula to create an even layer. Then, a thin layer of mayonnaise is spread over this smoothed surface to cover it completely.
The final step is decoration, which can vary according to personal preference or tradition. This might include garnishes like olives, red peppers, or egg slices, artistically arranged to make the salad visually appealing.
💡 Expert tip:
The secret to a successful Romanian beef salad is to dice the ingredients very small.
🍽️ How To Serve
Romanian Beef Salad (Salata de Boeuf) is typically served as a starter or a side dish during festive occasions like Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Easter. It's often enjoyed as part of a larger spread of dishes. Here's how it's commonly served:
- As an appetizer: It can be served on small plates or as part of a platter, sometimes on lettuce leaves, for an elegant presentation.
- With Bread: Often accompanied by crusty bread or dinner rolls, which complement the creamy texture of the salad.
- As part of a buffet: During festive gatherings, it might be served alongside other traditional dishes like stuffed cabbage rolls (sarmale), various cold cuts, cheeses, and pickles.
- With Wine: A glass of wine, typically a light white or rosé, can be a great pairing.
- As a Standalone Dish: Sometimes, it's enjoyed on its own, especially when served as a light meal or snack.
🙋♀️ Recipe faqs
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended, as the texture of the mayonnaise and vegetables can change after thawing.
Yes, you can definitely leave the meat out and use only vegetables.
Yes, you can use light mayo and replace the beef with turkey or cooked chicken breast.
Absolutely, making it a day ahead allows flavors to meld together.
🇷🇴More Romanian recipes to love:
See you next time!
📖 Recipe
Romanian Beef Salad(Salata De Boeuf)
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked beef (boiled) Chicken, turkey, or even ham are also accepted.
- 1 pound potatoes cooked
- ½ pound carrots cooked
- 1 parsnip cooked
- 1 small celeriac cooked
- ½ cup green peas cooked
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3-4 tablespoons mustard
- 1 cup pickles chopped
- 1 cup red peppers in vinegar chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional for decorating the salad:
- olives pickled vegetables, boiled eggs, parsley leaves, etc.
Instructions
- Dice the cooked meat, and vegetables (potatoes, carrots, parsnip, celeriac) and place them in a large salad bowl.
- Drain the pickled vegetables very well, dice them, and add them to the rest of the ingredients.
- Add mayo and mustard, season with salt and pepper, and mix everything.
- Season with more salt and pepper if necessary.
- Traditionally, the top of the salad is smoothed out with a spatula, then a thin layer of mayo is spread to cover the surface, then decorated.
- Refrigerate, then serve. The leftovers are good for 3-4 days.
- Serve the salad cold.
Joseph says
It has been a while since I wrote to you ,,,so today picking cucumbers , and canning carrots and waiting on some peppers I love called Garden Salsa ,skinny long med heat ,really good in scrambled eggs ,but will pickle a jar using your recipe of course ,So hot and HUMID now ,caught a 4 pound catfish yesterday , picking corn now also itnrigued again by your recipes and being Half Lithuanian. I looked at Romanian recipes and your potato salad recipe caught my attention , my question is ,What cut of beef do you use ?? Boiled hmmmm. a Chuck was my first guess or a top sirloin ?? and as My associate of yers ago ,,James Beard ,, would say "Good Appetite "
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi,
You want to use a type of beef cut that is good for a stew. Chuck or shanks are the best. I would not use top sirloin. Keep it for grilling. Also, nice to hear that your garden is growing and you stay busy. I hope your summer is great!
Joseph says
@The Bossy Kitchen, and may yours be Blessed
Joseph says
I LOVE my " Taste of Lithuania " by Beata Nicholson <. try an get one the book is Beautiful , I think you will love it too Not your normal cook book ,wonderful photography stories about the recipes and what Holidays serve which ones ,just one great cookbook , thanks again for sharing your recipes , I need to get busy on more of yours , love to grow em cook em and eat em. " Good Apatite " Joseph.
The Bossy Kitchen says
Thank you, Joseph, for visiting. I hope you find here recipes to inspire you.
Corina says
Romanian here just dropped by to leave a note. Romanian cuisine was developed in the communist times similarly to the Italian Cucina Povera, cooking cheap ingredients but making it tasty.
In my family (and in my region Transilvania, this salad is always made with chicken and the ingredients are leftovers from making chicken soup. Chicken soup is supposed to be clear and served with noodles or semolina dumplings (galuste) so you won't be missing the other ingredients when you eat it.
Chicken soup is traditionally served around the holidays and we use the chicken cuts with lots of bones to give the soup flavor ( they are also cheaper) so spines, necks, wings, the breast bone. We use about 2kg of "meat" to a 10 liter pot. This way the soup has enough chicken flavor. Obviously these chicken cuts don't have a lot of meat on them but due to the large quantity used you end up with about 500 grams of cooked meat when picked of the bones after cooking. So make the soup, and make sure the root veggies are cooked through but not mushy ( they are all cooked whole or cut in large pieces). When the soup is done, drain the liquid, let the meat and veggies cool enough to not burn your fingers ( or overnight) and then enjoy the chopping. Potatoes don't belong in chicken soup so they are boiled separately, whole with the skin on to avoid water absorption.
Pickled cucumbers are a must in this recipe, traditionally they are salt brined (vinegar pickles are somewhat new around here) but use what you got. Dice them the same size as the veggies and don't forget to squeeze and drain the liquid out (be gentle so you don't end up with mush). You can skip this last step but if the pickles are too wet they will make the mayo too runny so do it at your own risk.
Pofta buna
Salient says
Eu folosesc rosbif in loc de carne fiarta,desigur, de vita. Restul de carnuri sunt disonante - cum se poate numi "Salata de Boeuf" folosind carne de pork sau gaina? Ar deveni mai degraba Salata Olivier.
In rest, imi place foarte mult felul cum scrii si ilustrezi reteta. Felicitari
Gabriela says
Ai dreptate. Totusi, chiar daca in fiecare regiune a tarii, toata lumea face Salata De Boeuf, fiecare pune altceva in ea, dupa obiceiuri si posibilitati. Eu am crescut cu salata fara carne, pentru ca nu era. Altii, pun carne de pui, dar o simpla cautare pe internet iti arata ca lumea pune si carne de porc. Multumesc frumos pentru aprecieri si pentru vizita. Sarbatori Fericite, cu o salata de boeuf asa cum ti-o doresti! 🙂
Salient says
Multumesc, la fel. Sanatate si
La Multi Ani!