Rosolje
Rosolje is a colorful and festive Estonian salad, similar to a Swedish herring salad (sillsallad). It features layers of cooked beetroot, potatoes, pickles, and often herring, bound together with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing. It's a popular dish for holidays and celebrations.
🧂 Ingredients
- 800 g Red beets(cooked or roasted, peeled)
- 800 g Potatoes(cooked, peeled)
- 200 g Pickles (dill or bread and butter)(finely diced)
- 1 Apple (Granny Smith)(peeled, cored, and finely chopped)
- 100 g Red onion(finely minced)
- 200 g Herring (pickled or marinated)(diced (optional, but traditional))
- 150 ml Mayonnaise
- 100 ml Sour cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Prepared horseradish
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- 3 Hard-boiled eggs(for garnish, optional)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish, optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
If not using pre-cooked beets and potatoes, boil or roast them until fork-tender. Let them cool completely.
- 2
Dice the cooked beets, potatoes, pickles, apple, red onion, and herring (if using) into uniform, bite-sized cubes.
- 3
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, prepared horseradish, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
- 4
In a large bowl, gently combine the diced beets, potatoes, pickles, apple, red onion, and herring. Add the dressing and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Be careful not to overmix, which can make the salad mushy.
- 5
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (preferably longer) to allow the flavors to meld.
- 6
Before serving, garnish with sliced hard-boiled eggs and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For the best flavor, prepare Rosolje a day in advance, allowing the ingredients to meld.
- ✓Using a mix of dill pickles and bread-and-butter pickles can add complexity.
- ✓If you don't have herring, it can be omitted, making it a vegetarian dish.
- ✓Ensure all ingredients are cooled before dicing and mixing to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
🔄 Variations
- Some recipes include diced carrots or peas.
- A touch of lemon juice can be added to the dressing for extra brightness.
- For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.