The world famous "Olivier" is a salad with world history and national vocation. The advantages of the edible "symbol" of the New Year are its satiety, ease of preparation, availability of products and many variations of the recipe, as well as excellent taste. However, many housewives often confuse it with another dish - a salad called "Winter". Why are these mouth-watering snacks so similar, is there a difference in their preparation and composition?
Inexperienced cooks often confuse the "Olivier" and "Winter" salads, considering them just varieties of one dish, or even do not see the difference in the composition of the ingredients. Indeed, in terms of satiety, cooking method and taste, these treats are somewhat similar - they contain meat or sausage, eggs, potatoes, cucumbers. However, true gourmets can see the difference immediately, noting the differences in the classic recipe and its various variations. So, what are the similarities and differences between two unusually appetizing and high-calorie salads?
Description, composition and taste of dishes, similarities and differences
Before choosing products and making a hearty salad with sausage, potatoes, boiled eggs and cucumbers at home according to a simple recipe, you need to decide on its real name. It is very easy to confuse snacks, but there are some tricks on how not to get into trouble when tasting a dish prepared by a diligent hostess at a party. It's all about the composition and taste of "Winter" salad and "Olivier", which, although similar, have their own unique differences.
Ordinary (classic) recipe "Olivier" was originally prepared in France only with fried hazel grouse, mixed with boiled potatoes, fresh cucumbers, capers and olives. The dressing was the light Provence sauce, which was mysterious at that time, or Provencal. The top was decorated with crayfish necks, pieces of frozen jelly called lanspeak and dill leaves. It is difficult to call such a composition simple - only wealthy people could afford this option, and not housewives.
"Winter" salad is an analogue of the summer "Olivier", it differs in that instead of fresh cucumbers they use pickled ones, and boiled sausage is usually replaced with chicken or meat. Such a recipe turns out to be more satisfying, budgetary in the cold season, when fresh cucumbers and greens are not cheap. These two dishes do not differ much in taste, but the difference is still noticeable, especially if new ingredients like chicken, olives, fresh tomatoes and even champignons are added.
It is difficult to call this dish easy, both hearty snacks contain enough calories even in one serving. And if you can't resist and ask for a supplement, you can break all diets due to the high calorie content of sausage, mayonnaise and potatoes.
Classic recipe "Olivier" and different variations
Familiar to most Russians, "Olivier" can be prepared with both boiled, smoked sausage and ham or boiled beef. However, cucumbers should only be fresh. The classic summer version contains the following ingredients (the proportions can be easily changed to your liking):
- medium-sized boiled potatoes - 4 tubers;
- chicken eggs (boiled) - 5 pieces;
- fresh cucumbers - 2-3 pieces (depending on size);
- boiled sausage without fat - 400 g;
- canned peas - a small jar;
- green onions with feathers - a bunch;
- dill greens - a small bunch;
- mayonnaise "Provencal" or "Classic" for dressing.
Many housewives are popular with such variations of "Olivier":
- adding boiled carrots and fresh tomatoes;
- replacing green onions with onions;
- the use of pickled cucumbers in the absence of fresh ones;
- adding meat, ham to sausage;
- an exception to the recipe for potatoes, peas.
The original composition of the "Winter" salad and its unusual variants
It is not difficult to prepare a "winter" salad at any time of the year, the products are used the simplest available at home and in any nearby store. The most common option among housewives is the following recipe, containing:
- boiled potatoes - 5-6 pieces;
- boiled carrots - 2 pieces;
- boiled eggs - 6 pieces;
- pickled cucumbers - 2-3 pieces;
- boiled beef or tongue - 400 g;
- canned peas - a small jar;
- onion - one head;
- mayonnaise for dressing.
If desired, add:
- fresh dill;
- green onions with feathers;
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of mustard, seasoning with mayonnaise to make a savory dressing sauce.
All products are cut into the same small cubes, the greens are finely chopped, seasoned with mayonnaise or homemade sauce. "Winter" salad is served in a glass transparent salad bowl, decorated with peas, cucumber slices, carrot stars for the festive table.
Some experimenters do not follow the recipe exactly, changing the proportions and adding even unusual products to taste:
- lightly salted salmon;
- fried mushrooms;
- fresh vegetables (vitamin version "Winter");
- caviar;
- sausage, ham, salami;
- boiled pork;
- crackers.
In this regard, "Winter" salad in taste and composition often turns into "Stolichny", "Moscow", "Kupecheskiy", but the majority still continue to call it the familiar name "Olivier".
Examples of design for a festive table with a photo
In order for a festive "Winter" salad or New Year's "Olivier" to immediately attract the attention of guests with its appetizing appearance, it is worth coming up with an interesting dish design. At home, you can decorate the top with any product - green peas, corn, chopped onion feathers, mayonnaise net. The unusual shape of the snack will look even more original - in the form of a pig or a clock, a Monomakh hat, a slide, a Christmas wreath.
Below are photos of how you can decorate ordinary salads in simple ways so that they look delicious, mouth-watering and very beautiful.
For those who doubt whether the products were purchased for the country's main New Year's salad, the video presented below will help determine the ingredients, calorie content and method of preparation.
