Beef Salad

Beef Salad – a classic, tasty, and colorful recipe, perfect for any occasion! This traditional Romanian dish is often served at festive meals and represents a delicious combination of vegetables and meat, bound together with creamy mayonnaise. Let’s discover together how to prepare the perfect beef salad!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 6

Necessary ingredients:
- 500 g potatoes
- 300 g chicken breast or beef (choose the meat according to your preferences)
- 2 parsnips
- 2 carrots
- 1 medium celery
- 100 g boiled peas
- 1 onion for boiling
- 100 g pickled cucumbers
- 100 g pickled peppers
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Mayonnaise (about 200 g)
- Olives for garnish

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Preparing the ingredients: Start by washing the potatoes well with a wire sponge to remove impurities, leaving the skin on. This will give them a better texture. Also, peel the carrots, parsnips, and celery.

2. Boiling the vegetables: In a large pot, boil the potatoes with water and a teaspoon of salt. In another pot, add the carrots, parsnips, celery, and onion cut into large pieces, along with the chicken breast or beef. Boil the vegetables and meat for about 30 minutes or until tender.

3. Preparing the meat: If you chose chicken breast, it will cook quickly. Make sure to take it out of the pot and let it cool before cutting it into small cubes. If using beef, ensure it is well cooked and easy to cut.

4. Mixing the ingredients: After all the ingredients are boiled, remove them from the water and let them cool. Once cooled, cut the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and celery into small cubes. Add the boiled peas, pickled cucumbers, and finely chopped peppers.

5. Making the mayonnaise: In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the mustard, salt, and pepper to taste. This will be the dressing that binds all the ingredients together, giving them a rich flavor.

6. Assembling the salad: In a large bowl, combine all the cut vegetables and meat, then add the mayonnaise with mustard. Gently mix, being careful not to crush the vegetables. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.

7. Serving and garnishing: Place the beef salad on a platter or in a serving bowl. Garnish with olives and, optionally, you can add parsley leaves for an extra touch of freshness.

Suggestions and variations: You can add or replace vegetables according to your preferences. For example, carrots can be replaced with beetroot for a salad with a vibrant color. Also, for a more intense flavor, you can add a bit of crushed garlic to the mayonnaise.

This beef salad is not only a simple recipe but also a quick dish for festive meals, being easy to prepare and extremely tasty. Enjoy every bite and delight in the compliments from your loved ones!

 Ingredients: 1/2 kg potatoes, chicken breast or beef, 2 parsnips, 2 carrots, 1 medium celery, 100 g boiled peas, 1 onion for boiling, 100 g pickled cucumbers in brine, 100 g sour peppers, 1 tablespoon mustard, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, olives for garnish.