For this week’s appetizer, we at Tzarevna would like to feature one of our Appetizers- the Shuba. It’s a classic Russian salad that is known for its beautiful layers of pickled herring and root vegetables. Here in Tza, made of dressed herring, beef, potatoes, and eggs.
Traditionally, Shuba is a national New Year’s dish in Russia but why wait for New Year’s Eve when you can eat it all year-round? Though the Shuba salad needs to be prepared at least 6 hours early, this amazing salad is worth the effort and the wait.
This salad needs at least 6 hours to be set in the fridge before serving it but like we’ve said, it’s worth it! Shuba is a classic yet flexible dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients. Some people like to layer it with beets to create that signature purple-reddish color while some prefer putting mayonnaise for a white layer.
What is Shuba Salad?
Shuba means “fur coat” in Russian that refers to the large coats that Russians wear during the winter months. Shuba Salad, also known as “Herring Under a Fur Coat” is a famous salad of pickled herring fillets, beets, carrots, potatoes, onion, and dressing. It’s been said that when you layer the boiled and grated beets on the salad, it looks quite the same as the texture you get from a fur coat.
Anastas Bogomolov was a restaurateur who made the very first Shuba salad in 1918. It was said that he created the dish to manage the tension of his notorious patrons who loved drinking excessively.
How to make the Shuba Salad
The ingredients are simple but getting the layers and setting time right is the key to this salad.
The Iconic Layers
It’s important to get the layering order right. The traditional order of this dish is potatoes, onions, herring, carrots, mayonnaise, beets, and spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on top. A good piece of advice here is to put a good layer of potatoes at the bottom to keep it sturdy.
The setting of the Shuba Layers
One of the most important is giving the Shuba enough time to set in the fridge. Not only does it sets right, but it helps the layers and flavors intertwine with each other. It also makes it easier to remove the salad from the mold.
We suggest using an airtight container in storing your Shuba salad for up to a week. But shuba is too delicate to store in the freezer. That’s we highly recommend that you eat it fresh.
We make your Shuba salad fresh here in Tzarevna. The plating itself will entice you with the traditional colors of the salad. We not only keep the tradition of making it alive but we also put our own Tzarevna twist in it. Make it your go-to salad whenever you feel hungry. It’s healthy and oh so delicious, pair it with our wide array of wine and you’re in heaven. Not to mention tasting a bit of Russia on a plate.
