This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. My husband makes this version of the famous olivye salad. The chives and dill add a nice element of freshness. The great thing about Russian and Ukrainian cooking – there is no one right way to make any recipe. Each family has their own version which get passed down through generations. This olivye recipe really is the best I’ve tried. It takes some time to dice everything, but in the end you get the best potato salad that lasts almost a week in the fridge.
Ingredients for Olivye (potato salad):
1 pound of ham 3 medium potatoes 4 medium carrots. 1 (15 oz) can sweet peas, drained or 2 cups of thawed frozen peas 5 boiled eggs 5 medium-large pickles (I use Vlasic) 1/3 cup chopped green onion 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill 3/4 cup to 1 cup mayo (to taste) Salt and Pepper (to taste)
How to Make Olivye Potato Salad:
In the same pot, boil whole unpeeled potatoes and carrots for about 30 minutes, or until knife pierces them smoothly. Don’t let them get too soft.
In a separate pot put eggs in salted cold water. Bring to a boil, turn it off and leave it on the same burner with the lid on for 15 minutes (Remember this; it’s how to make the perfect hard-boiled eggs!!) Cool them down in cold water.
Remove the vegetables and eggs from boiling water and allow them to cool to room temperature prior to chopping. Skin the boiled potatoes and carrots with a small knife. It’s easier to skin the carrots if you make a slit down the length of the carrot and skin in a circle around the carrot. (One of the readers suggested alternative method for cooking carrots and potatoes. She said to try dicing raw carrots and potatoes then boiling them together about 12 min in unsalted water. Rinse with cold water and drain well on paper towels. Easy and consistent results!)
Chop ham, potatoes, carrots, pickles and eggs into equal size dice (pea size). The Vidalia Chop Wizard is the secret to quick potato salad!
Mix together potatoes, carrots, pickles, eggs, green onion, dill and mayo. Add more mayo, Salt and pepper to taste.
Fold in the peas last so they aren’t crushed.
If you prefer more onion, pickles, or anything else; add more. Its easy to modify this recipe! Enjoy!! If you make olivye, let me know what is unique about your salad.
