This Russian salad recipe may not originally be Spanish, but no tapas bar menu would be complete without it.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a few standby items that you can almost always count on when ordering at a tapas bar. Usually they’re things like croquettes, tortilla de patatas<\/em>, and ensaladilla rusa<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s right\u2014while not originally native to Spain, Russian salad is now a staple tapa throughout the country. But it’s especially delicious down south, where many places add fresh seafood such as local shrimp to the recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Spanish-style Russian salad recipe will take you to a bustling Seville tapas bar from the first bite. Just don’t forget a glass of crisp, dry sherry to wash it down!<\/p>\n\n\n

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The history of a classic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you might imagine, Spain’s modern Russian salad recipe has its roots in…well, Russia. But the early version was quite different than the simple tapa we know and love today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgian-born cook Lucien Olivier worked at Moscow’s famous Hermitage restaurant in the mid-19th century. It was here that he brought his famous Russian salad recipe to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olivier’s original recipe was so popular that he made an effort to keep it as secret as possible, but those who were lucky enough to try it reported that it contained caviar, smoked duck, and more. The dressing\u2014a simple mayonnaise in today’s version\u2014also had a mayo base, but included French wine vinegar and mustard as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before long, one of Olivier’s sous chefs managed to figure the recipe out, took it with him to a competing Moscow restaurant, and eventually sold it. As the salad became mainstream, more and more Russian home cooks began attempting to recreate it, substituting the expensive ingredients with more accessible items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Versions of Russian salad (or “Olivier salad” as it’s now called in its home country) soon began to spread across Europe. By the time the Spanish Civil War (1936\u20131939) was underway here in Spain, it had already become quite popular here\u2014though at that time, it was called “national salad” due to mentions of Russia being forbidden!<\/p>\n\n\n\n