What is Shuba Salad?
Shuba is a beautiful Russian layered salad that originated in the soviet era, it’s made with cooked vegetables that are grated or diced, grated hard boil eggs, and chopped pickled herring fillets. Everything is layered in a springform pan with light mayo layers between the rest of the layers. What makes this salad so special is its “fur coat” which is the vibrant beet layer that covers the entire salad. In Russian, this salad is called Seledka Pod Shoboi (селедка под шубой). This dish is New Year’s Eve national dish, it’s also popular at other holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Women’s Day. You can’t call it a holiday without Shuba salad on the table! But let’s be honest, this layered salad is delicious at any time of the year. Many variations of this salad contain a diced fresh apple which gives it a nice crunch and flavor.
Ingredients In Recipe
Here’s what you need to make this classic salad: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Herring: We are using pickled salted herring fillets here that are chopped into ⅓ inch (1cm) pieces. Herring can be found in most European supermarkets or Russian stores.Potatoes: Waxy potatoes are best for potato salads because they hold their shape well. In this salad, you can go for waxy potatoes like new potatoes or all-purpose potatoes such as Yukon Golds. Avoid Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes. If you’re in the UK, go for new potatoes or Charlotte potatoes.Beets: You will need 2 large cooked beets or 3 medium ones, traditionally they are boiled but I like baking them in foil until tender. Allow to cool completely, then peel and grate. I recommend using gloves to handle beets as they will stain your hands.Onion: I used 2 small yellow onions that I finely chopped then marinated in apple cider vinegar, oil (sunflower or olive oil), black pepper, and a sprinkle of sea salt. The marinade will go in the salad as well.Carrot: 4 medium carrots are boiled or roasted, then peeled once they’re cooled completely, and then grated.Eggs: 5-6 large eggs are hard boiled, peeled, and cooled then grated on a box grater before they’re added to the salad.Mayonnaise: This is a one ingredient dressing recipe, so make sure you’re using good-tasting real mayo. Check out my homemade mayo recipe if you’d like to make your own!
How To Make Herring under a fur coat salad
This salad is very simple to make once you prep all of your vegetables and eggs. Below is a collage of images to show you the steps of layering the salad. And if you scroll down a little, you will find a graphic that I created to make it easier for you to assemble the salad.
Recipe Tips
Mold: I used a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan to create the layered salad. You can also use a cake mold, a trifle dish, or just a glass bowl to assemble and serve the salad. This recipe can be halved, but be sure to use a smaller mold.Individual Portions: This layered salad is great for making individual portions! Use small cake molds, springform pans, bowls, or cups.Add Garlic: A little bit of crushed garlic added to the mayo makes it delicious!Be Careful with The Salt: The herring is pickled and salted, so be careful when you add salt to the onions or the potatoes. I usually skip the salt and only add it to the onions.Eggs are Optional: You can totally skip the eggs if you don’t like them in salads.
Storing Tips
Is it important that you chill the salad for at least 6 hours before serving. Store the leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this salad. I hope that you love this Russian classic as much as I do! Let me know in the comments if you grew up eating it, or where did you learn about this salad? And share with me your spin on the Shuba salad! This recipe first appeared on the blog in November 2015, and was updated with new images and more useful tips in January 2023. © Little Sunny Kitchen
