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This recipe for Russian beet salad is garlicky, sweet, and creamy. It makes a great, refreshing side dish to compliment a meal!

Russian beet salad with garlic in a bowl

Russian beet salad is a bright and refreshing side dish that can be served anywhere you would have American coleslaw. It’s packed with grated boiled beets, a ton of garlic (8 cloves), and tossed in creamy mayonnaise. If you love beets, you’re going to love this recipe!

This salad is a staple in many Slavic homes. Why? It contains two ingredients – beets and mayonnaise. If you’re looking for an interesting departure from your usual rotation of slaws and salads, look no further.

If you really want to break free from traditional American coleslaw and potato salad at your next BBQ, you could also whip up a batch of our great recipe for Russian potato salad.

How to Make Beet Salad

Making classic Russian beet salad only requires a few easy steps and 5 ingredients. Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.

  • Boil and Cool the Beets: In a large pot, boil the beets until you can pierce them with a fork. Drain the beets in a colander and set them aside to cool at room temperature.
  • Grate the Beets and Garlic: Using a cheese grater, grate the boiled beets and garlic gloves into a large bowl.
  • Season with Salt and Mayo: Toss the grated beets and garlic with mayo. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until well-combined. Serve as-is or chilled!

Did you know? In the United States, we refer to the root part of the beet plant as “beets”. In the UK, it’s referred to as “beet root”.

cooked beets
beets with garlic
garlic with moyo and grated beets

Tips for Making the Best Beet Salad

Below, find some pro tips to help you make the best Russian beet salad on the planet.

  • Boil and Skin the Beets: In other cases, you can totally eat beet skin. It’s full of fiber and nutrients! However, for this recipe, it’s best to take it off. Skinless beets make the texture of the salad so silky and creamy.
  • Grate the Beets and Garlic. For the best texture, use a cheese grater to grate the beets and garlic.
  • Adjust the garlic. This recipe calls for a lot of garlic! If you aren’t as garlic-obsessed, reduce the number of cloves you use by half.
  • Serve the salad chilled. If you’re in the mood for something refreshing, let the salad chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before digging in.
Russian beet salad with garlic in a bowl

Serving Beet Salad

There are so many different ways to serve traditional Russian beet salad. It’s the perfect side dish for savory Slavic entrees like classic pierogi (potatoes and cheese), homemade kielbasa, or turkey necks. You could also use it as a colorful spread for fresh baguette or crackers on your next charcuterie board.

Storing Beet Salad

  • Refrigerator: Store leftover beet salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep for up to a week and get more and more flavorful as it marinates in itself, making for some awesome leftovers.
  • Freezer: Not recommended. Boiled beets don’t thaw well and tend to turn to mush.

FAQ

How do I peel beets easily?

After boiling, beets will peel super easily. All you have to do is rub the skins off with your fingers or a paper towel.

Could this salad be made with garlic powder instead?

You could use garlic powder, but the flavor won’t be the same. Fresh garlic really elevates the dish.

How long does Russian beet salad keep in the fridge?

Russian beet salad will keep for up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Should I boil the beets whole?

Yes, you should boil the beets whole. This makes it even easier to peel the skin off.

Why are beets so healthy?

Beets are packed with nutrients and vitamins. Specifically, they contain a great amount of fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C.

More Yummy Beet Salads

Recipe

Russian beet salad with garlic in a bowl

Russian Beet Salad (with Garlic)

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Servings
6 servings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This recipe for Russian beet salad is garlicky, sweet, and creamy. It makes a great, refreshing side dish to compliment a meal!

Ingredients

  • 3 large beets
  • 8 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise adjust to taste
  • 1/2 tbsp salt adjust to taste
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • In a large pot, boil beets for about 40 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Set them aside to cool at room temperature. Peel the skins from the beets and garlic cloves.
    cooked beets
  • Using a cheese grater, grate the beets and garlic into small pieces.
    beets with garlic
  • Add salt and mayonnaise to the beets and stir until well-combined.
    garlic with moyo and grated beets
  • Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Russian Beet Salad (with Garlic)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 55 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 644mg27%
Potassium 150mg4%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 17IU0%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted September 24, 2021

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.