Russian Salad Bulgarian way

No, this is not the recipe for Salad Olivier, although many of the recipes for Russian salad throughout the Internet refer to it as if both salads were one and the same.

Frankly said, I don’t think anybody prepares Salad Olivier at home (or anywhere at all) nowadays. 

Salad Olivier was created (predictably) by a Belgian or French chef Lucian Olivier back in 1860. 19 century was obviously tolerating mayonnaise, salads with mayonnaise were seen as more sophisticated - for reference see the original recipe for Waldorf Salad. 

Unlike Waldorf salad, created in New York, Russian Salad Olivier was invented in Moscow. It was not intended to be a simple everyday meal – it contained boiled veal tongue and grouse (a type of bird), crawfish tails and aspic. 

The salad called Russian salad nowadays and served widely around the world represents a distant echo of Olivier Salad and although this is one of the recipes which are not followed exactly and which contain varying ingredients according to the local taste or the ingredients available, it still shall contain mayonnaise, pickled cucumbers, boiled carrots and potatoes. Many people add diced ham, boiled eggs, apples. I prefer the version without them. 

And actually this is the recipe perceived as Russian salad in Bulgaria. 

Waldorf Salad

Think about the times before the diets. Nothing is forbidden. You don't feel guilty - neither while eating or on the other day. Think about the wealthy people in Manhattan in the late 19th century. Silky dresses, pearls, cigars, smell of money. Where are they often in the evenings? In Waldorf-Astoria - place where all the prominent people met, place of beautiful ladies and men who rule the world.

It was the year of 1893. Oscar Tschirky, the maître d’hôtel of the famous Waldorf Astoria, created a salad, which had the fate to survive during the centuries. There were only apples, celery and mayonnaise. During the next years roasted walnuts were added. According to the present menu of Waldorf Astoria, the Waldorf Salad is "Green and Red Apples with Celery Root, tossed in a Creamy Lemon Dressing. Served with Toasted Walnuts". No chicken, no cheese, no yogurt to make the dressing lighter. Here is the original recipe: