Salad Olivieh, is very common in Persian cuisine. This is a potato salad with a tangy twist – mustard and pickles set it apart. We serve Salad Olivieh as an appetizer or side dish at gatherings. It is a wonderful compliment to kabab at barbecues, potlucks, and picnics.
Have you tried delicious Salad Olivieh? It is basically a potato salad with a twist containing eggs and pickles. Traditionally, the Persian version also has cooked chicken mixed in. There are many cultures that have their own versions of this salad with regional variations. In the Russian version, its is spelled Olivier with an “r”.
Old Persian custom involves using a bunch of mayonnaise, up to 2 cups in fact, both mixed in and as a type of frosting to mold the outside shape of the salad. It is then decorated with colorful vegetables.
Example of a more traditional Persian Salad Olivieh from Fae’s Twist and Tango.
My recipe here is adapted from my mom who makes it in a yummy way, replacing the mayonnaise with mustard and plain yogurt. Switching up the dressing converts this classic dish to one that is so much more healthy. The flavor is not altered much and we are able to enjoy it beyond special occassions.
the yellow color comes from the mustard
Our family also often skips adding the cooked chicken normally found in classic Salad Olivier recipes. I love my mom’s version! Salad Olivieh is a homey picnic dish. You won’t find it on the menu in a Persian restaurant. It is often one of the many dishes offered at Iranian gatherings, especially potlucks. The pickles give it a zesty zing and crunch.
Reasons to Try Persian Potato Salad:
- simple, wholesome ingredients
- easy to prepare (batch cook potatoes and eggs in advance)
- nutritious and light
- delicious!
Persian potato salad is very simple to make. There are two main things to cook which only require easy boiling – eggs and potatoes. For easy steps to make eggs in advance, see: How to Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot.
The traditional version of Salad Olivieh includes cooked chicken in the recipe. Maman Minoo (my mom) sometimes uses chicken but often leaves it out. I prefer Salad Olivieh without the chicken. My mum says if you’re leaving out the chicken, add an extra egg.
Pictured below is a bowl with all the ingredients deconstructed (not including the dressing):
The ingredients in Salad Olivieh deconstructed – cooked potatoes and eggs, peas and corn, pickles
As mentioned, Salad Olivieh is a great potluck addition. It is also a perfect spring picnic food.
Here I sprinkled in some chives although it is not a part of my Maman’s recipe.
If you are a fan of potato salad, give this light Persian Salad Olivieh a try. Our reduced-fat dressing does not lose much in the way of flavor. The mustard and yogurt add low-fat creaminess.
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To save time, batch cook the potatos and eggs in advance. Look for frozen, pre-chopped vegetables. For more time-saving tips, click over to our guide Persian Meal Planning Tips.
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Carrots and peas or corn and peas? The recipe says both but the picture has carrots. Does it matter?
Hi Sam! Thanks for catching that – it’s a silly typo. Peas and carrots – no corn 😉 I’ve updated the recipe card. Are you making it?
Yes! I made it this morning. It’s in my fridge now. I can’t wait to taste it. I plan to serve it for dinner tonight! Thank you for making a vegetarian version!
I wonder how most beloved Russian salad olivie (also called Russian salad in Europe) has become popular in Iran. I guess lots of Russians traveled there for work during Soviet times. Every Russian family makes it for New Years Eve.
This is delicious.Ali use to make this for me .Now I do it ,he passed away in 2012 .
Hi Rose, I’m happy you like this recipe. If you wouldn’t mind, can you please give the recipe card here a star rating. Many thanks and I’m sorry for your loss of Ali. – Bita
Hi! How should I cut the pickles?
Hi Mina! I cut them small – just slice them vertically until you have about 4 strips. Then chop them into little bits going across. There’s no hard and fast rule. You can customize it to your liking. We like lots of pickles for the tang and the crunch. Noosh eh jan! enjoy –
You must understand Russians it is Persian salad not Russian salad ha ha I’ve tried them both they’re both the same. In fact Russians have more versions of this salad Russian salad you can have it with beef, or add beetroot everything if your vegetarian
Hi David! My Maman joon’s best friend is German and she loves this recipe and the Persian version the best. Yes its fun to explore all the European varieties. Thank you for sharing about Russian potato salad – I did not know about the beef version and beetroot sounds interesting and nutritious. Thanks so much for the comment. Please give the recipe card a star rating! many thanks David jan.