This Polish Potato Salad is a traditional Polish recipe, a firm family favourite and popular all year round. It’s great as an everyday recipe as well as special occasion dish to enjoy with family and friends.
The Christmas season is upon us (it somehow seems to start earlier each year!) and I am already thinking of potential dishes I will make this year. At the top of my list is My Mum’s Polish Potato Salad recipe. Now I realise this may seem like an odd choice for a Christmas dish, but for me it’s an integral part of Christmas cooking. My mum used to prepare this traditional potato salad for all sorts of occasions, including the festive season and family gatherings. (Or simply whenever she had leftover vegetables). So in my own house it’s become a firm tradition to always serve it at Christmas (as well as Easter actually).
Polish potato salad
Different versions of this potato salad exist in Poland as well as throughout Europe (Eastern mainly, my instinct tells me). People in Poland call this salad either ‘vegetable salad’ (salatka jarzynowa) or just ‘salad’, which is in indication of just how popular it is.
My mum’s version of this potato salad did not include canned peas, which many recipes call for. And I continue making mine also without the peas. What she used instead was finely chopped pickled gherkins and apple. These two ingredients really lift this salad and for me are as essential as the potatoes, the carrots and the eggs.
Some versions of this Polish salad include dill but I tend to omit it.
Healthy potato salad
If the suggested amount of mayonnaise seems a bit excessive, well it isn’t really. This is because the proportions I used in the recipe make a large salad (6-8 portions). This salad would traditionally contain more mayonnaise but I replaced a portion of it with yogurt in order to keep the fat content down. So this is a pretty low fat, healthy potato salad recipe.
How to make Polish potato salad
This recipe is quite straightforward, although there is a fair amount of chopping involved. But once that’s out of the way all you have to do is combine all the ingredients and stir thoroughly. So it’s really simple. And your guests will be happy! This salad is always the most popular dish at family gatherings in my house.
You can give this vegetable salad a more sophisticated look by chopping the vegetables into smaller pieces than I have done (see the photos). I get impatient and go for a more rustic look:)
What I really like about this jarzynowa salad, apart from the taste, is that you can make it ahead. It will taste better, in fact, once you’ve allowed it to chill for a few hours. And you can refrigerate it for a couple of days. So even if you make a big batch it will never go to waste. It is great as a party food idea, side dish or light lunch. I hope you enjoy it!
More potato salad recipe ideas
Here is a different kind of potato salad you might also like: Potato Salad with Mustard Dill Dressing
Check out also these potato salad deviled eggs recipe. It’s a fun and healthy, mayo free appetizer.
My Mum's Polish Potato Salad (Jarzynowa) is a traditional Polish recipe, a firm family favourite, popular all year round, great as an everyday recipe as well as special occasion dish to enjoy with family and friends.
- 4 medium salad potatoes
- 2 medium/large carrots
- 4 eggs hard boiled
- 6 small pickled gherkins finely chopped
- 2 apples
- 5 tablespoons thick yogurt
- 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Boil the potatoes and carrots until tender (don't overcook them!). Let cool a little, peel, dice and place in a large bowl. Peel and finely chop the eggs, and add them to the vegetables.
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Peel the apples, cut into quarters, remove the cores and finely chop the apple. Add to the salad.
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Add the rest of the ingredients to the mixture and stir carefully but thoroughly. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
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I am sharing My Mum’s Polish Potato Salad (Jarzynowa) with Saucy Saturdays and Cook Once Eat Twice.
Hi Monica. The most important difference between Polish and Russian salad is the content of meat (ham) in Russian one. Polish salad also contains finely chopped leek or onions and cooked celeriac or parsley roots giving very special flavour. Obviously in every house this salad is different but definitely we must not confuse Polish and Russian salads.
Thanks for clarifying this!
I love the look of this salad Monika, I’ll be adding this to my list of things I want to cook.
Thank you Lesley!
THis here ain’t Russian. It’s pure POLISH.
Yes, this is a Polish recipe of a dish that’s usually referred to as ‘Russian salad’
Mmmm Monika this looks delicious. I love salads on a buffet and this would be ideal! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
I always make it at Christmas and everyone loves it, it’s the most convenient buffet type salad as it doesn’t wilt or get soggy.
What a delicious salad recipe Monika. I’ve had something similar in France and I wasn’t keen on the tinned peas either. I like how you’ve added yoghurt for less fat content and I love the addition of finely chopped apples.
Thank you Sarah! I didn’t know this type of is available in France! I am glad you liked the apples in this salad, I think they are crucial.
I’ve never had Russian salad before, but this sounds lovely! Potato and egg are always a good combo and the gherkin will give it a lovely sharp flavour too! I’ll definitely have to try this one! x #cookblogshare
I am so glad! Let me know if you liked it:)
Love that you’ve used your mum’s recipe but tweaked it a little to make it healthier. Eggs and potatoes usually go down well with my kids so must try this some time. Thanks for adding to #CookBlogShare
Thank you Mandy! For years my youngest son wouldn’t even try this salad and this year I managed to convince him to taste it. He loved it and said to me ‘why didn’t you make me eat it earlier’?
I have never had Russian salad but it sounds lovely #cookblogshare
Do try it! My son refused to even try it for years and when he finally did a few days ago he loved it:)
I haven’t eaten Russian salad for ages but you’ve sold this recipe to me I’m definitely going to be giving it a try.
Great! Let me know how you like it:)
I love anything with mayonnaise in it!! Russian salad is one of my favorites… especially with green peas and potatoes 🙂 Thanks for sharing your Mom’s recipe!!!
Thank you! Russian salad is a pretty great dish, I agree, no wonder it’s so popular in so many places! Thanks for stopping by:)
I love the fact that you’ve recreated your mum’s salad here and used a little less mayonnaise and added yoghurt too. It must be a great salad for a Christmas buffet so thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice
Thanks Corina! Everyone likes this salad so I make it every year, a large quantity too, so we can enjoy it for a couple of days.