This is my favorite way to eat Shuba Salad with Salmon (Шуба с лососем), a classic Russian salad. Served at celebrations and special events like New Years, Christmas, and even weddings. A layered salad that eats like a meal, and so easy to make.
Traditionally Shuba Salad is made with Herring fillets, usually canned in oil, but wait till your try Shuba with smoked salmon! It’s so delicious and adds a whole new flavor element to eating this Russian salad! It also works with Salmon Gravlax cured with beets, which looks amazing in a layered salad. The bright colors looks so bright and colorful, ready for any party. Some people don’t like Herring, or it can be hard to find. Using salmon is a perfect substitute, and some even prefer it this way over the original recipe.
What is Shuba?
A Shuba is the Russian word for a fur coat, something definitely needed in the cold Russian winters! In Russian, a dressed herring salad is pronounced Selyodka Pod Shuboy, except it’s so much tastier with smoked salmon! Grated egg which makes the dish look like it’s covering the salmon with a fur coat (a bright purple one). In this recipe I am placing the egg underneath the beets, instead of on top, because I love the festive purple color!
How to Make a Salmon Layered Salad
Shuba Salad with Salmon is often made in a casserole style dish or a bowl, but I’m using a springform pan to showcase the different layers and colors used in the recipe. It really adds a wow factor to your celebration table. It makes it easy to layer each ingredient, providing a wow factor when you remove the springform. Many recipes tell you to boil the vegetables unpeeled, then peel then after they are cooked. I hate peeling soft vegetables, so I always peel before I cook them. It just makes sense to me.
You can prepare the boiled vegetables in advance and keep in the fridge until you are ready to grate and build the salad. As this salad needs to served cold, the refrigerated vegetables will allow you to serve it sooner after making it. And don’t be scared of the mayonnaise. There is a lot. It’s gonna be ok. This is just a fancy potato salad, and no one likes a dry potato salad. The mayo helps meld all the flavors together. It works perfectly.
People won’t stop talking about your Salmon Shuba, a delicious Russian potato salad! A fantastic way to introduce a Russian dish if hosting a dinner party. I love the different hearty Russian salads, from Mimosa Salad or Olivier Russian Salad to this Shuba Salad with Salmon, there is not a lettuce leaf in sight! A salad that eats like a meal! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

Shuba Salad with Salmon (Шуба с лососем)
This is my favorite way to eat Shuba Salad, a classic Russian Salad (also called Herring Under a Fur Coat - Селедка под шубой) except made with smoked salmon! It's ridiculously tasty and served at celebrations and special events like New Years, Christmas, and even weddings. A layered Russian potato salad with beets, carrots, eggs, potatoes, dill and smoked salmon, which is so easy to make! Shuba Salad with Salmon
Ingredients
- 500 g Smoked Salmon or Lox
- 3 large potatoes
- 3 large beets
- ½ small onion
- 2 carrots
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- salt and pepper
- 3 hard boiled eggs
- fresh dill
Instructions
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Peel the potatoes, beets and carrots, and cook them separately until they are soft when pierced. Beets can take up to an hour (depending on size) and potatoes and carrots around 30 minutes. Remove from water and allow to cool to room temperature.
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Hard boil the eggs by placing them in a saucepan in boiling water for about 12 minutes. Remove immediately, allow to cool, peel, grate and set aside.
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Take the Smoked Salmon and cut into bite size pieces, or shred it with two forks into small pieces.
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Finely chop the onion and place in boiling hot water for 2 minutes and strain. This will take the sharp bite out of the onions.
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In a springform pan, start to build your salad.
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Place the smoked salmon pieces evenly across the base of the springform pan. Evenly layer the chopped onions and a light sprinkling of chopped dill on top of the salmon. Use ½ cup of mayonnaise and spread thinly across the top of the onions and dill. Don't be afraid to use more mayo if needed. Use the back of a spoon of spread it evenly.
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Next grate the potatoes over the salmon mayo layer, spreading evenly. Repeat with the same amount of mayonnaise.
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Grate the carrots over the potato mayo layer, spreading evenly. Add mayonnaise and spread evenly with spoon.
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Carefully grate the hard boiled eggs over the carrot mayo layer, spreading evenly.
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Grate the beets over the egg layer. Add the final layer of mayo evenly spread, until it turns purple. Garnish with fresh dill. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to chill the Shuba before serving.
Recipe Notes
You can prepare the boiled vegetables in advance and keep in the fridge until you are ready to grate and build the salad. As this salad needs to served cold, the refrigerated vegetables will allow you to serve it sooner after making it.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com
Peter… We just got back from Russia and I’m already planning my Russian holiday dinner party. How many people does this Shiva receipe serve as a first course? Pasadena. Debbie
Hi Deborah! How exciting! I love Shuba and tend to serve myself more! I’d say this would serve 6-8 people. Thinking of it as a cake and dividing pieces in my mind for serving sizes. Sounds like you had a great time in Russia, I just got back myself 😊
Oh my, what a fantastic salad! I’m definitely going to make it.
Thanks Jeff! A salad that eats like a meal…. very hearty! 🙂
Peter it certainly looks festive. I am not a great lover of fish so I would make this without the fish and onions.
Thanks for checking it out Susan! I should explore some vegetarian versions of Shuba!