Zemiakový Šalát

The story

Zemiakový šalát, Slovak potato salad with mayonnaise, eggs, and root vegetables, is a customary side dish at Christmas Eve dinner, nearly identical in its makeup to the Czech bramborový salát — one of the many things Slovak tradition has in common with Czech after some seven decades of shared history in the same state. It is usually made a day ahead, in large quantities meant to last the whole holiday rather than a single evening, because the salad keeps well in the refrigerator and its flavors only improve with time. The ingredients vary from house to house — some add pickles, others peas, and still others apple, for a mild sweetness that contrasts with the tang of the rest of the salad. It is served cold alongside baked or fried carp, its tang and creaminess nicely balancing the richness and texture of the fish. For Slovak families in the diaspora, this salad is one of the most practical parts of Christmas Eve dinner — it is made in advance and adapts easily to whatever vegetables are available locally without losing its familiar taste.