RUSSIAN SALAD

This is a glamorous, molded salad ideal for serving on cocktail plates as an hours d’oeuvre [sic] or, in the summer, as a light supper for 4 or 6.

1 quart borscht
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup mayonnaise
4 carrots, diced
1/2 pound cooking string beans, diced
12 cooked asparagus tips, chopped
1 cup diced, cooked potatoes
1 cup cooked baby peas
1 cup diced, cooked tongue
1 cup canned or cooked chopped mushrooms
2 cups chopped shrimp
10 anchovy fillets
Capers
Gherkins
Smoked salmon strips (optional)

Strain borscht, placing beets in large mixing bowl and measuring out 1 cup borscht liquid. Reserve remaining liquid for other use. Dissolve on package gelatin in borscht liquid over low flame until melted. Stir in mayonnaise. Refrigerate, but do not let gel. Combine carrots, string beans, asparagus tips, potatoes, peas, tongue, mushrooms, and shrimp, and mix well. Blend in mayonnaise-gelatin mixture and chill until mixture begins to thicken. Place mixture in deep, round bowl or in salad mold; cover with plastic wrap and chill 4 hours or overnight. Just before seeing remove plastic wrap and place large, round plate on top of bowl; invert to unmold salad.

To serve: Rinse anchovy fillets with water and pat dry with paper towels; arrange fillets lengthwise over salad mound; intersperce with thin strips smoked salmon, if desired. Sprinkle with capers; arrange gherkins around salad mound.

If desired, glaze mount with lemon- or lime-flavored gelatin and garnish with cherry tomato or cauliflowerette placed on top of mound.

Copyright ^© 1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.