Not just a salad, but a good luck talisman: we are preparing an enchanting “Carrot” for the Year of the Fire Horse

Salad “Carrot” – a bright, tasty and symbolic dish that will become a real decoration of your New Year's table in 2026 – the Year of the Horse. This hearty salad will not only delight adults with its piquant taste, but children will also definitely like it thanks to its original form. The combination of chicken fillet, potatoes, pickled cucumbers and carrots creates a rich taste, and a beautiful presentation turns it into the center of the composition.

Ingredients (for 8 servings):

• Chicken fillet – 200 g
• Potatoes – 300 g
• Carrots – 300 g
• Pickled cucumbers – 300 g
• Hard cheese – 100 g
• Chicken eggs – 2 pcs.
• Onion – 150 g
• Mayonnaise – 250 g
• Salt – to taste
• Vinegar – 1 tsp.
• Sugar – ½ tsp.
• Parsley – 3-4 sprigs

Step by step recipe:

Prepare the products:

1. Boil the chicken fillet in salted water for about 30 minutes until cooked. Cool and cut into small cubes.
2. Wash the potatoes and carrots thoroughly, put them in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook covered over low heat for 20–30
3. minutes until soft. Drain, cool, clean.
4. Boil the eggs hard (9-10 minutes), cool, peel and grate on a fine grater.
5. Peel the onion, cut into small cubes, add sugar and vinegar, stir and leave for 20 minutes – this will make it softer and remove the pungent odor.
6. Grate the cucumbers on a fine grater.
7. Also grate the cheese and potatoes on a fine grater.
8. Forming the salad: Layer the salad on a large flat plate, giving it the shape of a long carrot – pointed at one end.

Layers:

1. Potatoes are the base.

Spread evenly to form a vegetable shape.
→ Add salt and grease with mayonnaise.

2. Pickled cucumbers – second layer.

→ Lubricate well with mayonnaise.

3. Chicken fillet – next layer.

→ Salt and cover with a mayonnaise mesh.

4. Pickled onions – adds piquancy.

→ Lightly coat with mayonnaise.

5. Hard cheese – distribute evenly.

→ Cover with mayonnaise.

6. Eggs – the penultimate layer.

→ Grease with mayonnaise.

7. Carrots – top, finishing layer.

Spread tightly so that the entire surface is covered.

Decoration:

1. Carefully shape the salad into the shape of a carrot, pointed at one end.
2. Make longitudinal grooves with a knife, imitating a peel.
3. Stick a sprig of parsley into the top as a tail.