Who created the original salad that inspired Spanish ensaladilla rusa?

Lucien Olivier created the original salad that inspired Spanish ensaladilla rusa, now commonly called Russian salad in Spain.

Olivier, a Belgian chef, served the dish at the Hermitage restaurant in Moscow in the 1860s. The original recipe was closely guarded and reportedly included expensive ingredients, while later versions became simpler and more widely reproducible.

Spanish ensaladilla rusa usually combines potatoes, carrots, peas, mayonnaise, and other ingredients such as tuna, egg, or roasted pepper. It is one of Spain’s most familiar cold tapas, served in bars, restaurants, and family kitchens.

The Spanish version should not be mistaken for a precise copy of Olivier’s original. The connection is historical and culinary: the modern Spanish dish belongs to the worldwide family of salads descended from Olivier’s creation.