Serbian Inspired Vitamin Salad / Vitaminska Salata

September 26, 2023

15 minutes

easy

8-10 servings

Introducing you to a wholesome and hearty Serbian Inspired Vitamin Salad / Vitaminska Salata. There is no doubt that we love a delicious salad across the Balkans. With all the traditional dishes, whether meat-based or vegetarian, a scrumptious salad is always served on the side. And bread, you cannot forget about the bread. While we have some Serbian salad staples, a vitamin salad is also one of the popular ones to be found in households and restaurants. Made with a mix of freshly shredded vegetables and then dressed with olive oil, white vinegar and some lemon juice. It’s a delightful blend of fresh vegetables that are not only colorful but also teeming with healthy goodness.

About this recipe

During our recent visits to Serbia, I have noticed the Vitaminska Salata popping up all over the place. Most restaurants and food delivery services offer their own version of a vitamin salad as a side to many dishes. However, this kind of salad is likely to be inspired by home cooks who are known for putting together an array of delicious vegetables based dishes. My godparents make an excellent version of a Vitaminska Salata and I was lucky to enjoy it during my last visit.

We grew up devouring the Serbian Shopska Salad / Šopska Salata and the Beetroot Salad / Salata od Cvekle on a regular basis. A Vitamin Salad was not overly popular in our household but we enjoyed it from time to time. While salads like this do offer an array of nutrients, they are mostly made for their refreshing taste. Shredding different fresh vegetables and combining them together in a salad works really well! In some aspects this salad reminds me of the New Zealand coleslaw salad. However the Serbian version keeps the dressings very light and is mostly health-focused. I usually serve a salad like this as a side dish or add it to breakfasts and sandwiches. If you are looking for something juicy and refreshing, a salad like this goes really well with a roast!

Making this recipe

Making this salad is a breeze, no cooking or roasting needed. Simply wash all of the vegetables, peel whatever skin is necessary and grate each vegetable. If you have a food processor with a grate attachment, you can use it! It makes the entire process so much quicker. Add all of the grated vegetables to a large mixing bowl, add the salt, olive oil, white vinegar and the juice of one lemon. Mix everything until combined. You can also massage all of the dressing into the salad with your hands. Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving, it really is best when it is slightly chilled. Or refrigerate overnight.

You can also adjust the quantity of the ingredients as per your taste and preferences. The size of vegetables can vary. You can also adjust the seasonings. My salad turned out large, so I added more olive oil & salt. Once you make the salad, taste, and adjust according to your preferences.

Looking for more?

If you are looking for more ideas, try one of the recipes below:

Beetroot Salad / Salata od Cvekle

Potato Salad with Capsicums & Spring Onions

Broccoli and Chutney Muffins

Whether you’re looking to incorporate more vegetables into your diet or simply craving a taste of Serbia, this Serbian Inspired Vitamin Salad / Vitaminska Salata. I hope that you enjoy making it! Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! If you have questions, you can find me over on Instagram or tag me with your photo. You can also find me over on TikTok.

Reviews

Ingredients:

Adjust Servings

	1/2 red cabbage, chopped & grated
	1/2 green cabbage, chopped & grated
	2medium carrots, peeled, chopped & grated
	1medium beetroot, peeled, chopped & grated
	1medium apple, chopped & grated
	juice of 1 lemon
	3-4tbsp olive oil
	3tbsp white vinegar
	2-3 tsp salt

Directions

1.

Grate the veegatbles

Wash all of the vegetables, peel whatever skin is necessary (on the carrot & beetroot). Using a kitchen grater, grate each vegetable. Alternatively, you can use a food processor machine with the grating attachment and grate the vegetables this way.

Start by grating the green cabbage and red cabbage first. Add the grated vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Next grate the beetroot and add to the bowl. Lastly grate the carrots and apple (with its skin on) and add to the bowl. Mix all of the vegetables to combine.

Mark as complete

2.

Add the seasonings

Lastly add the juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, white vinegar and salt. Using a wooden spoon or spatula combine everything until all of the salad is covered in dressing. You can also use your hands to massage the dressing into the salad.

Chill for at least 20 minutes or overnight prior to serving. Enjoy!

Mark as complete

Notes

The measurements of the ingredients may vary on the size of your vegetables.

You can adjust the ingredients according to your taste (eg, add more or less red cabbage)

Adjust seasoning to your taste. My salad was large so I added more olive oil and salt. Depending on the size of your salad and your taste, you may want to adjust the seasonings.