“Chudesny” Salad with Crab Sticks and Mushrooms

“Chudesny” (Ukrainian for “wonderful”) is the archetypal pantry salad: four canned things plus crab sticks, tossed together in five minutes. Sweetish corn, tender beans, marinated button mushrooms, and crab sticks play off each other well enough that a big bowl never gets dull.

The whole game is draining. Tip the corn, beans, and mushrooms into a colander and let them sit five minutes, or the mayonnaise thins out and the salad goes soupy within the hour. For the same reason, dress it right before serving rather than ahead.

Worth a try: swap the marinated mushrooms for freshly sauteed ones — the flavor turns deeper and less sharp. Red beans give brighter color, white beans a milder taste; either works. To lighten it, replace part of the mayo with thin sour cream (smetana) or plain unsweetened yogurt. Serve chilled with dill or parsley.

Part of Ukrainian cuisine — 288 more recipes in the section.

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