Russian-Inspired Vegan Shredded Potato Salad

Potato salad can take many forms. It can be the cubed variety often found at American barbecues, the chunky variations served alongside German cuisine (potato salad is said to have originated in Germany), or even Gado Gado, which is a satay-laden Indonesian dish that technically could also be considered a potato salad. It can be served warm or cold, as a side or as a main, but it usually consists of steamed potatoes and some sort of creamy and/or fatty element, often but not strictly mayonnaise. The rest can be left up to cook discretion and imagination. Which is why I felt compelled to present this less-than-conventional as my recipe for the week. It may not neatly fall into any one cultural niche, but it took influence from Russian potato salads, which often contain a briny element (like pickles which I swapped for olives) and a meat (like diced ham which was substituted by small chunks of TVP). It features shredded as opposed to cubed potatoes--Not just because I prefer this texture but, frankly, because it makes this dish easier to cook. Meaning my Russian-inspired shredded potato salad can be whipped up in a matter of 30 minutes or less. Serve it alongside a veggie burger or perhaps some vegan meatballs and you've got yourself a well-balanced meal.