Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Greatest Potato Salad | RecipeTin Eats

[ad_1]

The very best potato salad is made by dousing sizzling potatoes with French Dressing so that they take within the flavour earlier than tossing in a creamy dressing. Full with important add-ins: bacon, cucumber and celery. Each chunk is perfection!

Want no mayo? Attempt German Potato Salad, Purple Potato Salad with Charred Corn, Lemon Potato Salad and Wickedly Delish Candy Potato Salad.

Bowl of freshly made potato salad

A Potato Salad you’ll make repeatedly…

This can be a potato salad recipe given to me by the mom of a pal. To respect her privateness, let’s name her Mrs B.

The very first time I heard how Mrs B makes her potato salad, I immediately knew that this was one that might stand out from the group of hundreds – thousands and thousands – of potato salad recipes “on the market” on this planet vast internet.

The factor that makes it so particular is pouring French Salad Dressing over the recent boiled potatoes. By dressing whereas sizzling, they take in the French Salad Dressing flavour slightly than simply coating them. Which suggests, flavour contained in the potatoes not simply on the surface.

Mixed with the creamy bitter cream-mayonnaise dressing, salty bacon, and contemporary bursts of celery, cucumber and onion, each mouthful is the right chunk!

Close up of Best potato salad
The proper chunk!

Loads of dressing….however not overly greasy

The opposite factor I actually like about this potato salad is the dressing. Whereas I really like a creamy dressing, I discover utilizing solely mayonnaise too greasy. However I additionally don’t need to skimp on dressing. There’s nothing worse than a dry potato salad!

The answer: break up the richness of mayonnaise by combining with bitter cream. I exploit a 50/50 ratio.

The addition of tang and trace of zing from a dab of Horseradish Cream additionally helps to chop via the richness. It’s optionally available however provides an additional little something-something to it.

And don’t overlook, all this mingles along with the French Dressing the potatoes are soaked in!

After a creamy no-mayo model? Do this Creamy Yogurt Potato Salad Dressing – it’s terrific!

Close up of Healthy creamy no mayo Potato Salad being poured over potato
The No-Mayo Creamy Potato Salad dressing is made with yogurt and can be utilized for this potato salad.

Components for the Greatest Potato Salad

Right here’s what it’s essential make the very best potato salad on the block!

The potatoes and add-ins

Ingredients in Best potato salad
  • Potatoes – Potatoes fluctuate extensively in texture when cooked. For potato salad, I like to make use of starchy (floury) and all-rounder potatoes which turn out to be mushy and fluffy when cooked and are a sponge to soak up the vinaigrette. The sides of the potato cubes mash up a bit when tossed with the dressing (no one desires sharp-edged cubes of their potato salad!) and the floor turns into somewhat ragged so the creamy dressing clings to each floor

    Starchy/all-rounder potato varieties:
    – Australia: Sebago (dirt-brushed frequent potatoes), Coliban (white pores and skin potatoes frequent at supermarkets)
    – US: Russet, Idaho and Yukon gold
    – UK: Maris Piper, King Edward, and Russet

    Waxy potatoes, however, don’t take in flavour practically as nicely and have a firmer texture when cooked. Whereas the potato cubes will maintain their form extra completely when cooked with sharp lower edges, the floor is slippery so the dressing doesn’t adhere to it as nicely.

  • Celery and cucumber – Welcome freshness! The celery is sliced finely so that you get mushy crunch nevertheless it turns into floppy slightly than stiff sprigs protruding. And the cucumber is finely diced slightly than the everyday slicing so that you get nice mushy juicy little crunchy pops. Love!

  • Uncooked onion (finely minced) – This cuts via the creaminess of the dressing and provides nice refined contemporary flavour into the entire salad. The truth that it’s finely minced slightly than simply chopped or sliced helps – higher dispersion all through the entire salad plus you get the juiciness too. It form of takes the place of garlic which I put in “every little thing” however is somewhat harsh on this explicit potato salad.

  • Bacon – Important for a traditional potato salad!

Dressing 1: The French Dressing

That is the dressing the recent potatoes take in! The unique recipe shared with me by Mrs B used retailer purchased French Dressing which is an possibility. Nonetheless, I simply make my very own – right here’s all you want:

Ingredients in Best potato salad
  • White wine vinegar – The traditional vinegar used for vinaigrette however might be substituted with apple cider vinegar, sherry or champagne vinegar (final resort: plain white vinegar).

  • Olive oil is the oil of alternative. The higher the standard, the higher the flavour!

  • Dijon mustard – For flavour and thickening.

  • Water – Lacking from the photograph! 🙂 I exploit simply 1 tablespoon of water to stretch out the dressing, slightly than extra oil (merely for well being causes).

  • Garlic – flavour!

  • Sugar – Only a contact, which takes the sting off the tang a bit too.

Dressing 2: The creamy dressing!

As famous proper up entrance, I like my potato salad good and creamy however I discover simply utilizing mayonnaise is overly heavy. So I exploit a 50/50 bitter cream/mayo mixture.

(Reminder – mayo free model right here!)

Dressing for Best potato salad
  • Mayonnaise – Complete egg mayo is finest as it’s creamier and fewer tangy than unusual mayonnaise. Available as of late in grocery shops (it can say “entire egg mayo” on the label).

  • Bitter cream – Full fats please! Yogurt can be utilized instead however bitter cream does have a creamier mouthfeel.

  • Horseradish cream – That is pickled contemporary horseradish which has a zingy spiciness like wasabi. As a result of it’s pickled, it’s vinegary. So this provides each a touch of spicy heat and tang to the dressing.

    When you’re fortunate sufficient to have contemporary horseradish, use half the quantity and add a few teaspoons of vinegar.


Tips on how to make potato salad

IMPORTANT! Creamy potato salads actually are higher made with starchy potatoes for texture and flavour, however you really want to take care to not overcook else they may crumble an excessive amount of when tossing. Waxy potatoes could be simpler to make use of as a result of they maintain their form….however the consuming half is just not nearly as good! I’ve accomplished a number of potato salad consuming in my time to reach at this conclusion.

How to make the Best potato salad
  1. Begin in chilly water – Prepare dinner lower potatoes beginning in chilly water. By no means begin potatoes in boiling water else they may prepare dinner an excessive amount of on the surface earlier than the within cooks and crumble when tossed!

    Test ceaselessly – As soon as the water comes as much as the boil, begin checking at 4 minutes and each 30 seconds thereafter. As quickly as you’ll be able to pierce a potato with virtually no resistance, drain instantly. They are going to proceed cooking with the residual warmth.

  2. French Dressing – Shake French Dressing substances in a jar till mixed.

  3. Creamy Dressing – Combine the substances in a bowl till clean.

  4. Soak sizzling potatoes – Gently switch the potatoes in a bowl and pour over the French Dressing. Toss very gently utilizing a rubber spatula. Minimal tosses simply to coat, then put aside for no less than 2 hours for the potatoes to chill and take in the dressing. We’re primarily marinating the potatoes right here. that is going to be good!

    The cooled potatoes are additionally much less fragile much less vulnerable to breaking after we combine with the remaining substances.

  5. Add-ins – Add the cucumber, celery, onion, a lot of the bacon and all of the creamy dressing. Toss gently till blended via. If time permits, put aside for a number of hours or higher but in a single day, to let the flavours meld collectively. However truthfully, even should you serve it immediately, it can nonetheless be the very best potato salad of your life! 🙂

Close up of Best potato salad

Proof of excellence

This potato salad will final 4 to five days within the fridge, and it simply will get higher with time. Make it as soon as, and will probably be a staple in any respect gatherings for years to come back. I’ve by no means strayed from this recipe because the second I attempted it!

And as remaining proof of how nice this potato salad is, even my mom who’s a die-hard Japanese Potato Salad devotee couldn’t cease consuming this. That’s simply concerning the highest reward you may get.

Thanks Mrs B! – Nagi x


Watch the best way to make it

Hungry for extra? Subscribe to my publication and comply with alongside on Fb, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest updates.

The best potato salad

The very best Potato Salad

Servings6 – 8

Faucet or hover to scale

Recipe video above. Use this recipe if you would like a very nice traditional potato salad. The key step: dressing sizzling potatoes with French Dressing so that they take in the flavour earlier than tossing with a creamy mayo/bitter cream dressing. Each chunk is perfection! Nice contemporary, higher in 3 hours, even higher tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe, Mrs B, it truly is the BEST!

Components

French Dressing (important! Be aware 2)

Directions

  • French Dressing – Shake substances in a jar till nicely mixed.

  • Prepare dinner potatoes (CAREFUL! Be aware 5) – Put potatoes and a pair of teaspoon salt in a big pot of chilly water. Flip the range on. As soon as the water is simmering, prepare dinner for 4 minutes or till the potatoes are JUST cooked (nonetheless bit agency within the center) – they may preserve cooking with residual warmth. Drain instantly (gently!).

  • Douse sizzling potatoes! Rigorously switch potatoes into a big bowl and pour over French Dressing. Gently toss to coat then put aside for two hours so potatoes take in the dressing and funky (much less fragile).

  • Crispy bacon – Lay half the bacon in a chilly non-stick pan. Flip onto medium excessive and prepare dinner till golden (the fats will soften because the pan warms up so it cooks in its personal fats). Flip and prepare dinner the opposite facet till golden. Drain paper towels, repeat with remaining bacon. As soon as cool and crisp, chop into small items.

  • Creamy Dressing – Combine substances in a bowl till mixed.

  • Toss – Add creamy dressing, celery, cucumber, onion, and a lot of the bacon. Toss gently to mix.

  • Serving – Serve garnished with remaining bacon. If time permits, I like to recommend setting apart for a number of hours, and even higher, in a single day, to provide the flavours an opportunity to meld. However nonetheless superb served immediately! All the time serve at room temperature, not fridge chilly.

Recipe Notes:

With many because of Mrs B, my buddies’ mom who first launched me to the game-changing French-dressing-doused-potatoes technique!
1. Potato – use starchy/floury or all rounders slightly than waxy ones as they may take in and soak up flavour higher. Additionally they barely “mash” on the sides which is precisely how potato salad must be, for my part. No one desires to chunk into flavourless bland potato chunks with sharp edges and slippery floor!
Learn in put up for notes on potato selection and why starchy is finest.
2. French Dressing – Used so as to add flavour contained in the potato items and that is what makes this potato salad so significantly better than the usual variations! The vinegar within the dressing additionally cuts via the richness of an in any other case very creamy dish.
3. White onion – Not as harsh as brown onion. Sub with 1 massive eschallot (US: shallot) ie French onion, or  1/2 cup pink onion or 1/3 cup brown onion finely minced.
4. Horseradish cream – Pickled contemporary horseradish that provides a little bit of wasabi-like spiciness and vinegar, balances richness of dressing (doesn’t make it spicy). In case you are fortunate sufficient to have contemporary horseradish, use half the quantity and add 2 teaspoons vinegar. Can skip and simply add 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar.
5. BOILING POTATOES – Take care as we’re utilizing starchy/floury potatoes which is able to crumble an excessive amount of if overcooked. We wish the sides barely “mashed” as soon as blended with dressing (potato items mustn’t have sharp corners!) but when they’re overcooked they may break an excessive amount of.
Begin checking at 4 minutes and test each 30 seconds. Drain even when they nonetheless a contact too agency as a result of they may preserve cooking.
6. Leftovers will preserve for 4 to five days. All the time serve at room temp – creamier and you’ll style the flavours higher!
Vitamin per serving assuming 8 servings. This elements in 2 tablespoons of bacon fats discarded.

Vitamin Info:

Serving: 310gEnergy: 329cal (16%)Carbohydrates: 25g (8%)Protein: 6g (12%)Fats: 23g (35%)Saturated Fats: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 6gMonounsaturated Fats: 10gTrans Fats: 0.04gLdl cholesterol: 22mg (7%)Sodium: 529mg (23%)Potassium: 669mg (19%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 171IU (3%)Vitamin C: 27mg (33%)Calcium: 42mg (4%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Initially printed August 2014. That is such a staple recipe in my life, I needed to re-publish it with a video, glowing new images and naturally add a Lifetime of Dozer part!!

The potato salad household


Summer season salads I really like


Lifetime of Dozer

I used to be on the Good Meals & Wine Present in Sydney on the weekend! JB and I had been doing a cooking present on stage and guide signings/meet ‘n greets.

The Enjoyable Police (council) wouldn’t let Dozer right into a meals present. So I took the subsequent neatest thing – a life dimension cardboard lower out. We’re getting a number of mileage out of 2D Dozer! 😂

SaveSave



[ad_2]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles