Summer is fast approaching, and you know what that means—barbecues, cookouts, picnics, and potlucks.
When it comes to outdoor, casual get-togethers, the grill usually gets all the love. Okay, maybe the grill and the cooler. Burgers and hotdogs and all the fixings will be planned carefully, ribs will be marinated overnight, and someone who knows what he’s doing will be put in charge of the drinks. But the sides? Sometimes the sides are simply store-bought, or even forgotten altogether.
Potato salad is probably the most popular summer side dish, but it’s not surprising that many people can just take it or leave it. After all, it’s hard to get excited about something that’s delegated to giant machines dishing out tub after tub of this poor, maligned salad.
We’re changing that today. Right now. It’s time the potato salad got its fair share of summer fare love.
Let’s start with the basics. To the traditionalist, potato salad has to be creamy, simply seasoned, with nothing detracting from the potatoes. Yep, we’ve got some of that.
Clockwise from top left: The Best American-Style Potato Salad from ThreeManyCooks, Perfect Potato Salad from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe, Deviled Potato Salad from anediblemosaic, Creamy Potato Salad from Ursala’s Tried-N-True, Mom’s Potato Salad from lizzygoesdutch, and Ree’s Potato Salad.
If you’re feeling slightly more adventurous (but only slightly), sometimes the simple addition of dill can do wonders for your potato salad. Ah, dill. I love you with salmon and with pickles, but oh, what you do to potato salad.
Clockwise from left: Dilled Potato & Pickled Cucumber Salad from theparsleythief, Dill Potato Salad from bunkycooks, and Dilled Potato Salad from Food for My Family.
Want more adventure? Let’s load up that potato salad, shall we? Bacon, cheese, sour cream … or keep it light with green beans and almonds. No more Plain Jane salad, that’s for sure.
Clockwise from top left: Bacon Ranch Potato Salad from Laurie @SimplyScratch, Baked Potato Salad from Karly Campbell, Not Another Boring Potato Salad from KeepItSimpleFoods, and Loaded Potato Salad from D’anne.
And if you’re a rebel like me (or German), you’ll toss the cream altogether. The advantage of skipping the mayo or creamy dressing is that it’ll hold up to the outdoors a little better. From roasted potatoes to sweet potatoes to grilled potatoes with vegetables, try one of these non-traditional potato salads and steal some of the burger’s thunder.
Clockwise from top left: Warm Roasted Potato Salad from runningwithtweezers, Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Salad from The Red Spoon, Lemony Potato Salad with Basil and Mint from Recipe for Delicious, Warm Chorizo and New Potato Salad from londonbakes, Grilled Red Pepper Potato Salad from GrillGrrrl, and Festive Grilled Zucchini and Sweet Potato Salad from Natalie (Perrys’ Plate).
There you have it! These are just some of the many ways to jazz up the usually-ordinary potato salad. Give one a go! Or maybe you have a family favorite you’d like to share. Do tell! I love it when the underdog shines.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
39 Comments
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Angeline on 6.13.2011
Hhmmmm….. potato salad is one of my favorite salad. For me, I will add in some bacons or salami and mix with the potato, the taste come out very great !! In Jap restaurant, usually they will serve this potato salad with shredded cucumber and a little wasabi…… they even came out potato salad with inari beancurd as a sushi….
Amy on 6.6.2011
looking mouth watering really like it..and you have added green beans and almonds which makes very delicious. i will try this one and recommend my friends to make it once.. great dude.
Helene on 6.5.2011
Have any of you guys tried a Danish potato salad with curry? It’s really the best and goes so well with grill meat or steak.
Danish potato salad – there’s no measurements because it is really all about how much of a curry taste you would perfer and how smoothe the dressing is.
4 persons:
boiled potatoes – big enough portion for 4 persons
1 onion finely grated
1-2 table spoon chives
1/3 Mayo – i find that a light version is okay
2/3 Crème fraiche – also light is okay
Season with salt, black pepper and curry – start with one table spoon and adjust.
It dosesn’t hurt to make in at least an hour before serving just to let the taste settle. And then remember to stir and taste it just before serving as it might need more salt and curry.
Enjoy!
Erika (TK) on 6.5.2011
Patti, I wonder if it’s a regional thing. I have good friends from Germany and they tell me that although German potato salad is mostly known to be vinegar-based, in northern Germany, the potato salad does have mayo. (I happen to like them both ways!)
Patti on 6.5.2011
It’s funny how Americans seem to be convinced that German potato salad doesn’t have mayo in it – I can honestly say I’ve never seen a mayo-less potato salad in Germany, ever, neither in the stores nor at potlucks or other byof-type gatherings.
CarolM on 6.4.2011
Don’t like pickles/relish/juice in mine. I make one that I saw Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jay Novacek make on early morning news show (his mom’s recipe) and everyone loves it. Many say it’s the best they’ve ever had.
Margaret on 6.4.2011
my recipe was to cook the potatoes, eggs and chop the onion and take those and the other ingredients down to Diane so she could make it. Mine always was not quite right and hers delicious. easy peasy.
Jeanne on 6.4.2011
My mom’s secret ingredient, in addition to the mayo, mustard, onion & dill pickle diced finely, salt and pepper, is a tablespoon or two of Catalina French dressing. Doesn’t make it sweet, but somehow it wakes up the other flavors! Oh, and celery & celery seed.
burkie on 6.4.2011
i like to use both the pickles and the juice from Vlasic’s *zesty* bread & butter pickles in mine, and plenty of sweet onion and celery, both diced very small. also, i like to take some of my dressing and toss the potatoes in it while the potatoes are still warm. not a lot of dressing–just enough to coat them lightly and let the flavor infuse the potatoes, not so much that they become mushy. then i chill the potatoes before adding the rest of the ingredients and the rest of the dressing.
marj on 6.4.2011
Thanks for running this – I’ll show it to my son. He and his dad are partial to baked potato salad and deviled egg potato salad.
With all these varieties we can mix up different combinations of ingredients and create one we really like.
Thanks again.
txtoga on 6.4.2011
My late father-in-law made the best mustard potato salad that I’ve ever eaten and I consider myself a potato salad aficionado. I never was able to get the complete ingredient list from him but he loved me enough to make a large bowl just about every week during my last trimester of pregnancy because I craved potato salad so much. I look forward to experimenting with all of those shown.
Judy on 6.4.2011
I ran into the little country store by me to pick up some potato salad (time was of the essence) and had some SHOCK at the register! It was $8 !!!!
http://www.frugalityonline.com/frugal-menus/around-the-house/eight-bucks
Judy (who should somehow ALWAYS find the time to make it herself)
dakatw on 6.4.2011
My MIL makes the best dad-gum tater salad ever! Hee hee! I am currently trying to oust my husband as the official taste tester but he is being so stubborn! I would love to share a recipe but like many old timey southern cooks, she doesn’t have it written down. She just does what feels right!
Marian on 6.3.2011
Potato salad..my husband’s mother made the best ever. She was known as the potato queen in our community. She took the recipe to her grave. My daughter has spent years recreating the recipe. Now that my lovely daughter has the recipe she will not tell a soul. If my life depended on making an edible potato salad..well I would not be typing for long.
Marian
valleyartproject on 6.3.2011
These look amazing! I am definitely making one of these this weekend…humm which one will it be. Thanks Ree!
Iowa FarmGirrrl on 6.3.2011
Everyone has fond remembrances of that special potato salad from church suppers, family reunions and neighborhood potlucks. Its inspiring to try new recipes like these and make some new great memories!
Sherri@FoodBasics101 on 6.3.2011
Around here we call it “tater salad”. That Bacon Ranch version looks yummy! I love potato salad but don’t put too much mustard in it for me please…too tangy for my taste buds!
Kasey on 6.3.2011
I’m trying the Best American Style Potato Salad TONIGHT. Can’t wait! Perfect night for some brats, potato salad, corn on the cob and cold one. Hooray!
Patti Rabbit on 6.3.2011
Everyone, children & men, loves my potato salad when I take it to gatherings, workshops, field days, family reunions, because it is plain——–nothing green in it, except pickles. Potatoes, boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, mayo & a tad of mustard. My mother fixed it this way. It is good, but I like everybody else’s potato salad. I like it with dill. I like it with bacon, cheese & ranch dressing and onions. I like it with onions & celery. All the recipes looked good to me.
Bea on 6.3.2011
Yey for barbecues! The potato salads are all so beautifully presented and will undoubtedly taste delicious
Patti G on 6.3.2011
I love potato salad!!!!!
Donna on 6.3.2011
You forgot German Potato salad.It’s the best! Just saying….
Laura on 6.3.2011
My own potato salad is my favorite.
It is a very simple salad.
Boil up some eggs, hard boil style. Chill.
Use any variety of potato. Peel if they are russets or if you don’t like skins. Other wise scrub and large 3/4″dice. STEAM (steamer basket) for about 5-10minutes while you scrub some carrots. Cut carrots into chunks about the same size as potatoes. Toss in the steamer on top of the cooking potatoes and put the lid back on. Steam another 15 -20minutes or until potatoes are cooked through and carrots are firm but cooked (not crunchy). Pull out steamer basket to cool.
When everything is cool/chilled, Toss parrots and potatoes into a large bowl. Add enough Hellman’s or BestFoods real mayo to suit you. Salt and pepper, too. Peel eggs and chunk up and put in the bowl. Do the same with some good dill pickles. Add some bacon bits (cook it up fresh, don’t use faux bits). Gently mix and serve. Or chill until needed.
That is it.
Potatoes
carrots
hardboiled eggs
dill pickles
bacon bits
real mayonnaise
salt & pepper.
Amanda on 6.3.2011
I can not understand putting sweet pickles or olives in a potato salad. Does not compute. All you need is chopped, warm potatoes, hellman’s, hard boiled eggs, onions, maybe celery (I just like the fluffy tips), salt and pepper. May be a smidge of mustard if you swing that way. The mayo is what keeps it safe when you serve it warm. Serving it warm is a must.
The Church Cook (Kay Heritage) on 6.3.2011
Oh, Thank you for these fantastic round up!, Erica!! I am always looking for good potato salad recipe for my church family! I am set for this summer Sunday fellowship meals!
Beth-Ann on 6.3.2011
I made a different potato salad every week for an entire summer. My son and most of the farmhands wanted yellow potato salad without mustard. At the end of the season I made it with turmeric and they were delighted. All except the vet student who said, “The stuff you made first with the tomatoes and green beans was the best.”
Nancy C on 6.3.2011
All that goodness in one fell swoop!!! I am in potato salad heaven. This should keep my potato salad purist self and my bring on the adventure potato salad self happy for at least a couple days… what? I shouldn’t make a different one for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks each day… too much? sigh…
mellie on 6.3.2011
WOW,they all look great and depending on my mood,and how hot it is and where we’re eating will determine which type I will choose.I worked in a Greek retaurant for many years and picked up many good recipes and came up with some variations on them.My reciipe is hot Greek potato salad,using red potatoes,spring onions,celery,celery seed,black olives,and hard boiled eggs.Toss with a good quality olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.I serve this warm/hot and top it off with some crumbled feta cheese…everyone loves it.I will sometimes use dill or basil for a different flavor,but the original recipe is the most prefered,even by the grandgirls!
Lily on 6.3.2011
These potato salads look DELICIOUS! I am so excited to try them. Your restaurant style salsa recipe is made at our house on a weekly (no, more like daily!) basis. I just love that you’re a flavourful food lover too!! Thanks for posting these!
Natalie | Perry's Plate on 6.3.2011
Thanks for featuring my sweet potato salad! I love alternative potato salads — what a great round-up!
sarah on 6.3.2011
So glad to have a recipe to go from that come well recommended. This is a dish that I run from, because I cannot make it. My mom and mother in law are good at putting about that much of all ingredients, and I just can’t. Not this recipe. Other things… yes, but not potato salad. Thank you!!
Heather on 6.3.2011
I adore potato salads…they’re just like the key ingredient in that you can make it whatever you want, and you can do it easily!
Katrina on 6.3.2011
Mmmm I dont even know where to start!
cici on 6.3.2011
How funny – I just made potato salad!! Mine and it is fabulous – no recipe per se, but just a little of this and a little of that!!!
Get lots of requests for recipe!!
ladystiles on 6.3.2011
What a great round up.
So many people skip the potato salad ( or should ) because it is so loaded with processed garbage that one can hardly even distinguish potatoes.
I love all the variations! I am a huge fan of German style potatoe salad!
Sweet Mary on 6.3.2011
They all look tasty, but for me, tradition means mustard.
Jean F on 6.3.2011
Mine is a simple Potato Salad — cooked new potatoes (wedged), chunks of green pepper, chunks of red onion, big pieces cooked thick-sliced bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. That’s it. Easy-Peasy
It was always one of my “how to catch a man dishes” during my single days!
Now Hubby’s specialty is German potato salad. YUM!
Recipe link: http://themadcuisineart.blogspot.com/2007/02/sausage-love-in-box.html
Kim in MD on 6.3.2011
I love it when you highlight a group of recipes, Ree! These potato salads look amazing…it is going to be fun trying them this summer!
kilroy59 on 6.3.2011
It’s a funny thing about potato salads. Once you find one you like, it’s hard to turn your back on it and claim another one as your favorite. Or in my case, it’s hard to even try another one. I’ve tried dozens over the years, from store-bought to restaurant-served to those made by my friends. I never thought I’d find one that compared to my mom’s. Then I got married (the second time) and my wife’s grandmother’s potato salad was very similar to my mom’s, but…better! I think it’s the use of the pickle juices, or maybe the sheer volume of boiled eggs. I don’t know for sure, but this is the best thing to go with any summer meal in my opinion. And look! It’s right here on Tasty Kitchen: https://tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/grannye28099s-tater-salad/
I really have to add a photo, but it’s usually scarfed up so soon after making it, I don’t have time. One of these days…one of these days I’ll get the picture taken before everyone falls on it like wolves on a baby lamb.
Peace out, y’all!
Have a great summer!