Potato Salad

An excellent creamy summer salad that is perfect for a warm sunny day outdoors is potato salad. It is an appetizing side dish great for social gatherings or picnics. A great side dish that pairs nicely with warm grilled dishes or a variety of slow-cooked meats. 

Potato Salad 

American potato salad is quite popular in the states. During the summertime, potato salad is often made for a variety of different events, such as grill days or holiday events. The American version of potato salad consists of a mayonnaise-based salad dressing compared to the authentic German potato salad that is generally served warm with a vinegar-based salad dressing.  

Potato salad is a cold, creamy potato salad made with boiled potatoes, a variety of ingredients including boiled eggs, pickles, vegetable ingredients, and a creamy mayonnaise-based salad dressing. The salad is often served chilled, combining a refreshing, cool, and creamy texture-based salad.

This potato salad is made with a combination of russet potatoes, boiled eggs, green onion, dill pickles, salt, and black pepper. For the salad dressing, it is made with a blend of mayonnaise as the base ingredient, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, paprika, and garlic seasoning. 

Potato Salad Ingredients  

Potatoes: The base ingredient for this salad. Boiled potatoes are mild with a hint of sweetness and a starchy texture. Yukon and russet potatoes are great potato options. Alternative: mini potatoes. 

Eggs: A common and tasty addition to potato salads. Boiled eggs are mild in flavor and soft, moist, with a rubbery texture. 

Green Onion: Fresh green onion offers a subtle, crispy texture and a light, mild, sweet flavor. Alternative: chives.  

Dill Pickles: Tangy sour flavor with a firm and crunchy texture.  

Salt: Adds a nice pinch of salty taste to the salad. 

Ground Black Pepper: Adds a light pinch of an earthy and sharp taste. 

Salad Dressing 

Mayonnaise: An excellent main ingredient for homemade salad dressings. Mayonnaise offers a mild flavor with a smooth and creamy texture. Alternative: Miracle Whip. 

Dijon Mustard: A strong, tangy flavor, Dijon mustard provides a smooth and creamy texture. Alternatives: honey mustard or spicy brown mustard. 

Pickle Juice: Cool, refreshing, tart, and sour flavor.  

Paprika: A great seasoning that adds peppery, smoky, and spicy flavor. Alternative: chili powder.  

Garlic Salt: A mild garlic flavor that adds a nice pinch of seasoning. Alternatives: salt or garlic powder.

Potato Salad Instructions

Potatoes

1. Potatoes. 
   
2. Peel the potatoes.  
   
3. Cut the potatoes into cubes. 

1. Add water and the cubed potatoes to a pot.
2. Boil the potatoes.
3. Boil until the potatoes are tender. 

Drain the Potatoes

Eggs

1. Boil the eggs. (Hard-Boiled Eggs)
   
2. Peel the eggs. 
   
3. Cut the boiled eggs.  

Tip

Add the boiled eggs to a bowl of ice. This will help to cool the eggs down for peeling. 

Potato Salad Ingredients

Cut the pickles.
Cut the green onion.
Cut the red onion.

Salad Dressing 

1. In a bowl, add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, paprika, garlic salt, and ground black pepper. 
   
2. Mix the ingredients until combined. 

Assemble the Salad Bowl

1. In a bowl, add the cooked cubed potatoes.
2. Add cut boiled eggs and pickles. 
   
3. Add the cut green and red onion.
4. Add the salad dressing.

Mix the potato salad ingredients and dressing until combined. (Gently combine the salad ingredients as this helps maintain the texture of the potato cubes.)

Storage 

Potato salad can be stored in an airtight container or glass container in the refrigerator. Potato salads made with eggs and mayonnaise dressing should not be stored for many days in the refrigerator since boiled eggs may not be safe to consume after a certain period. Freezing potato salad is not recommended primarily for the texture of the salad as well as the change in freshness and flavor. 

Thoughts 

There are many types of salads to try out and make, especially for the summertime. Potato salad is one of those salads that many people enjoy making for warm outdoor events. It is one salad that I personally enjoy for many reasons, including its taste, simplicity, and versatility. This is one salad that is delicious yet simple to make for grill days or any popular summer holiday. 

Recipe 

Ingredients  

• 3 russet potatoes  
  
• 3 eggs
• 5 small dill pickles  
  
• 1 green onion 
  
• ¼ red onion  
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper  
  
• Salt for taste (potatoes & eggs)  

Salad Dressing  

• 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise  
  
• ¼ cup Dijon mustard    
  
• 1 tablespoon pickle juice  
  
• ¼ teaspoon paprika  
  
• ¼ teaspoon garlic salt

 

Instructions  

Potatoes. Peel the potatoes, then cut the potatoes into cubes. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes.  

Hard-boiled eggs. Boil the eggs. Once boiled, let the eggs cool. Peel the eggs. Then cut into pieces.   

Salad ingredients. Cut the pickles, green onion, and red onion, into small pieces.   

Salad dressing. In a bowl, add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, paprika, garlic salt, and ground black pepper. Combine all the ingredients until creamy.   

Assemble the salad bowl. In a large bowl, add the potatoes, eggs, pickles, green onion, red onion, and the salad dressing. Gently mix the ingredients and salad dressing. Refrigerate the potato salad prior to serving.