Southern Potato Salad

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Are you looking for a crowd pleasing side dish to bring to your next cookout?  This classic southern potato salad recipe is what you need to make.  Really, who doesn't love a creamy zesty potato salad?

Jump to:

• Questions
• Serve
• How to Make
• Pro Tips
• Recipe

Questions

What potatoes are best to use?

You'll want to use a waxy potato because they hold their shape better when boiled.  They also have a firmer texture than starchy ones.  Many waxy spuds have thinner skins, so peeling is optional.  Choose from the types below.

• Red
• White
• New
• Fingerling

How should I buy and store this vegetable?

• Don't buy spuds that are sprouted, wrinkly, or have a greenish hue.
• Look for small ones, as they will provide the best flavor.
• Use ones that are similar in size.  When boiled whole, they will be fork tender at the same time.
• Store completely dry spuds in a cool, dark place for up to a few weeks, preferably in a brown paper bag.

Do you peel this vegetable before or after boiling?

If you are using a potato with a thicker skin, you'll probably want to eventually remove the skins.  But what is best: peeling before or after boiling?  Below are some reasons why you might want to peel this root vegetable after boiling.

• They absorb less water.
• More starch is preserved inside the potato.
• It's quicker and easier to do.

How do you keep potato salad from getting watery?

• Drain the boiled spuds in a colander.
• Shake excess water off.
• Transfer them back to the hot cooking pot, and place the pot back on the burner with it turned off. 
• Cool until lukewarm, or cool completely.

What kind of dressing should I use?

With most potato salads, the dressing is the deciding factor if it will be a hit with your crew.  When your dressing is all combined, taste it, and adjust any of the ingredients, so it's perfect.

• Cream Base:  Real mayonnaise is the most popular, but sour cream, Greek yogurt, and crème fraîche can be good substitutes. 
• Vinegar: You'll also want to add some vinegar to your dressing to bring in the acid.   Try apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
• Another Acid: If you are a pickle lover, add some pickle juice.  If you love lemon, add some freshly squeezed juice to your dressing.
• Mustard: This other staple ingredient can be Dijon, whole grain, yellow, dry ground mustard, or a combination.  This will give your dressing a wonderful color and improve the flavor.
• Spices: The type and ratios of spices you use can also customize your dressing.
• Sweetness: If you want, add a pinch of white sugar or a pinch of ground cloves.

What add ins are popular? 

Well, that depends on what kind of salad you are after.  German potato salad has crumbled bacon, Southern potato salad has sweet relish or diced pickles, and Texas-style potato salad has pickled onions. 

Potato salad is very personal, so add what you like best.  Below are some popular add ins.

• Boiled Eggs: a popular add in because they add creaminess and a nice texture to the salad.
• Onions: red, sweet, scallions, shallots, or yellow. 
• Celery: provides crunch, color, and texture.
• Green or Red Peppers: adds crunch, color, and vitamins. 
• Green Olives or Capers: adds color and saltiness.
• Pimentos: add color.

What herbs should I use?

• Dried Herbs: celery seeds, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, pepper
• Fresh Herbs: chives, dill, parsley, mint, basil, or tarragon

Can this recipe be made ahead?

Yes, it most certainly can.  Most kinds of potato salads taste best when chilled. 

If you want to make it a day ahead, it will have more time for the flavors to meld.  Just remember to taste and adjust the seasonings before serving.

How long can you this safely?

• 2 hours at room temperature
• 1 hour outside with temperatures above room temperature
• 3 to 4 days in the fridge, stored in an airtight container

Can you freeze potato salad?

Unfortunately, potato salad doesn't freeze well.  If you are using a mayo based dressing, the mayo will separate.  Chopped up eggs and celery don't freeze well either.

Serve

• Fried chicken
• Hamburgers and hot dogs
• Pulled pork
• Sausage and sauerkraut (with a German potato salad)

How to Make

Gather all the ingredients.  Chop up the red onion, dill pickle, and parsley.

Scrub and rinse the red potatoes, leaving the skins on for extra color and texture.  Cut into small cubes, making sure the spuds are uniform in size.

Add the potatoes to cold water.  Cover them with an additional 1 to 2 inches of water.

Once they start to boil, add the salt.  Reduce the heat and simmer until fork tender.

Drain in a colander and shake out the excess water.  You can choose to leave the spuds to cool in the colander, or return them to the cooking pot so the hot pot can eliminate any extra water.  If you want the potatoes to absorb more vinegar, add the vinegar to them while they are still warm; otherwise, wait to add the vinegar to the dressing.

While the potatoes are cooking, boil the eggs in a separate pot for 9 minutes.  Drain the eggs, then submerge them in a ice bath to stop them from cooking. 

Let the eggs sit in the ice bath for 10 minutes, then peel and rinse off any eggshells.

Chop the eggs on a cutting board.

For the dressing, combine the mayo, Dijon, yellow mustard, celery salt, white pepper, and white wine vinegar.  If you choose to add your vinegar to the potatoes when they are still warm, just omit it from the dressing.

Whisk the dressing until smooth and creamy.  Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.

Use clean hands to mix the potatoes with the egg, red onion, and dill pickle.

Add the dressing.

Carefully fold in the dressing with a spatula, making sure each potato has dressing on it.  Always taste and adjust seasonings because different potatoes soak up dressing differently.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. 

When ready to serve, taste and adjust seasonings.  This step is important, as the potatoes will absorb the dressing.  Feel free to add a bit more mayo, vinegar, or spices.

Don't forget to garnish with a sprinkle of paprika and fresh parsley.

Pro Tips

• Unpeeled, unsliced spuds will absorb less water while being boiled and will keep more starch.
• Start cooking them in cold water. It provides more even cooking.
• Once the water begins to boil, add the salt.  They will absorb some of the salt and will taste better.
• Don't under or overcook them.  Cook until just tender when pierced with a  fork, as you don't want them mushy or crunchy. 
• If you want more of a tang, add vinegar when they are still hot, as it will absorb better.
• Let them cool 30 minutes before adding the dressing if you're using a mayo based dressing.
• Apply the dressing when they are warm if using a vinaigrette dressing.
• Always adjust to taste.  Different potatoes soak up the dressing ingredients differently.

Try one of these other mouthwatering recipes for your next cookout.

• Sweet & Smoky Baked Beans
• Low Carb Creamy Coleslaw
• Refrigerator Dill Pickles

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This post was originally published on May 1, 2018.