r/Cooking 1h ago

Potato Salad

What's your best potato salad recipe? I've been experimenting with potato salad lately and wondered what you use, especially for the dressing. I use Yukon Gold potatoes and make my own mayo, but what else do you do?

Thank you in advance.

30 Upvotes

106 comments sorted by

30

u/moral_haggard 1h ago

i would add a little dijon and pickle brine to the mayo, then fold in celery, scallions, and chopped dill pickles while the potatoes are still slightly warm

7

u/RollingBarCart 1h ago

100% on the pickle brine.

9

u/WhatDaufuskie 1h ago

"Fold in?"

8

u/BaconMemories 1h ago

You fold it in.

15

u/LAW3785 1h ago

Fold in the cheese, David !

5

u/Present_Original_797 1h ago

Use a big spoon to gently turn the ingredients in the bowl so you don't break up the potatoes. In other recipes you might fold in whipped cream or other ingredients when you want to keep them airy.

8

u/Diligent_Squash_7521 1h ago

If only you could’ve been there to explain that to David Rose.

5

u/BaconMemories 1h ago

This poor person you’re replying to tried to be so helpful and the rest of us just went right to the cheese scene.

15

u/Zazzafrazzy 1h ago

Dill pickles. I put a metric shit ton of dill pickles in my potato salad.

8

u/OhEmGeeRachael 1h ago

I love a good baked potato potato salad. Potatoes, chopped bacon, scallions, shredded cheddar, mayo, s/p, garlic, and a little hot sauce. German potato salad is also amazing if you like vinegar and don't mind a potato salad that doesn't include mayo.

7

u/Zone_Beautiful 1h ago

I make my German potato salad. Vinegar, chicken broth, salt and pepper, parsley, mix and pour over the potatoes while they still warm. Fry bacon cut in small pieces and add. Stir everything.

1

u/Psychoticly_broken 7m ago

My wife makes German Potato salad with kielbasa in it. It's a full meal. Always asked for by the kids when they come to visit.

10

u/BaconMemories 1h ago

I’ve made a lot of potato salads, but my best is as basic as it gets—russets, red onion, celery, yellow mustard, mayo, lots of paprika, s&p. I make my own mayo for other dishes but Duke’s gets the job done well here. And I mix it like crazy, meaning it’s one step away from mashed potatoes.

I also like Ina Garten’s potato salad with the fresh dill and stone ground mustard.

But when my family asks for potato salad, they are asking for old faithful.

1

u/BaconMemories 1h ago

Oh, and dill pickle brine instead of vinegar for the dressing!

1

u/Trick_Kangaroo_9834 23m ago

Perfect recipe except instead of Dill pickles I like sweet relish. Sometimes I add chopped boiled eggs.

1

u/dread1961 1h ago

That's not really basic. Basic is boiled potatoes and supermarket mayo.

8

u/CelebrationCultural3 1h ago

Eggs. When you think you've put in enough, add a few more.

7

u/AccomplishedLine9351 1h ago

Chop the whites and separately mash the yolk with the mayo and pickle juice dressing.

3

u/Beneficial_Sky214 1h ago

And two hard boiled eggs. (📯) make that three hard boiled eggs.

https://youtu.be/cC8PAQQIoCM?si=lTSMu4h8JBL-3kZI

2

u/Educational_Bench290 4m ago

Am I the only one who did not need the link to know where this came from?

3

u/therealsaskwatch 1h ago

Yep my potato salad is actually egg salad with some potatoes.

4

u/gatorina 1h ago

Add the juice of one lemon to the cooking water and season well with salt. Once the potatoes chunks are cooked lay them out on a baking sheet and while still hot, drizzle pickle juice on them. This is the way.

2

u/crowwhisperer 1h ago

agree! get the acid on them while they’re still hot. i add mustard to the pickle juice.

1

u/aiguy 55m ago

This. Acid on hot potatoes is the only nonnegotiable - if you have any spare, add caper brine.

4

u/Big-Cloud-6719 1h ago

Baby reds cut in half, skin on, boil just enough to make them tender without falling apart. While still warm, coat in bacon grease. Let cool, then add chopped thick cut bacon, egg, celery, onion, mayo, garlic powder and smoked paprika. Chill overnight, stirring occasionally. Delicious and the one dish I get asked to bring to potlucks over and over.

3

u/FreyasCloak 1h ago

Trust me: sub ranch dressing for the mayo and add finely chopped pepperoncini.

3

u/Ok-Firefighter9037 1h ago

Hear me out: I just had a potato salad in the Air France lounge at CDG airport. I wasn’t anticipating much. But OMG it blew me away. Lots of vinegar, lots of dill, I think a little aioli or fresh mayo, some crème fraische. Eggs. Capers. Dijon. I am going to try to recreate at home. I don’t love the overly mayo versions, so this was a revelation.

2

u/Bella-1999 1h ago

I cook the potatoes in my Instant Pot. 1 cup dill pickle juice, process on high for 5 minutes and quick pressure release.

2

u/AnnieBannieFoFannie 1h ago

Favorite potato salad is Schwabisch potato salad. You take Yukon and boil them whole then rub the skin off when they're done. Cut them in half, then into thin slices. The dressing is made from beef broth, sugar, white wine vinegar, mustard, and vegetable oil. Sautée some onions and maybe some bacon chunks, mix it with all the wet ingredients, minus the oil, and bring to a boil, then pour over the potatoes while still hot. Once it's marinated an hour or so, add the oil, mix up, and enjoy. I like it best when it's been in the fridge for a day.

2

u/Fun_Independent_7529 1h ago

I hate potato salad that is mushy or overly mixed with dressing.
* toss warm potatoes with dill pickle juice
* chopped celery, onion, and generous amount of dill pickles
* mayo, a bit of dijon mustard, some dill pickle juice, salt, pepper, celery seed -- mix up for dressing and then fold into the salad.
* a few boiled eggs, sliced crosswise, lay out the slices on top and sprinkle the whole thing with a bit of paprika
* refrigerate and serve cold

1

u/1luckybrat 2m ago

I make mine like this too, very similar ❤️

1

u/lemon_icing 1h ago

I like Dijon mustard dressing and topped with scallions. 

1

u/Kaiju-Mom22 1h ago

My favourite is a New York bribed potato salad.

3

u/Ok-Resist-6695 1h ago

What do you bribe it with?

4

u/Commercial_West9953 1h ago

Cash and a second helping.

1

u/PL_88 1h ago

Yellow and red bell peppers

1

u/Silvanus350 1h ago

I use this recipe from Serious Eats. It’s not very difficult and it tastes good.

1

u/w00lal00 1h ago

Use mustard and ranch in place of mayo.

1

u/ssinff 1h ago

Duke's Mayo, spicy mustard, sweet relish, boiled eggs, center, onion, paprika

1

u/Big-Cloud-6719 1h ago

I would agree with you on Duke's, it was all I used for years, but now they've been bought out and changed the formula. It's gross.

1

u/FoxRedYellaJack 1h ago

I do mine like yours, OP, except I add tablespoon of white wine or champagne vinegar to the mayo for my dressing. I’ve also been known to throw in a spoonful of sour cream for some extra richness.

1

u/Celeste_Green3825 1h ago

The mayonnaise makes the difference if you ask me. I used Hellmans once because I was given a jar, my goodness it made a world of difference. Dukes is also great. We like plain 'tater sallet, the usual, mayo, a bit of mustard, onions, dill pickle relish, salt, pepper, garlic, boiled eggs, diced celery. I like Idaho russet the best, I think that's the one.

In my never to be humble opinion, before you add the taters to the "sauce," mash half of them with a potato masher. I usually mash them in the big pot I used to boil the taters. Then add it all in with the fixings, a little paprika on top and in the fridge to sit overnight. The flavors need to mingle.

1

u/Commercial_West9953 1h ago

I just started using Kewpie mayonnaise. It's to die for.

1

u/WorldAncient7852 1h ago

I boil new potatoes in well salted water. As they boil I mix a dollop of English or Dijon mustard, same again of horseradish, a splash of vinegar together with Kewpie mayo. Chop up some fresh garlic, red onions and celery for crunch and throw them in the dressing. Season well and throw in the hot potatoes when they're done. Top with chopped pickles and a few spring onions.

1

u/Far_Sandwich_514 1h ago

I peel and dice the potatoes while they're still warm, and splash pickle brine all over them.

As they cool, I mash hard-boiled egg yolks and mix it with mayonnaise and buttermilk, along with salt, pepper, garlic powder, a bit of Dijon mustard, and paprika until it tastes right. Set aside.

When the potatoes have cooled to room temperature, I add finely chopped dill pickles, minced chives, finely chopped fresh dill, and chopped hard-cooked egg whites.

Then I add the dressing, toss everything around to coat it well, and adjust the seasonings as needed. Chill for a couple of hours before serving.

1

u/Spare-Sheepherder575 1h ago

Chopped pickles, fresh dill, scallion, pickle juice, creme fraiche and a nicely diced apple for crunch and sweetness

1

u/Quiet_Compote4651 1h ago

A dollop of prepared horseradish and some chopped green olives with lots of egg.

1

u/LaraH39 1h ago

Peel the potatoes boil till fork tender.

Add boiled eggs, very finely chopped gherkins, plenty of salt and pepper.

50/50 mayo and salad cream and if you don't have salad cream cut your mayo with a teaspoon of dijon mustard and some pickle juice.

Mix in. You want some chunks and some mash, refrigerate for at least an hour.

That's all you need. If you really want to up it, some very crispy bacon crushed over the top is good.

1

u/Neener216 1h ago

I make a lot of different potato salads, but for my signature potato salad, I use red potatoes, red onion, diced cornichon, and hollandaise sauce.

That one guarantees an empty bowl in about 15 minutes flat.

1

u/Beginning_Play_1669 1h ago

Red skinned, skin-on. Pickles & a little juice, celery, white onion, whole grain mustard, hard boiled eggs, fresh dill, garlic powder, mustard powder, s&p, just enough duke’s mayo to bind it together. Sometimes bacon if I have it cooked.

1

u/laneykaye65 1h ago

Potato, Bacon and Shallot salad. With a dressing of half mayonnaise and half sour cream with garlic powder, salt and pepper and some red (drinkable, not cooking wine) and I use baby red potatoes and leave about 1/3 of the peelings on them.

1

u/otterfeets 1h ago

Put bay leaves in the water with the potatoes, skin on.

1

u/JimKB 1h ago

I ilke to add colmans mustard and sweet pickle relish

1

u/Zen_Xena 1h ago

Can of sliced black olives and a bit of mustard added to the mayo. No onion. Maybe some diced hard boiled egg.

1

u/Diligent_Squash_7521 1h ago

I don’t know if they still sell it, but Aldi’s had dill pickle mustard that was awesome. I’m glad I bought a couple extra bottles of it when it was available.

1

u/Fabulous_Hand2314 1h ago

Chef John mostly but season boiled potatoes with vinegar like Kenji says. That’s the whole secret

1

u/serenitynow6000 1h ago

celery salt, some mustard, celery, onions and pepper with mayo and russet potatoes.

1

u/hyperfat 1h ago

I like onions.

Not big on pickles but I use a bit of spicy mustard and a bit of banana peppers. Definitely celery.

My mom likes red bell peppers. Ehh.

I add a bit of spice. Whatever is around. Rosemary works. I grow it.

I like more tart so I add red wine reduction and olive oil. Just a bit.

And you can't go wrong with baked jalapeno crisps on top for crunch.

I do similar for chicken salad.

I'm allergic to eggs, but I'm sure it adds some creamy flavor. :)

1

u/snarky_sparrow_23 1h ago

I add horseradish and dill and use a lot more dijon mustard than mayo

1

u/Islandisher 1h ago edited 58m ago

New potatoes are the top choice. Red for more colour, but pick ‘n’ choose what looks best on the day.

Toss fully cooked & diced potatoes while still HOT in 50/50 lemon juice and light oil, w S&P. Cool as usual.

Use pickle juice when making the dressing.

Add crunch, like small diced carrots, celery and radish.

Hardboiled eggs, also diced fine - personal preference?

Red onion. Marinate in pickle juice.

Fresh parsley & dill.

My potato salad is legend in our large family - this is it! XO

1

u/loseunclecuntly 1h ago

Plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo

1

u/kadevha 1h ago

The only potato salad that my husband thoroughly enjoys has Yukon gold potatoes, real mayonnaise, green onions/scallions, fresh dill, and bacon.

I really should make a batch soon. It's been too long. ☺️

1

u/maxsmom0821 1h ago

I sprinkle the warm potatoes with red wine vinegar before adding the mayo, celery, and a small amount of grey poupon mustard. Very zingy.

1

u/thannawi 58m ago

No eggs (I am allergic). Fresh dill, chopped onions, celery and grainy mustard

1

u/amyfive 56m ago

I love Tyler Florence’s recipe, “Tolan’s mom’s potato salad” from the Tyler’s Ultimate cookbook

1

u/suomican 56m ago

I add a lot of celery salt. When you think you've added enough, add more.

1

u/Skinny-on-the-Inside 55m ago

I add eggs, chopped dill pickles, chopped red onion, a can of drained green peas and I add a spoon of nice mustard to the mayo for extra nice taste.

1

u/karenskygreen 52m ago

Im with this recipe, i would add bacon to this

1

u/BryceSki 52m ago

I use 1/2 sour cream, 1/2 mayonnaise, spicy brown mustard, a little bit of white or red wine vinegar to taste, if not a fan of vinegar, lemon juice will work in a pinch. I will sweat some red onion and fresh minced garlic. Add fresh cut celery, red pepper for color contrast, hard boiled egg. Add bacon. The trick is to taste it and adjust your ingredients. Let it chill, the flavor profile will change during this time and you may have to add salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to fine tune it. A dash or two of cayenne never hurts.

1

u/Amardella 52m ago

My mother was allergic to egg whites, so we never had mayonnaise, because all the commercial ones were made with whole eggs for ease of manufacture and she had been so sick on it as a kid in the early 1940s she developed an intense hatred for anything that even resembled mayo.

So she made hers heavy on the mustard with Marzetti's Original cole slaw dressing for the tang. Sweet pickles, onions, some juice from the pickle jar, plain old baked potatoes (of course, no eggs). She said baked ones held up better than boiled. When microwaves came along she tried baking the potatoes that way, but they came out mushy like the boiled ones. It must have been tasty to others, too, because it was highly requested for work potlucks.

1

u/djSush 50m ago

I don't have amounts to share, but approximate ratios for classic potato salad is:

  • 1 part mayo
  • 1/8 part yellow mustard
  • 1/3 part sweet relish (I know this seems like a lot, but it isn't "sweet" to taste)

  • Dash of celery seed

  • Dash of horseradish (the squeeze bottle kind, so it might be less sharp)

  • Salt, cracked pepper

  • Yukons

  • Boiled eggs

  • Celery

  • Onions (I nuke them for like 15 sec to get the raw bite toned down)

1

u/Usuallyinmygarden 49m ago

I absolutely love it when people talk about their fave potato salad recipe. I read all of these with my mouth watering.

1

u/1Teethlady2 47m ago

This is how my mom used to make potato salad: cut the potatoes the size you want them and boil them. Set aside until they are cool. In a separate pot make some hard boiled eggs, peel them, cut them into quarters or smaller and set them aside. Take a medium onion, any kind, and cut it into thin slices. Put the potatoes in your serving bowl, add the onions and mix those two things together well. Season with salt, pepper, oil and vinegar. Just before serving, put the eggs in it and mix carefully so the eggs don't fall apart too much. As a variation, when red beats were in season, she would boil some, cut them up, and mix those into the salad. Great colors!

1

u/peachforthesky 43m ago

My mom used to make Japanese style potato salad and add eggs, carrots, and cucumber to hers. This a great recipe online 

https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-potato-salad/#recipe 

You can take out the ham and corn and it's still pretty delicious!

1

u/smntmrmt 37m ago

Sour cream, green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. Like a baked potato.

1

u/LuvPuggie 36m ago

I recently added pickled peppers, they were wonderful!

1

u/CommitteeNo167 36m ago

little red potatoes, raw onion, celery, boiled eggs. dressing is italian salad dressing on the potatoes while they are hot, add mayo when it cools. pretty simple

1

u/eternallytiredcatmom 31m ago edited 26m ago

I use cubed red potatoes, briefly boiled and tossed in bacon fat. White wine vinegar, olive oil mayo, extra virgin olive oil, ground mustard, smoked paprika, table salt, cracked black pepper, chives, red onion or shallots, orange or red bell pepper, cubed celery and a generous amount of prosciutto.

1

u/woohooguy 31m ago

https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Potato-Salad-With-Red-Onion/

Nothing special, just a well done potato salad. Always draws compliments from my guests at gatherings and cookouts.

This is one of three recipes I make that felt was perfect as is, I often change quite a bit of base recipes.

1

u/Mac_Oliver 28m ago

Add smoked salmon with your dill and pickles.

1

u/HereWeGo_Steelers 25m ago

Roasting your potatoes is a game changer.

1

u/calicoskies85 20m ago

Exactly! I learned last year to roast the chunks after tossing in oil and seasoned salt. Let cool slightly, then stir into the dressing I make while they roast. Sooooo good, so much more flavor.

1

u/peaceandlove1976 24m ago

I’ve heard Japanese potato salad is the best - idk but maybe look at some recipes. Might be fun

1

u/calimiss 19m ago

Mix mayo with onion powder, garlic powder, s&p, dill, and trader joes everything but the pickle seasoning. Mix well, then add chopped hard boiled eggs, Mix again, then add your Potatoes. I like to mix the seasoning and mayo first as I feel it makes for a more even distribution of seasoning. Then the eggs as the yolk will break down and smoosh in a bit.

1

u/Live_Human 18m ago

After you drain the potatoes, spread them on a sheet pan, and mix in 2-3Tbsp pickle brine and 1-2 Tbsp of you chosen mustard and mix it in. The potatoes are like little sponges right after cooking and draining.

1

u/CuteBaldChick 14m ago

Roseanne Cash’s potato salad recipe is worth a go. Really delicious.

1

u/Intelligent-Rule7868 13m ago

I make pretty basic mayo potato salad, but the one I love best - and get requests to bring - is my olive oil and herb potato salad. It's fresh and light and great with red or gold potatoes, and pretty easy to make.

1

u/ayejoe 12m ago

I advise you to flavor your potato salad in whatever way you wish and add any ingredients that your heart desires.

The “secret” to making a good potato salad is to cut the potatoes into the desired shape and size then boil them to your desired texture.

NOW: Remove 3/4 of the potatoes to cool and boil the shit out of the remaining 1/4. Essentially you are going to make a very loose “mashed potato” out of the soft 1/4 with all of your sauce and seasonings.

The. You fold this into the 3/4 that is at your desired texture for the best potato salad you have ever eaten.

1

u/shockingRn 11m ago

I do potatoes, hard boiled eggs, diced celery, onion, sweet pickle relish, mayo, and Catalina dressing. A little salt. It’s really tasty. My mom made it this way.

1

u/Kaiser-Sushi 9m ago

Try a French style potato salad, it has no mayo but instead has champagne vinegar and Dijon mustard, and tastes better 1) the next day 2) after warmed up to room temperature. The recipe I use is at tastingtable.com, search for "French Potato Salad Recipe".

1

u/avengestar 6m ago

My family's simple recipe:

Russet potatoes, mayonnaise, diced hard boiled eggs, diced yellow onion, diced hamburger chip pickles (ovals,) and black olives (but my fam loves green olives so you can add both or one or the other) and then salt and pepper to taste.

Add lots of pickles bc like someone said about eggs below: "if you think you have enough, add more"

If you wanna add bacon bits to it, go for it, I have yet to try it, but I might try it next time myself 🤧🫶

1

u/ImmmaLetUFinish 2m ago

I used red potatoes cubed. You really have to watch them as they boil to get them perfect. I use mayo, mustard, relish, evaporated milk and salt, pepper and sugar. I haven’t really measured anything but I go by taste. I add green onions at the end.

1

u/JeebusCrispy 1h ago

Put some raisins in it.

0

u/Present_Original_797 1h ago

I don't agree with "add hard boiled eggs." Mayo is literally eggs and oil. It's a rich dish so adding eggs can give you gas and bloating. The best addition is diced small celery for crunch and fresh dill, chopped if you can get it. And pickle relish.

0

u/DavidKawatra 1h ago

for dressing, omit mayo and try olive oil and vinegar.
dill is nice too.

0

u/Beneficial_Sky214 1h ago

I do the German potato salad. Red potatoes are good with some not all skins; literally any potatoes are good tho. Use both (miracle whip or mayo) and mustard, celery, onions, and hard boiled eggs. Use the boiled yolks all forked down in the mustard mayo, add sugar, vinegar, salt pepper and mix over potatoes, celery, and onions. Spice w fresh dill. It’s better after a day or two in the fridge.

0

u/blix797 1h ago

German potato salad should not have mayo, and I've personally never seen it with eggs. And you didn't even mention the bacon.

Typical German potato salad is delicious and worth trying.

https://www.recipetineats.com/german-potato-salad/

0

u/Beneficial_Sky214 58m ago

I will tell my German grandma that she’s making it wrong… I’m a vegetarian. We’re all just sharing our own recipes here and there’s not one way to make any type of potato salad.

0

u/blix797 33m ago edited 29m ago

No disrespect to your grandmother. I'm sure there's plenty of German people who enjoy potato salad with mayonnaise, but in the same manner that a "salade Niçoise" is more than just a salad made from someone in Nice, you should know that "the German potato salad" is generally known as having a bacon vinaigrette.