The perfect potato salad is made by dousing sizzling potatoes with French Dressing in order 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!
Desire no mayo? Attempt German Potato Salad, Pink Potato Salad with Charred Corn, Lemon Potato Salad and Wickedly Delish Candy Potato Salad.
A Potato Salad you’ll make time and again…
It is a potato salad recipe given to me by the mom of a good friend. 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 will stand out from the group of hundreds – hundreds of thousands – of potato salad recipes “on the market” on this planet large net.
The factor that makes it so particular is pouring French Salad Dressing over the new boiled potatoes. By dressing whereas sizzling, they soak up the French Salad Dressing flavour somewhat 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 recent bursts of celery, cucumber and onion, each mouthful is 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 wish 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 take advantage of a 50/50 ratio.
The addition of tang and trace of zing from a dab of Horseradish Cream additionally helps to chop by the richness. It’s non-compulsory however provides an additional little something-something to it.
And don’t neglect, all this mingles along with the French Dressing the potatoes are soaked in!
After a creamy no-mayo model? Do that Creamy Yogurt Potato Salad Dressing – it’s terrific!
Elements for the Greatest Potato Salad
Right here’s what it’s good to make one of the best potato salad on the block!
The potatoes and add-ins
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Potatoes – Potatoes range broadly in texture when cooked. For potato salad, I like to make use of starchy (floury) and all-rounder potatoes which change into smooth and fluffy when cooked and are a sponge to soak up the vinaigrette. The perimeters of the potato cubes mash up a bit when tossed with the dressing (no person desires sharp-edged cubes of their potato salad!) and the floor turns into just a little ragged so the creamy dressing clings to each floor
Starchy/all-rounder potato varieties:
– Australia: Sebago (dirt-brushed widespread potatoes), Coliban (white pores and skin potatoes widespread at supermarkets)
– US: Russet, Idaho and Yukon gold
– UK: Maris Piper, King Edward, and RussetWaxy potatoes, alternatively, don’t soak up 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 minimize edges, the floor is slippery so the dressing doesn’t adhere to it as nicely.
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Celery and cucumber – Welcome freshness! The celery is sliced finely so that you get smooth crunch nevertheless it turns into floppy somewhat than stiff sprigs protruding. And the cucumber is finely diced somewhat than the everyday slicing so that you get nice smooth juicy little crunchy pops. Love!
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Uncooked onion (finely minced) – This cuts by the creaminess of the dressing and provides nice delicate recent flavour into the entire salad. The truth that it’s finely minced somewhat 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 part” however is just a little harsh on this specific potato salad.
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Bacon – Important for a traditional potato salad!
Dressing 1: The French Dressing
That is the dressing the new potatoes absorb! The unique recipe shared with me by Mrs B used retailer purchased French Dressing which is an choice. Nonetheless, I simply make my very own – right here’s all you want:
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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).
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Olive oil is the oil of alternative. The higher the standard, the higher the flavour!
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Dijon mustard – For flavour and thickening.
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Water – Lacking from the picture! 🙂 I take advantage of simply 1 tablespoon of water to stretch out the dressing, somewhat than extra oil (merely for well being causes).
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Garlic – flavour!
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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 take advantage of a 50/50 bitter cream/mayo mixture.
(Reminder – mayo free model right here!)
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Mayonnaise – Entire egg mayo is greatest as it’s creamier and fewer tangy than unusual mayonnaise. Available as of late in grocery shops (it can say “complete egg mayo” on the label).
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Bitter cream – Full fats please! Yogurt can be utilized instead however bitter cream does have a creamier mouthfeel.
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Horseradish cream – That is pickled recent 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.
In case you’re fortunate sufficient to have recent horseradish, use half the quantity and add a few teaspoons of vinegar.
Find out 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’ll 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 will not be pretty much as good! I’ve achieved quite a lot of potato salad consuming in my time to reach at this conclusion.
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Begin in chilly water – Prepare dinner minimize potatoes beginning in chilly water. By no means begin potatoes in boiling water else they’ll cook dinner an excessive amount of on the surface earlier than the within cooks and crumble when tossed!
Test continuously – 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’ll proceed cooking with the residual warmth.
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French Dressing – Shake French Dressing components in a jar till mixed.
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Creamy Dressing – Combine the components in a bowl till clean.
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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 at the very least 2 hours for the potatoes to chill and soak up the dressing. We’re primarily marinating the potatoes right here. You realize that is going to be good!
The cooled potatoes are additionally much less fragile much less inclined to breaking after we combine with the remaining components.
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Add-ins – Add the cucumber, celery, onion, many of the bacon and all of the creamy dressing. Toss gently till combined by. If time permits, put aside for a couple of hours or higher but in a single day, to let the flavours meld collectively. However truthfully, even should you serve it right away, it can nonetheless be one of the best potato salad of your life! 🙂
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 for the reason that 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 will get.
Thanks Mrs B! – Nagi x
Watch how you can make it
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Bacon Potato Salad
Prep: 15 minutes
Prepare dinner: 15 minutes
Cooling: 2 hrs
Whole: 2 hrs 30 minutes
Salad
Western
Servings6 – 8
Faucet or hover to scale
Elements
French Dressing (important! Observe 2)
Directions
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French Dressing – Shake components in a jar till nicely mixed.
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Prepare dinner potatoes (CAREFUL! Observe 5) – Put potatoes and a couple of teaspoon salt in a big pot of chilly water. Flip the range on. As soon as the water is simmering, cook dinner for 4 minutes or till the potatoes are JUST cooked (nonetheless bit agency within the center) – they’ll hold cooking with residual warmth. Drain instantly (gently!).
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Douse sizzling potatoes! Fastidiously switch potatoes into a big bowl and pour over French Dressing. Gently toss to coat then put aside for two hours so potatoes soak up the dressing and funky (much less fragile).
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Crispy bacon – Lay half the bacon in a chilly non-stick pan. Flip onto medium excessive and cook dinner till golden (the fats will soften because the pan warms up so it cooks in its personal fats). Flip and cook dinner the opposite aspect till golden. Drain paper towels, repeat with remaining bacon. As soon as cool and crisp, chop into small items.
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Creamy Dressing – Combine components in a bowl till mixed.
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Toss – Add creamy dressing, celery, cucumber, onion, and many of the bacon. Toss gently to mix.
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Serving – Serve garnished with remaining bacon. If time permits, I like to recommend setting apart for a couple of hours, and even higher, in a single day, to offer the flavours an opportunity to meld. However nonetheless superb served right away! All the time serve at room temperature, not fridge chilly.
Recipe Notes:
1. Potato – use starchy/floury or all rounders somewhat than waxy ones as they’ll soak up and soak up flavour higher. In addition they barely “mash” on the perimeters which is precisely how potato salad needs to be, in my view. No person 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 greatest.
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 by the richness of an in any other case very creamy dish.
3. White onion – Not as harsh as brown onion. Sub with 1 giant eschallot (US: shallot) ie French onion, or 1/2 cup crimson onion or 1/3 cup brown onion finely minced.
4. Horseradish cream – Pickled recent horseradish that provides a little bit of wasabi-like spiciness and vinegar, balances richness of dressing (doesn’t make it spicy). If you’re fortunate sufficient to have recent 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 can crumble an excessive amount of if overcooked. We would like the perimeters barely “mashed” as soon as combined with dressing (potato items shouldn’t have sharp corners!) but when they’re overcooked they’ll break an excessive amount of.
Begin checking at 4 minutes and verify each 30 seconds. Drain even when they nonetheless a contact too agency as a result of they’ll hold cooking.
6. Leftovers will hold for 4 to five days. All the time serve at room temp – creamier and you may style the flavours higher!
Diet per serving assuming 8 servings. This components in 2 tablespoons of bacon fats discarded.
Diet 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 pictures and naturally add a Lifetime of Dozer part!!
Lifetime of Dozer
I used to be on the Good Meals & Wine Present in Sydney on the weekend! JB and I have been doing a cooking present on stage and ebook signings/meet ‘n greets.
The Enjoyable Police (council) wouldn’t let Dozer right into a meals present. So I took the subsequent smartest thing – a life dimension cardboard minimize out. We’re getting quite a lot of mileage out of 2D Dozer! 😂
