How to Make Potato Salad

Guide Note

You've been invited to a big summer potluck bash, and the hostess has uttered a seemingly innocuous request, "Would you bring the potato salad?" Relax! Even if you've never boiled a potato before, this guide to How to Make Potato Salad will walk you through the process of preparing a perfect potato salad.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes
• Step 2: Mix Your Dressing
• Step 3: Assemble the Potato Salad
• Variations
• Additional Potato Salad Recipes
• References

Potato Salad Tips

1. Use high-moisture potatoes.
2. Add vinegar when potatoes are still warm.
3. Substitute light mayonnaise or yogurt to reduce fat and calories.
4. Cut potatoes before cooking.

More Mahalo Food How Tos

• How to Make Tamales
• How to Can Tomatoes
• How to Make Malasadas
• How to Make Iced Tea
• How to Cook Pumpkin Seeds
• How to Make Guacamole
• How to Grill Salmon

Newest How To Guides

Deal with stress: know how to give a back massage

Winter's coming, so why not make yourself a scarf?

Don't be afraid to ask a girl out

Enjoy some delicious antioxidants by brewing a cup of white tea

It's never too late to learn how to make a bed

Don't know the ins and outs of America's pastime? Learn how to play baseball

• by Susan MacDowell

Introduction

• What goes better with a barbecue than a nice, cold traditional potato salad? This guide to How to Make Potato Salad will teach you the basics of this All-American dish, as well as introduce you to some intriguing variations you can use to individualize your creation!

What You'll Need

(Creative Commons photo by Nate Steiner)

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

(Creative Commons photo by Jessica)

1. Cut the potatoes into 3/4 inch cubes before cooking. It's a bit more work this way, but your potatoes will cook more uniformly.⁵
2. Place potatoes in pot, covered with water, and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10-20 minutes, until tender when pierced by a fork.
   • Start checking the potatoes after 10 minutes, as you don't want to overcook them.
4. Drain the potatoes and place in a mixing bowl.
5. Add vinegar to the bowl, and toss to coat the potatoes.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Set aside and allow to cool for an hour at room temperature.

Step 2: Mix Your Dressing

1. Combine mayonnaise, onion and celery in small bowl.
2. Refrigerate while the potatoes are cooling to allow the flavors to blend.

Step 3: Assemble the Potato Salad

1. Add refrigerated dressing to room temperature potato-vinegar mixture.
2. Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more vinegar, salt or pepper.
3. Chill for at least one hour, or up to two days, before serving.^{6 7}

Variations

(Creative Commons photo by kazuh)

1. Tyler Florence adds pickle juice to his recipe.⁸
2. You can substitute baked potatoes for boiled.⁹
3. Mint can be added for a change of pace.^{10 11}
4. Bacon or pancetta can also be added, if desired.¹²
5. If you use grilled potatoes, it's helpful to parboil them before grilling.¹³
6. Some recipes, such as German potato salad can be served warm or at room temperature.^{14 15 16}
7. Reduced fat mayonnaise and yogurt can be combined for a lighter dressing.¹⁷
8. Some people add up to six hard boiled eggs to their potato salad.¹⁸
9. Substitute beets for some of the potatoes for a unique combination.¹⁹
10. Using curry powder is a way to spice up the color and taste of your salad!²⁰
11. Roasted potatoes can also form the basis for an interesting potato salad.²¹

Additional Potato Salad Recipes

• All Recipes: Yucatan Potato Salad²²
  • This variation includes chili peppers for a kick!
• Epicurious.com: Potato Salad with Haricots Verts, Roquefort and Walnuts  ²³
  • This composed salad includes French green beans, Roquefort cheese and walnuts.
• Food Network: Potato Salad  ²⁴
  • Ina Garten includes buttermilk in her dressing.
• Martha Stewart: Smoked Mackerel, Cucumber, and Potato Salad²⁵
  • Martha adds smoked mackerel, turning this potato salad into a main dish.
• Simply Recipes: Potato Salad²⁶
  • Here's a classic recipe with sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions, celery, parsley, pickles and bacon.

Subscribe to Mahalo's Weekly How To Email Newsletter

• Get our best How To tips and ideas in your inbox each week
• Email
  

References for How to Make Potato Salad

1. ↑ AllRecipes: Perfect Potato Salad
2. ↑ The Cookbook Junkie: Ah-ha! The key to good potato salad
3. ↑ Epicurious: Potato Salad with Olives and Peppers
4. ↑ Food Network: Potato Salad (Jamie Oliver)
5. ↑ Martha Stewart: Potato Salad Pointers
6. ↑ AllRecipes: Pat's Potato Salad
7. ↑ Martha Stewart: Basic Potato Salad
8. ↑ Food Network: Potato Salad (Tyler Florence)
9. ↑ Food Network: Potato Salad (Cathy Lowe)
10. ↑ AllRecipe: Picnic Potato Salad
11. ↑ Epicurious: Potato Salad with Mint and Peas
12. ↑ Epicurious: Potato Salad (Dooky Chase Cookbook)
13. ↑ Epicurious: Grilled Potato and Summer Squash Salad
14. ↑ Slashfood: Warm, German potato salad with fresh dill
15. ↑ AllRecipe: Hot German Potato Salad
16. ↑ WashingtonPost.com: German Potato Salad  
17. ↑ AllRecipe: Crunchy Potato Salad
18. ↑ AllRecipe: Red Skinned Potato Salad
19. ↑ Martha Stewart: Beet and Potato Salad
20. ↑ Martha Stewart: Curried Potato Salad
21. ↑ Fine Cooking: Roasted Potato Salads
22. ↑ AllRecipe: Yucatan Potato Salad
23. ↑ Epicurious: Potato Salad with Haricots Verts, Roquefert and Walnuts  
24. ↑ Food Network: Potato Salad (Ina Garten  
25. ↑ Martha Stewart: Smoked Mackerel, Cucumber and Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing
26. ↑ SimplyRecipes: Potato Salad Recipe

Related Searches