One of the greatest advantages in life is being adaptable- to effortlessly fit in any situation, just like today’s potato salad recipe!

The adaptable nature of the potato salad makes it the perfect one-bowl solution for any occasion. For BBQ and cookout programs, potato salad can be served as a refreshing side that pairs wonderfully with grilled meat, burgers, and hotdogs. On Thanksgiving, the tender potatoes and creamy dressing of the salad complement the hearty flavor of the turkey.

And if you are craving a quick snack? Simply scoop up a spoonful of potato salad spread it on a sandwich with chicken and veggies, and enjoy a tummy-filling treat!

From a classic potato salad to a more hearty version with mayo and fried onions, today’s recipe covers all the variations. Without any further ado, let’s jump right in and join the mission to craft the best potato salad you have ever tasted!

Customizing To Make The Best Potato Salad Recipe

As I have already mentioned, you can build different variations of potato salad tailored to your exact preference. The best part is that it’s incredibly easy to customize the texture, flavor, and ingredients. Simply change the dressing, and you will have an entirely new salad that highlights your preference!

potato salad recipe in a serving bowl with a fork — Potato Salad Recipe

Dressing

The dressing is what gives the potato salad its definition and determines how the flavor will turn out. Be it creamy, light, bold, or vibrant, you can experience all these flavors with just a simple change in the dressing!

I have used the classic mayonnaise-based dressing with mustard, chat masala, black pepper, deep-fried onion, and a drizzle of olive oil in this recipe. However, you can try other variations; here are some of them:

Yogurt-Based Dressing

Yogurt-based dressing that uses Greek yogurt as the base, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon juice. This yogurt-based dressing is way lighter than the classic version made with mayonnaise. You can pair the dressing with other hearty ingredients like grilled meat, veggies, etc.

Earthy Flavours

For those who want the earthy flavor of the potato to stand out, opt for vinaigrette-based dressing instead. Vinaigrette has a subtle taste and therefore allows the natural flavor of other ingredients to take center stage. You can also add other refreshing elements such as garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, thyme, parsley and fresh herbs to elevate the taste of the potato salad.

Cream Based Dressing

If you decide to add protein to your salad, try using a sour cream-based dressing to maximize the flavor. The tangy and creamy flavor of the sour cream compliments heartier ingredients like chicken, turkey, or hard-boiled eggs. To add some extra sharpness to the dressing, consider mixing the sour cream with mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, pepper, and fresh herbs to complement the tanginess.

Herbs

Herbs are a simple yet powerful way to add a burst of freshness to your classic potato salad recipe. The earthy taste of the potato goes so well with the aromatic flavor of different herbs, including parsley, fresh dill, basil, oregano, and thyme. These herbs come with a subtle flavor that adds a fresh note to the potato salad without overpowering the original taste.

Finely chop the herbs into small sizes and then add them to the salad at the end of the preparation process to keep the freshness intact. For a warm potato salad, add the herbs while the potatoes are still hot to allow the flavors to mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Seasonings

Seasonings help bring heat, warmth, and savoriness to your dish and elevate the flavor profile! No matter how dull the salad may taste, it can always be revived with proper seasonings.

The simplest way to adjust the seasonings of your salad is by adding salt and pepper. Apart from your regular salt, you can also use sea salt for a briny taste and flaky salt for a crunchy finish. As for pepper, I recommend using freshly ground black pepper for a warm and sharp kick in your potato dish.

To enjoy a tangy and slightly spicy taste, add Dijon or yellow mustard, dill pickle, pickle relish, or apple cider vinegar to the salad. Mustards bring a strong flavor to the dish, so it’s best to start with a teaspoon and adjust as you prefer. Consider adding paprika to the salad bowl for a smoky and sweet taste.

There are different varieties of paprika available, including sweet paprika, which is suited for a creamy dressing; smoked paprika, which goes well with grilled dishes; and hot paprika, for a spicy kick.

Proteins

To make your salad turn into a hearty main course, simply add protein items like grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, chickpeas, tuna, salmon, shrimp, or tofu. These proteins help boost the salad’s flavor profile and transform salads from being merely a side dish into a balanced, nutritious meal!

Veggies

Another way to boost the nutritional value of your dish is to add seasonal vegetables, including bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, peas, and spinach. Adding a variety of vegetables to the dish helps create a vibrant and colorful look to the dish and brings a refreshing vibe to your meal.

If you are looking for a way to add more flavor to the veggies, simply roast them in the oven to enjoy a caramelized, rich addition to your potato salad.

Simple And Yummy Potato Salad | Potato Salad Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Print Rate Pin

Potato salad is mainly considered as a side dish because it usually accompanies different main dishes. But one can have it for their launch or dinner as it fills you up totally, especially if you add some veggies to your salad. Potato salad is prepared using boiled potatoes and a variety of other ingredients. The good thing is you can make a bunch ahead of time and refrigerate them in some airtight containers and take it to the school or work for your tiffin. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They are also perfect picnic food as well.

Ingredients

▢ ½ kg / 500 g Potatoes
▢ 2 tbsp / 30 ml Olive oil
▢ ¼ tsp / 2 g Salt
▢ ¼ tsp / ¼ tsp Black pepper
▢ ¼ tsp / ¼ tsp Chaat masala (optional)
▢ 1 tsp / 5 g Mustard
▢ 2 tbsp / 2 tbsp Coriander (chopped)
▢ 2 tbsp / 28 g Mayonnaise
▢ 2 tbsp / 20 g Onion (deep-fried)

Equipments

Instructions

Cook The Potato

First, bring water to a rolling boil. Then add the washed potatoes to the boiling water and boil them for 15 minutes.
Then, take them out of the water or drain the water and let them cool just a little for about 5 minutes so that you can touch them with your hands.
Now peel the skin off (or you can keep them if you like) and cut them into halves. You can cut into more slices if you use bigger potatoes.

Add The Seasoning

Add olive oil, salt, black pepper, chaat masala, mustard paste, and chopped coriander to the potatoes and give everything a good mix. (here you can use other herbs of your choice and also can add some lemon juice if you like).
Now, you can serve the salad as it is if you like to keep it simple and healthy. but to make it tastier, we will add a couple of more ingredients.

Add Salad Dressings, Serve, and Enjoy!

Now mix in the mayonnaise to the salad and finally sprinkle the fried onions. fried onions give the salad a wonderful taste and flavor and take it to the next level.
Serve the salad warm or cooled as per your preference, and enjoy the creamy, delicious potato salad!

Video

Nutrition Facts (Click to view) Hide

Nutrition Facts

*This calculation is done by assumption calculated by an API. Please use our nutrition information just to get an idea about the recipe, consult a nutritionist if you need exact nutrition information.

Tried this recipe?

With just a few tweaks to the ingredients, potato salad can transform itself from a casual side dish to a special holiday feast. A dollop of mayo, freshly chopped herbs, seasonal veggies, or toasted nuts for a crunchy addition can totally upgrade your potato salad recipe from simple to extraordinary!

Recipe FAQs

Which Type Of Potatoes Are Suitable For Making Potato Salad?

Potatoes that have a firm structure when boiled, like Yukon Gold potatoes or Red potatoes, are better suited for this recipe. You can also mix and match with other mushier potatoes, like russet potatoes, as long as you balance them with firm varieties in the recipe.

Why Is My Potato Salad Watery?

There are several reasons for this, but the most common is when the potatoes release excess moisture when overcooked. To maintain the texture of your dish, use slightly undercooked potatoes for this recipe.

How Do I Make Potato Salad Healthier?

To make the potato salad healthier, replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt and include more veggies like celery and red onion, protein, and fresh herbs like fresh dill and fresh chives in the recipe.

How Can I Store The Leftover Potato Salad?

Potato salad is a make-ahead recipe; you make it 24 hours before serving this dish, store it in an airtight container, and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours. If you have leftover salad, you can refrigerate it for up to 2 days.