Three Potato Salads

“Potato salad can sometimes be a topic of controversy. The topic is very similar to the soul food macaroni and cheese debate. For as long as I can remember, I have always heard the words ‘Who brought the potato salad?’ at every single BBQ and summer function.” -Brandi Crawford

 

Boy, is she spot on! The thing is, potatoes barely have a flavor. So you have to punch them up as much as tolerable. Which creamy ingredient? Miracle Whip? Hellman’s? Greek yogurt?  Wait, no creamy ingredient? Just bare-naked taters? Which mustard? Yellow? Dijon? Whole-grain? Which acid? Lemon? Vinegar (which one)? How many crunchy elements, celery, onions (red white green)? Is there a sweet ingredient? Pickle relish? Sugar? Skins on or off? BACON? Whew. Now you’re getting the picture of just how many variations there could be at the picnic.

 

As it is officially summer, I thought I’d whip up a few potato salad recipes and give them a taste. Of course, I consulted with my mother, whose recipe closely resembles Brandi’s below. This is not a ranking by any means. There’s a potato salad for every mood! But, I have to say that Brandi’s is nostalgic for me as mentioned, Ina’s is fancy for those more respectable picnics (ha), and Jamie’s is just pared-down primitive and direct without the creamy element. They are all good, and even better the next day. Bring your best personal version so at the next picnic, someone will yell, “Who brought the potato salad?!”

 

 

Brandi Crawford’s southern-style potato salad

 

Serves 10

 

Ingredients

 

1 ½ cups water

5 (about 2 pounds total) russet potatoes peeled and sliced into 1 ½-inch cubes

4 eggs

1 large bowl of cold water (ice added to the water is optional)

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup white onions chopped

1/4 cup pickle relish

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Lawry's seasoning salt to taste (optional)

1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

 

Boil the eggs by placing them in a large saucepan. Cover the eggs with water by 1 inch. Boil over medium heat; when the water has reached a boil, cover the saucepan and remove from heat. Let sit 12 minutes.

 

Add water (enough water to completely cover the potatoes) to a large pot. Add a dash of salt to the water. Allow the water to boil for 3-4 minutes.

 

Add the potatoes to the water. Cook until the potatoes are tender. Repeatedly check and poke to see if the potatoes are soft. If you cook them for too long, they will become too soft.

 

Remove the potatoes from the pot and allow them to cool.

 

Peels the eggs and slice into small cubes.

 

Add the potatoes, cooked eggs, mayo, mustard, relish, white onions, paprika, seasoning salt (if used), and salt and pepper to taste to a large bowl.

 

Stir to combine. Cover and chill for at least an hour to two hours before serving.

 

-staysnatched.com 

 

 

Ina Garten’s old-fashioned potato salad

 

Serves 10

 

Ingredients

 

3 pounds small red potatoes

Kosher salt

1 cup good mayonnaise

¼ cup buttermilk, milk, or white wine

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

½ cup chopped fresh dill

Freshly ground black pepper

½ cup medium-diced celery

½ cup small-diced red onion

Instructions

Place the potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt in a large pot of water.  Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife.  Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot off the heat and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel.  Leave the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender but firm.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, Dijon and whole-grain mustards, dill, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.  Set aside.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them into quarters or halves, depending on their size.  Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl and pour enough dressing over them to moisten.  (As the salad sits, you may need to add more dressing.)  Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.  Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.

-barefootcontessa.com

 

One of Jamie Oliver’s many potato salads

Serves 4

Start with about 1 pound of potatoes (it's important to use evenly sized new potatoes, and you can either scrape them or peel them). Cook the potatoes in boiling, salted water. Try to cook these perfectly so that they just fall off the blade of a knife when you stick it into the potato (you don't want the potatoes raw but you certainly don't want them falling apart either). As soon as the potatoes are cooked, drain them and put them into a bowl. It is very important to add your dressing at this stage, while the potatoes are still steaming hot (by allowing them to cool down in the dressing the flavors penetrate the potatoes). 

 

Use olive oil and lemon juice dressing and add some roughly chopped fresh dill and a little salt and freshly ground black pepper. (Instead of dill you could try fresh mint, fresh parsley or fennel tops -- they'll all work).

 

Olive oil and lemon dressing:

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 tablespoons good quality olive oil

1 level teaspoon salt

1 level teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

-foodnetwork.com