Light Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Ashley

Hi Lee,

It's referencing to use the same pot as you did to cook the potatoes. So, cook the potatoes, drain, and place in a bowl. Then wipe the pot clean (that's what they mean by "dry" potato pan), and cook the garlic oil and bacon in it (to save dirtying another pot). Remove the bacon from the pot, and proceed with Step 3, etc. Does that help?

Terry

I used thick-sliced slab bacon and added a bit of Asian sesame oil when cooking the meat. Sesame adds a little depth and a little sweetness to the taste. I de-glazed the pan with vinegar as suggested but added a bit of dry sherry as it goes very well with the mustard seed. The whole thing tosses together like a dream and my guests truly loved it.

Dorian

It can't be right to use ALL the bacon grease from 10 strips of bacon. For me, that was about 1 cup. I drained all the fat and added about 1/4 cup of garlic infused olive oil (made it myself) to the skillet I cooked the bacon in (I didn't use the pot I boiled the potatoes in). Everyone loved it and 6 people consumed almost the entire salad (with turkey burgers) but only made with 4 pounds baby gold and baby red mixed instead of 5 pounds.

Christine

Totally awesome with grainy mustard instead of mustard seeds, and the bacon is not necessary (though, I am sure, delicious).

Lee

Cook bacon WITH already cooked potatoes? Or separately? The add back potatoes in Step 3? Seems to be something amiss with the instructions.

Mark

I used lemon juice rather than the white wine vinegar, delicious!

Daniel Recoder

There is no replacement for Bacon!

Hammy

You just read it wrong. I think it's clear, you're returning the dry potato pan to the heat and cooking the bacon in the garlic oil.

David Avila

This is similar to the Pennsylvania German potato salad my mother used to make. Excellent.

MelissaJane

I like this a lot. I found it needed more vinegar. I think the amount of bacon grease you will render depends very much on the bacon. I used fancy schmancy super high quality farm-share bacon ends, very meaty, and had very little grease; if I'd used the stuff I usually buy at the grocery store I'd have had several times as much. It's a potato salad; YMMV, Adjust as needed. But the basic flavors are good and it's a great accompaniment to a cookout.

Jack

Anything instead of Bacon?

Framk

Just leave it out - just fine without it.

Jen Wronkovich-Clark

Turned out great! Instead of cooking the potatoes as suggested, we smoked them while making BBQ. Smoked potatoes tossed in this dressing are delicious and a huge hit with my family. The other change I made was a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving to brighten up the flavors. Perfect!

Sylvia

We always steam potatoes. Very easy to keep track of 'doneness', and they don't get soggy.

Heath Quinn

British bacon is meatier - it's a cut that combines belly and loin - American and Canadian in one cut. Much less fat renders out.

David B.

Great substitute to the classic mayo potato salad. Downsized to 3 lbs potatoes, 1.5 tbs oil, 4 strips of bacon. Swapped lemon for the vinegar. Everyone loved it. Looking forward to having leftovers tonight.

LLR

Suggestions: read instructions. It clearly states that after cooking the potatoes, "drain, cut in two, place in a bowl." "Dry potato pan" = pan used to cook potatoes, but it's empty (and dry) because potatoes have been drained and are in a bowl. Common sense-- if the bacon you used leaves you with a cup (?) of bacon grease, discard some of it and use whatever amount seems appropriate (to you). If you don't care for the majority of ingredients, move on to a different recipe.

Mikhail D (Munich)

Cooked today. Delicious! I used olive oil with minced garlic as a basis for cooking bacon. It took some time before mustard poppies started to explode, I turned off the pan and vinegar, it sprinkled the whole area around the pan as the pan was so hot.

Colleen

This was a delicious recipe. Growing up, the only potato salad I knew was from my Viennese grandmother- she chopped onions, celery and green peppers, mixed with the potatoes, a little oil, vinegar, splash of water, oregano, S&P. It was always served at room temperature. I was 16 years old before I knew people put mayonnaise in their potato salad.

Best 'Lil Kitchen in Texas

To get a better result without adding extra liquid to the mixture at a critical juncture: marinate the potatoes (after cutting in half) for about 45 min to 1 hour. Proceed with your recipe, as desired. No need to use bacon, as the flavor stands on its own. . . unless you are a "baconfile".

Ajewel

Had no bacon or garlic oil--used sliced sausage instead and browned them in olive oil, and quickly browned/popped 2 pressed garlic cloves and mustard seeds together. Then added all other ingredients. Needed a bit of salt. May add a bit of parsley or dill next time.

Ken

B L A N D ! ! !One of the worse uses of bacon.Glad I didn't make this for guests

JKI

I made half the amount of the recipe. Even using about 5 slices of bacon for 2.5 lbs. of potatoes the salad was just too greasy for me after pouring off as much fat as I could. I even used an extra bowl and moved the mixture again to discharge some of the bacon fat. The actual taste is good and I loved the mustard seed.

Melinda

Really good salad and true to it's name, light! I did opt for real bacon bits and probably used less, added a touch of salt and pepper as well. But this is very satisfying.

Tess of the Desert

I was totally rushing and just did what was the easiest thing to do, I omitted the bacon, added in bleu cheese and voila! Totally delish a new easy fav.

kz

This is in heavy rotation at my house... an easy showstopper

K

Apple Cider Vinegar for German Potato Salad. Always.

BillS

Whenever my Grandmother (French, but her Mom was from Alsace, so there's German influence going on there) & my Mom made potato salad, they always put the vinegar in with still quite the warm potatoes. This allowed the vinegar to soak into the potatoes more than if it is mixed in when they are cold.

Madison

Anyone else own a wide pan that fits 5 lbs of potatoes? I didn't think so. Change the recipe to be an 8 quart dutch oven and you might be onto something.

Richard

Did you use small, 1" diam potatoes like the recipe says?

P Lynn

Can use lemon juice rather than vinegar. Be ready to QUICKLY cover the pot once you add the mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, they pop very high - exactly like popcorn

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Light Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best type of potato to use for potato salad? ›

Russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes (new potatoes) are all excellent for potato salad. They do cook at different rates so be sure to adjust cook time depending on which type of potato you select.

Can diabetics eat potato salad? ›

Some potato dishes are more suitable than others for people with diabetes. For example, a potato salad can be a good option, as the potatoes are bite-sized or cubed rather than crushed or mashed. However, ensure that toppings, such as mayonnaise, are low-fat with no added sugar.

How do you keep potatoes from getting mushy in potato salad? ›

Years later, during my time at Serious Eats, I made Kenji López-Alt's classic potato salad on a whim. My potatoes turned out perfectly — and they have every time since — due to one ingenious tip he shares: Adding vinegar to the cooking water prevents overcooking.

Why don't you peel potatoes for potato salad? ›

There's no reason at all, so my advice is to leave the skins on. The skin on a potato adds a nice texture and flavor to the potato salad and it's also the healthiest part.

Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad? ›

Waxy potatoes can be cooked whole or cut, with or without the skin. Starchy potatoes should be cooked whole with the skin on, then peeled and cut after they're cooked. Select medium Russet potatoes, not large ones, to ensure the skin doesn't split while cooking.

What potato does not raise blood sugar? ›

People who have diabetes can benefit from limiting high-GI foods. Thus, it's often recommended that they choose sweet potatoes, especially when boiled rather than baked, over white potatoes, as they generally have a lower GI. Learn more about the glycemic index for a diabetes diet here.

Is mayonnaise okay for diabetics? ›

Yes, a person with diabetes can eat mayonnaise. Mayonnaise has less than a single gram of carbohydrates per tablespoon. But with 10 grams of total fat (1.6 grams of that coming from saturated fat) it can be considered high fat. So you may want to limit the amount of mayonnaise you eat or find an alternative.

What is the best way for a diabetic to eat a sweet potato? ›

The Bottom Line

Boiling sweet potatoes or pairing them with foods high in protein and fiber can help folks with diabetes better manage potential blood sugar spikes after eating.

Should you rinse potatoes in cold water after boiling for potato salad? ›

Rinsing potatoes helps remove excess starch, so it is recommended to rinse the potatoes before cooking. To ensure even more starch is out of the way, it's recommended that they even be quickly rinsed after boiling. We recommend using hot water for rinsing after boiling and cold water prior to boiling.

Should you cool potatoes before making potato salad? ›

When using vinaigrette, don't let the potatoes cool before dressing them. And when making a mayonnaise-based potato salad, stay away from dressing warm potatoes. The hot potatoes will cause the mayonnaise to melt and become oily.

What goes bad first in potato salad? ›

It's actually the potatoes. Being a root vegetable, they sit in dirt for a long time and that dirt often harbors bacteria. When potato salad is served at warm events like picnics or barbecues, the heat can cause this bacteria to multiply, leading to the spoilage of the entire dish.

Which is better for potato salad, russet or idaho? ›

What to look for: White and Yukon Golds are reliable in-between potatoes to always have around. Starchy: For potato salad, you'll want to stay away from starchy, thick-skinned potatoes like russets, which will fall apart during the cooking process.

How long should you boil potatoes? ›

Once boiling, reduce heat, adjusting as needed to maintain a simmer. Cook potatoes until they offer no resistance when pierced: 10–12 minutes for baby potatoes, 15–20 minutes for small potatoes, or 30–40 minutes for large cubed potatoes. Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool 10 minutes.

Which of the following potato varieties is best suited for potato salad? ›

Waxy potatoes are generally considered the best for classic potato salad because they retain their shape, you don't have to peel them, and they have a smooth texture.

Which type of potato is best for making potato salad because they hold their shape? ›

Waxy Potatoes

In terms of appearance, their skin is much thinner. Unlike starchy ones, which become soft when cooked, waxy potatoes hold their shape. This makes them good for making soups or stews, potato salads, or casseroles.

Are Yukon gold and Yellow potatoes the same? ›

The Yukon Gold potato, though yellow fleshed, is a cross between a yellow and a white potato and is usually labeled as such. A “yellow” or “gold” potato is not a Yukon Gold potato, but all three potatoes have similar starch contents and flavors and can be used interchangeably in recipes.

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