Potato salad, a staple of backyard barbecues and lakeside picnics, is one of the easiest to make. There’s “mom’s classic” and potato salads in zesty vinaigrettes, plus salads that showcase a rainbow of heirloom potatoes—purple, rose, golden, pure white—that are now at our farmers markets.
All call for the best ingredients and simple techniques, and these tips can help turn any good potato salad into a great one.
Use the right potato. Firm varieties—fingerlings, Red Bliss, Yukon Gold, Yellow Fin and new potatoes—hold up to bold dressings and can be made in advance. Choose smaller spuds that are about the same size. They'll cook quickly and be done around the same time. Baby or micro-potatoes work great.
To peel or not to peel? Most recipes call for peeling after cooking, but unpeeled potatoes give the salad a lovely rustic effect. Plus, potato skins add texture and flavor to the dish.
Do not hold back on the salt. Potatoes should simmer in water that is as briny as the ocean. When cooked this way, they won’t taste bland and you won’t find yourself trying to season them with more salt before serving.
Do not crowd the pot. Give the potatoes plenty of room to bounce around and cook evenly and thoroughly.
Do not overcook. Start checking the small ones after about 15 minutes and the medium potatoes after about 20 minutes. They should be tender enough that a sharp knife easily slides through them, but not mushy and falling apart.
Dress the potatoes while they’re hot. Hot potatoes absorb far more of the dressing and all of those flavors. Plan on using 1/2 to 1 cup of dressing for 2 pounds of cooked potatoes. Dress the potatoes first and then add the rest of the ingredients.
Taste the salad after you’ve dressed it, then taste and taste and taste again. Potato salads always seem to need more dressing, so keep a little extra on hand to spark it up before serving. Here are four vibrant salads that riff off one simple technique.
Classic Potato Salad
Serves 6 to 8.- 2 pounds small waxy potatoes, cooked and drained (see tip below)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup quality mayonnaise, such as Duke’s or Hellman’s
- 1/4 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons coarse mustard
- 1/2 cup finely diced scallions, white parts only
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill, plus more for garnish
- 1 hard-boiled egg, halved, for garnish
Italian-Style Potato Salad
Serves 6 to 8.- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 pounds small waxy potatoes, cooked and drained (see tip below)
- 2 to 3 ounces prosciutto, cut into strips
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, white parts only
- 1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced fennel bulb
- 1/4 cup green olives
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup mixed chopped herbs (parsley, basil, marjoram), plus more for garnish
Rainbow Potato Salad
Serves 6 to 8.- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, plus more for seasoning
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds small mixed colorful potatoes, cooked and drained (see tip below)
- 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers
- 1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon drained capers
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup sliced basil, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon sliced mint, plus more for garnish
South of the Border Potato Salad
Serves 6 to 8.- Juice of 1 lime, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon coarse mustard
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled, cut into 1/2-in. pieces (see tip below)
- 1 pound small waxy potatoes, cooked and drained (see tip below)
- 1/2 cup cooked corn kernels
- 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup sliced celery
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons chile-lime-salt seasoning, such as Tajin, or more to taste
- Pinch red pepper flakes, to taste
- Chopped cilantro, for garnish
Tips on cooking potatoes: For waxy potatoes, put 2 pounds of potatoes into a large pot and add enough water to cover the potatoes by 4 inches. Add about 2 tablespoons of salt (it should taste like the ocean). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook the potatoes until just tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. A knife should slide easily through the center, but the potatoes should not be falling apart. Cook sweet potatoes the same way, then just drain, allow to cool slightly, peel and cut into ½-inch pieces.
