Light Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,009

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

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

Private notes are only visible to you.

Light Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What not to do when making potato salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Potato Salad
  1. Using The Wrong Type of Potato.
  2. Not Starting The Potatoes in Cold Water.
  3. Cooking Potatoes in Unseasoned Water.
  4. Undercooking or Overcooking The Potatoes.
  5. Not Dressing The Potatoes at The Right Time.
  6. Our Favorite Potato Salad Recipes.

How do you not overcook potatoes for potato salad? ›

According to Love Potatoes, dropping them into cold water instead of boiling water (and letting the potatoes and water heat up together) will prevent the outside from cooking faster than the inside. As for whether the “perfect recipe” calls for mayo or mustard, we'll let your family and friends fight that one out.

What makes homemade potato salad watery? ›

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients. Steaming the potatoes instead of boiling them is a good way to ensure that excess moisture isn't trapped inside.

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? ›

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

What goes bad in potato salad? ›

But the truth is, mayonnaise isn't your main concern when it comes to spoilage. The actual culprit is the potatoes. Yes, it's true! The humble, reliable potato is a hotbed for bacterial growth if improperly stored after cooking.

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.

Why does my potato salad taste bland? ›

If it's a potato salad, be sure to let the potatoes cool (the starch cells close up) before adding any dressing or salad mixture. Warm potatoes will soak up the liquids. Taste an hour after mixing and see if the spices need tweaking. Mashed potatoes do the same thing if you add in the garlic or cheddar cheese too soon.

How to thicken up potato salad? ›

To thicken potato salad without using mayonnaise, you can try using Greek yogurt, sour cream, or a combination of both. Another option is to add mustard, which not only thickens but also adds flavor.

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.

How long do you boil potatoes for? ›

In general small or cubed potatoes will take about 10 to 15 minutes to boil, while larger, whole potatoes will take between 20 to 25 minutes. To check potatoes for doneness, insert a knife into one.

When should you throw out potato salad? ›

Just like regular potato salad you have up to five days to consume it, if stored properly. Is it safe to eat week-old potato salad? The USDA doesn't recommend consuming potato salad that's more than five days old.

How do you keep potatoes from turning brown in potato salad? ›

Soak them in water

The best (and most popular) way to keep cut potatoes from turning brown is to completely submerge them in a bowl of water. Store the water-covered potatoes in a bowl in the refrigerator until you're ready to use them, up to one day in advance.

What to do if potato salad is too hard? ›

I just made a potato salad, and I undercooked the potatoes- they are semi hard...and I aready mixed everything together, is there anything I can do to fix it, without throwing it out? Microwave it for about 30-40 sec until they soften how you like them. Make sure to refrigerate after and cool before eating.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6208

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.