Potato Salad (season)

Aw hell I just buy the deviled egg version in the deli and mess with it a little.

 

I lived in Deutchland 2 years and was never served German potato salad. I think it's in the pizza category. Invented here in the U S by immigrants from that country, but not from their Homeland. If you ever are in Germany get some french fries. Theirs are cooked golden brown, like they all should be.

 

My wife makes a mean potato salad. "How mean??" you ask? Our daughter works at a high-end restaurant and they recently had a celebrity chef challenge between their chefs and Jen Carroll, a recurring contestant on Top Chef. They had a staff potluck the day before, which included dishes by the chef and Jen. The winner of best dish of the day? My wife's potato salad in a landslide.

Cubed cooked potatoes, chopped celery, onions, mayo, yellow mustard, cider vinegar, dill, salt. All in the exact right proportions, which I don't know because she always makes it.

 

We just said goodbye to an Italian exchange student who lived with us and spent a year in high school here. She told us how her family made pizza every Friday. Of course, when she arrived in Canada, her first host family took her out for pizza and she was appalled to find pineapple on it!

 

When I lived in Greece they had Pizza as well, but I think they got the idea from the US, but maybe the non Italian orgin is an urban myth. It was great by the way, one placed used a cheese so high in fat it was only years later I learned that they weren't t putting butter on top.

 

She also said she didn't like Starbucks coffee -- too weak!

 

I'm making a batch for a 4th of July party. What spices do you guys add?

For me:
No eggs
No Miracle Whip. Real mayo, if you please!

 

For me, it's Indian aloo chaat for the win.

 

Cubed potatoes- Yukon golds or redskins- salt, pepper, celery seed, mayo, Dijon mustard. Not too much dressing. It should be potatoes with some dressing, not a mayonnaise soup with potatoes floating in it. Chopped green onions are a nice addition.

 

OK, I made mine with russets, I cooked them in salted water and put two tablespoons of white vinegar on the potatoes after they were cooked but before I added anything else. I used mayo, mustard, red onion, black olives and artichoke hearts chopped. I was going to add celery but it seemed to be past it's shelf date so I left it out. For spices I used salt, pepper, paprika, dill and Cajun spice.

How did it turn out? At the independence Day party by the time I got to try some it was almost all gone. I heard rumors that it was quite the hit. I might have to make more so I have some for myself.

YMMV

 

I love Potato Salad, made with Heinz Salad Crème and eggs, chopped spring onion, mustard, pinch of turmeric. Paprika.
The store bought stuff is always horrible. Bitter and undercooked.

 

reminds me of a song... (fun starts at 1:25)

 

Lots of strong opinions here. I only care that it tastes good. I don't care how it gets there. Adhering to rules only eliminates the possibility of improvement and the pleasures of variety.

 

The best potato salad I've ever had was also mashed-ish type from a German eatery. Little place run out of a walled-offed and furnished side of a large horse stables by an old German lady named Roswitha. She made all sorts of tater salads from very traditional German to modern American. She made a mustard-based salad that still had that German vinegary wang to it, but it had mashed up potatoes as well as some in smaller chunks. It was the perfect medium. Truly the key to peace between opposing parties here.

 

My wife made one yesterday with no mayonnaise. It was pretty good.

 

The first and last ones of the season are down-the-middle traditional -- yukon golds, eggs, Best Foods, sweet onions and a little dijon mustard.

After a while though I get the urge to experiment. Add green beans & red bell peppers. Go with a sour cream & dill sauce. Or go whole hog & use Thai peanut sauce, red jalapeños, cilantro, a little fish sauce. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

 

I think it's time for a TDPRI Jam and Potato Salad Cook-Off!

 

More pickles - always needs more dill pickles.

And - Blue Cheese Tater Sally for the win. Always - more blue cheese and more pickles.

 

The Pennsylvanian Amish around around here make the best potato salad!