Quick & Easy Potato Salad Recipe / Joy Of Cooking Style

Potato salad might seem like a simple side dish, but this classic recipe transforms humble ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

Joy of Cooking’s potato salad represents summer gatherings, backyard barbecues, and comfort food that brings people together.

Creamy textures blend seamlessly with crisp vegetables and tangy seasonings, creating a symphony of flavors.

Every bite tells a story of tradition and home-cooked goodness.

Familiar ingredients dance together in perfect harmony, promising a delightful experience for your taste buds.

Generations have cherished this timeless recipe, passing down its delicious secrets from kitchen to kitchen.

The magic lies in balancing fresh components with precise seasoning and love: prepare to be amazed.

From Pot to Plate: Potato Salad Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes

Wash and cube 4-5 medium potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover completely with cold water. Sprinkle of salt into the water.

Step 2: Boil Potatoes

Bring potatoes to a rolling boil over high heat. Cook for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork. Avoid overcooking to maintain potato texture.

Step 3: Drain and Cool Potatoes

Carefully drain potatoes in a colander. Spread potatoes on a baking sheet to cool quickly at room temperature for about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Dijon mustard
• Fresh lemon juice
• Finely chopped red onion
• Chopped pickles
• Paprika

Whisk ingredients until smooth and well blended.

Step 5: Add Finishing Ingredients

• 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• Chopped celery
• Cooled potato chunks

Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 6: Chill and Serve

Cover potato salad and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold as a delightful side dish for picnics, barbecues, or summer gatherings.

Pro Tips for the Best Potato Salad

• Marinate Magic: Let the potato salad rest in the refrigerator for a few hours. Flavors will dance and intensify, creating a more delicious experience.
• Crunch Explosion: Sprinkle in crisp celery, vibrant red onions, and surprise ingredients like radishes or bell peppers. Texture transforms from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Cooling Technique: Spread hot potatoes on a baking sheet immediately after draining. Quick cooling prevents mushiness and sets the stage for perfect potato salad.
• Potato Perfection: Begin cooking potatoes in cold water, then bring to a boil. Gentle heat ensures even cooking and prevents uneven, hard, or mushy potatoes.
• Temperature Trick: Drain potatoes carefully and avoid overcooking. Maintaining the right consistency is the secret to a stellar potato salad.

Keep It Crisp: Storing Potato Salad

• Vacuum Sealing: Extend potato salad's freshness by using a vacuum sealer. Remove air completely, preventing bacteria growth and maintaining crisp vegetable textures. This method locks in flavors and keeps the salad tasting just-made for up to a week.
• Mason Jar Storage: Layer potato salad strategically in clean mason jars for perfect portion control and maximum preservation. Place dressing at bottom, solid ingredients on top to prevent soggy vegetables. Seal tightly and store in refrigerator's coldest section for optimal quality.
• Quick Consumption Strategy: Consume potato salad within 48 hours for best taste and texture. Check for any signs of spoilage like unusual odors, color changes, or liquid separation before serving. Keep consistently chilled below 40°F to prevent bacterial growth and maintain food safety.

Fun Variations for Your Potato Salad

• Herb Garden Potato Salad: Replace paprika with fresh chopped herbs like dill, parsley, and chives for a bright, garden-fresh flavor profile that adds vibrant green color and zesty undertones.
• Spicy Southwestern Potato Salad: Mix in diced jalapeños, cilantro, cumin, and replace regular mayonnaise with chipotle mayo for a bold, fiery kick that transforms the classic recipe into a zesty southwestern-style dish.
• German-Style Warm Potato Salad: Skip the mayonnaise and create a tangy vinegar-based dressing with crispy bacon pieces, mustard, and warm bacon drippings for an authentic German potato salad experience that serves best when served hot.
• Mediterranean Potato Salad: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and swap out mayonnaise for olive oil and lemon dressing to give the potato salad a light, Mediterranean-inspired taste with refreshing Mediterranean ingredients.

Potato Salad Farewell: Final Thoughts

Potato salad whispers summer memories with each creamy, tangy bite.

Classic comfort weaves through generations of family gatherings and backyard picnics.

Crisp celery and zesty red onions dance alongside tender potatoes, creating pure culinary harmony.

Simple ingredients merge into a nostalgic dish that connects people through shared experiences.

Fragrant herbs and smooth mayonnaise elevate this humble side to something extraordinary.

Friends who encounter this recipe will discover more than just a salad – you’ll uncover a delicious connection to tradition that begs for seconds, sparks conversation, demands social media shares, and invites passionate recipe discussions.

Potato Salad to Savor: Why You’ll Love It

• Speedy Summer Side Dish: Whip up this classic potato salad in just 45 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute picnics, barbecues, or quick family dinners.
• Creamy Texture Delight: Experience the luxurious blend of soft boiled potatoes, smooth mayonnaise, and crunchy vegetables that create a mouthwatering combination of textures in every bite.
• Flavor Explosion Technique: The clever mix of Dijon mustard, tangy lemon juice, zesty pickles, and paprika transforms ordinary potatoes into a burst of exciting flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Must-Have Ingredients for a Crowd-Pleasing Potato Salad

• Potatoes: A starchy vegetable that serves as the main component of the salad, best when waxy varieties are selected for better texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the potatoes during boiling.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that helps bind the ingredients together and adds richness.
• Dijon Mustard: Provides a tangy and sharp flavor to the salad.
• Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and helps balance the creamy elements.

• Red Onion: Offers a sharp, crisp flavor and crunchy texture to the salad.
• Celery: Provides a fresh crunch and additional vegetable dimension.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: Adds protein and a creamy texture to the potato salad.
• Pickles: Introduces a tangy and slightly sour element to the mix.
• Paprika: Adds a mild, sweet pepper flavor and creates visual appeal.
• Salt and Pepper: Crucial for final seasoning and enhancing overall taste.

Joy Of Cooking Potato Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Classic potato salad from Joy Of Cooking brings creamy comfort to summer picnics and family gatherings. Crisp potatoes, tangy mayo, and fresh herbs create a nostalgic side dish that delights guests with its simple, irresistible flavor profile.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) potatoes (peeled and cut into cubes, Yukon Gold)
• 6 hard boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
• 1 small red onion (finely chopped)
• 3 medium dill pickles (chopped)
• 2 stalks celery (chopped)

Dressing and Seasoning:

• 1½ cups mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Salting and Spices:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
• ¼ cup chives (chopped)

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Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water and submerge the cubed potatoes, sprinkling a teaspoon of salt to enhance the flavor profile.
2. Bring the water to a rolling boil and cook the potatoes until they reach a tender consistency, easily pierced by a fork (approximately 12-15 minutes).
3. Carefully drain the potatoes and allow them to cool completely at room temperature, preventing any residual warmth from affecting the salad’s texture.
4. In a spacious mixing bowl, combine Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, finely diced red onion, freshly squeezed lemon juice, chopped pickles, and a sprinkle of paprika.
5. Whisk the dressing ingredients until they form a smooth, well-integrated mixture, ensuring no individual component remains separate.
6. Gently fold in the hard-boiled eggs, diced celery, and cooled potatoes, coating each ingredient thoroughly with the creamy dressing.
7. Season the potato salad with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting the flavors to personal preference.
8. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly before serving.

Notes

• Master Potato Boiling: Gently simmer spuds in cold water to guarantee uniform cooking and prevent turning into a mushy mess during your salad preparation.
• Quick Cooling Technique: Spread hot potatoes across a baking sheet for rapid temperature reduction, preserving perfect texture and preventing unwanted sogginess.
• Texture and Visual Boost: Introduce crisp celery and vibrant red onion for a delightful crunch and eye-catching color burst that elevates the entire dish.
• Flavor Enhancement Trick: Refrigerate the prepared salad for several hours before serving, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop a more complex, rich taste profile.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 540 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 230 mg