Simply the best potato salad

When it comes to crafting the best potato salad, the type of potatoes you choose can make all the difference. For a classic potato salad recipe, you want to opt for high-starch potatoes that hold their shape and provide a delightful texture. Here are some top contenders:

• Yukon Gold Potatoes: With their buttery, yellow flesh and smooth, thin skin, Yukon Golds are a favorite for potato salads. Their high starch content ensures a creamy, tender result that’s simply irresistible.
• Russet Potatoes: Known for their rough, brown skin and high starch content, Russets are another excellent choice. They maintain their shape well and contribute a lovely texture to your salad.
• Idaho Potatoes: These spuds boast a light, fluffy texture and a mild flavor, making them perfect for absorbing the flavors of your potato salad dressing without becoming too soggy.
• Baby Dutch Potatoes: Well, for this recipe, you should look for the small little spuds. I’ve gone with baby dutch or cocktail potatoes. .

Avoid using waxy potatoes like red or new potatoes, as they won’t yield the same creamy texture that high-starch potatoes provide. Stick with these tried-and-true varieties for the best potato salad experience.

Preparing the Potatoes: Boiling and Cooling for the Best Results

To achieve the perfect texture for your potato salad, it’s crucial to boil and cool your potatoes correctly. Here’s how to do it:

• Use Cold Water: Start by placing your potatoes in a large pot of cold water. This helps them cook evenly and prevents them from becoming overly starchy.
• Boil Until Tender: Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the potatoes cook until they’re tender when pierced with a fork.
• Steam Dry: Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them into a colander then cover with a tea towel. This will steam dry the potatoes and help remove as much moisture as possible.
• Keep Potatoes Warm: Assemble your potato salad while the potatoes are still warm. Adding the dressing to warm potatoes enhances flavor absorption, making the salad more delicious and cohesive

By following these steps, you’ll set the stage for a delicious potato salad that’s perfectly cooked and ready to soak up all the wonderful flavors of your dressing.

Hard boiled eggs (yes, eggs!)

I know a lot of people might be confused by the inclusion of egg in this recipe. Some potato salad purists might even stop reading now, but hear me out – hard boiled eggs add a lovely texture and flavor to the salad. It’s not overbearing among all the other ingredients, but it is so worth it. For this one, I use eight minute eggs, which I’ve detailed here in the caesar salad recipe and here with my egg salad. The yolk is jammy yet can still hold its shape so is perfect for a salad!

Everything goes better with bacon

It's such a well known trope that “everything goes better with bacon”, but… it really does. Everything goes better with the saltiness and savouriness of bacon. And this recipe is absolutely not different! Streaky, crunchy bacon – too yum!

Herbs, herbs, herbs! 

Of course this salad needs some soft herbs to accompany it. And for this salad, I've used bright summery herbs: dill and tarragon. These will give it a brightness and lightness. Perfect for any picnic.

Simply the best potato salad dressing

Now, we all know – salads are about one thing and one thing only: the dressing. You can’t make a great salad without a great salad dressing. This one is all about the umami and savouriness that you get from dijon and gherkins – not just the gherkins themselves but the gherkin juice is where the flavour is! Don’t skip this! Combining sour cream with mayonnaise can achieve a balanced, less greasy dressing, adding a tangy flavor and desirable mouthfeel to the dish. And even for pickle haters, the flavour really blends into the sauce and is such a vital part of it.

The Importance of Balance: Getting the Flavors Just Right

Creating a delicious potato salad is all about balance. You want to harmonize the flavors of the potatoes, dressing, and add-ins to craft a delightful taste experience. Here are some tips to get it just right:

• Use a Variety of Flavors: A great potato salad recipe should include a mix of salty, sweet, tangy, and savory elements. Ingredients like pickle juice, dijon mustard or sweet relish add depth and complexity to your salad.
• Add Those Add-In's Remember, in most cases with my cooking less is often more. And while I love a potato salad that has no frills attached, I do love to pack my potato salad full of add ins such as hard boiled eggs, crispy bacon and lots of herbs such as dill and tarragon.
• Taste as You Go: Continuously taste your potato salad and adjust the flavors as needed. This ensures you achieve the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

By paying attention to these details, you’ll create a potato salad that’s not only delicious but also perfectly balanced in every bite.