Our southern potato salad is a must have at any BBQ or picnic plus its great for lunch-boxes. With several layers of flavours it is tangy, salty and sweet with a creamy, crunchy, fluffy texture!
Everyone needs a great potato salad for the summer and this is our favourite easy potato salad.
This potato salad is everything it should be – creamy, crunchy, fluffy and light!
The combination tangy, salty and slightly sweet ingredients work beautifully together making it a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, seafood, or as part of a salad medley.
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Potatoes are a great pantry staple, read my tips on how to keep potatoes fresh.
This recipe uses ingredients you probably already have. See my possible substitutions below in case you are missing anything.
Make it in advance
If you are making it the same day, allow at least 2 hours to chill to allow the flavours to come together. In fact, our homemade potato salad tastes even better if made the day before so the flavours have a chance to really come together.
Preparing it in advance also makes it ideal for picnics or lunch-boxes.
Your questions answered
Waxy potatoes are the best potatoes for potato salad or all rounders e.g. New Potatoes, Fingerling, Red, Yukon Gold, Maris Piper, Charlotte. As they are low in starch and high in moisture they will retain their shape well after boiling. Potatoes that are too starchy (floury) will become mushy and fall apart easily.
Helpful tips
- Select the right kind of potato, waxy varieties work best.
- Place the potatoes into a pan of salted cold water. Adding them to boiling water will make them cook quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside.
- A splash of vinegar added to the cold water prevents the potatoes from overcooking and becoming too soft.
- After the potatoes have cooled, toss them gently with chopped celery, gherkins, onion and dressing.
- Cover and chill for at least two hours, the longer it rests, the tastier it will be.
- Before serving, garnish with sliced hard boiled eggs for extra creaminess and parsley.
Substitutions
- Run out of gherkins? You can use pickled jalapeños and their pickling water.
- Don’t have sour cream? Increase the mayonnaise to ¾ cup and add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice.
- No red onions? Use a white onion sliced finely. In a small bowl mix together 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ cup cool water. Add the sliced onion ensuring it is completely submerged (if not, add a little more water) and set aside for 20 minutes. Drain the liquid away before using the onions.
Storing leftovers
Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. This potato salad is not suitable for freezing.
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📋 Recipe
Southern Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes (use waxy potatoes), washed, peeled and halved
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 tablespoon gherkins chopped
- 1 small red onion chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper adjust to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 hard boiled eggs quartered
- a few springs fresh parsley
For the dressing
- 120 grams mayonnaise ½ cup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 120 grams sour cream ½ cup
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon gherkin pickle water (optional)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large saucepan place the halved potatoes in salted cold water till potatoes are submerged. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes, or till fork tender.
- Drain the water away and allow the potatoes to cool.
- Once cooled, cut the potatoes into bite size pieces, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the celery, onion, and gherkins.
- Separately, in a small bowl make the dressing by combining the garlic, mustard, sugar, vinegar, pickle water, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt and pepper.
- Carefully mix the potato salad to ensure an even coating in dressing, then garnish with sliced eggs and parsley .
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Notes
- This dish is best made the day before for the flavours to fully come together.
- Select the right kind of potato. Waxy potatoes work best as they are low in starch and high in moisture, so they retain their shape well after boiling. If the potatoes are too starchy (floury), they become mushy and fall apart.
- The potatoes should be added to salted cold water rather than boiling, otherwise they will cook too quickly on the outside, while remaining raw inside.
- The potatoes are boiled in plenty of salted water, with a splash of vinegar to prevent them from overcooking and becoming mushy.
- After cooling, add the dressing and gently mix, ensuring the potatoes are evenly coated in dressing.
- Garnish with sliced hard boiled eggs for extra creaminess and parsley.
- Cover and chill for at least two hours, the longer it rests, the tastier it will be.
- Potato salad will keep covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. It is not suitable for freezing.
- Run out of gherkins? You can use pickled jalapeños and their pickling water.
- Don’t have sour cream? Increase the mayonnaise to ¾ cup and add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- No red onions? Use a white onion sliced finely. In a small bowl mix together 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ cup cool water. Add the sliced onion ensuring it is completely submerged (if not, add a little more water) and set aside for 20 minutes. Drain the liquid away before using the onions.
MEASUREMENT NOTES
The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.
Nutrition
This post was updated on 20th May, 2019.
The Olive Blogger
I had no clue that the vinegar was so crucial in helping with the cooking process, I will have to do this next time as I hate a mushy potato salad! Can’t wait to try this one out.
The FoodOlic
Nothing like a good and creamy potato salad! Reminds me so much of my childhood! Lovely recipe!
Derek @ Dad With A Pan
I’m going to have to try vinegar in potatoes, that sounds like a great trick, plus I always love a little twang to my potato salad!
bitesofflavor
I love a good potato salad! Growing up in Texas, potato salad was a regular dish at family gatherings. I have never tried to make it with sour cream… I definitely want to give this recipe a try!! Looks delicious!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
This is definitely putting me in a picnic state of mind. If only we could get rid of this snow.
The FoodOlic
That reminds me of my granma recipe! Love the added eggs and mustard! A great dish and easy dish!
Gloria Duggan
I agree, potato salad is always better the next day. I always make it the day before I need it. Perfect for the warmer weather coming….not soon enough. Great for grilling season.
MyYellowApron
One time at work, a friend made potato salad for potluck and she added heaps of jalapenos in it and it was delicious.
jacquee | i sugar coat it!
Sounds good! I love a good potato salad side especially for barbecue season!
Jacqueline Piper
Oh I’m always up for trying a new potato salad recipe, this one sounds great!
Gillian's Kitchen
I’m not sure I’ve ever made a potato salad. Thanks for tips on adding cider vinegar, I would never have known to do that. 🙂
strawberryblondiekitchen
I love that you added vinegar to this potato salad. I love a good vinegar base dressing for potato salads. I also love the addition of eggs, which I put in mine too! Looks tasty!
Lisa Bryan | Downshiftology
Now that the weather’s warming up (at least in Cali) I’m all about the picnic/outdoorsy food, like this potato salad. Yum!
Luci's Morsels
I can’t wait for potato salad season and this looks delicious!
cricketsconfections
I’m not a big mayo fan, I love that you added some sour cream to lighten it up!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
Yummy. It’s so fun to see everyone’s rendition of potato salad. This looks so good!