Potato salad is one of the quintessential potluck foods that people bring. Without fail, every single potluck I’ve been to involves a holy trinity of salads: potato, pasta and coleslaw.
I was charged with bringing the potato salad at the last family gathering I went to. It was a special request from my sister-in-law. Apparently, she has taken a liking to my potato salad. While most recipes found online involves mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, mine does not contain any.
Don’t get me wrong, I love mayonnaise. In fact, I dip my fries in it instead of using ketchup (I blame the European influences found in Quebec for steering me on to that calorie-laden habit 
). However, I don’t like it in potato salads. I think getting sick from potato salad that sat out on a picnic table too long has cured me of ever eating one that included mayo.
My recipe veers away from the typical recipes. I include ingredients that some of my friends think is a little to fancy for the humble potato salad. This recipe makes use of extra-virgin olive oil, capers and Dijon mustard. Personally, I think that dressing it up makes it more interesting and allows it to move away from the picnic table in a backyard barbecue.
What’s your favorite potato salad recipe?
Note: I don’t bother peeling my potatoes, but you can if you want. If you decide not to peel them, make sure you scrub them well. Dirt sometimes cling to the skin, even when they claim to have been washed.
No Mayo Potato Salad
4 cups potatoes, cooked and cubed
1 small onion, sliced
6 strips cooked bacon, cut into smaller strips
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 tbsp old-fashioned Dijon mustard
3 tbsp capers
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Whisk together the olive oil and Dijon mustard until well combined. Set aside.
- Put potatoes, bacon, onion and capers in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over top. Toss the salad gently so you don’t break up the potatoes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the salad sit for at least an hour to allow the flavors to combine. Sprinkle the chives on top before serving.
Wow, this sounds delicious. I used to like potato salad made with salad dressing, but have gotten sick of them. I made potato salad with plain yogurt once. it was quite good.
Mustard works well in a no mayo potato salad. It looks good!
@Joey – I never used yogurt in potato salad. I’ll have to try that at some point. You have a recipe?
@Kevin – Thanks! Mustard is definitely very good in potato salad. I hear dill pickles are good too.
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