Mediterranean Potato Salad

If it’s 4th of July, then there MUST be potato salad. That was true when I was growing up and I am bringing back the tradition. So much about the food we love is the food you grow up with. Even though Kent is not a big potato salad fan, sometimes you just have to make something that you want for yourself, and boy does this taste good!

Choose the Right Potato

Yukon Gold potatoes are perfect for potato salad. Creamy, buttery tasting, and thin-skinned with golden flesh, Yukon’s hold up beautifully for potato salad.

Potato Salad Prep

Scrub whole potatoes, then simmer covered with cold water until tender when pierced with a paring knife. Cook until they are tender all of the way through, but don’t let them fall apart.

Cool potaotes, then refrigerate until cold. Cold potatoes are much easier to dice into clean cubes, making for a nice presentation. And leave those skins on. They are good for you.

Mediterranean Flavors

To the cubed potatoes, add crunchy celery, sweet shallot, salty, rinsed capers and fresh chopped dill. To finish, fold in a dressing of Vegenaise (or homemade mayonnaise) mixed with lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

Don’t like dill? Try thyme or tarragon. For more herbal flavor, add chopped Italian parsley. For brighter lemon, use the zest too. Sometimes we like it with the addition of fennel seed for a light, sweet licorice flavor.

Potato Nutrition

While potatoes are a starchy vegetable, Yukon gold potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. They can be part of a varied, healthy diet. Just watch your portions. If you follow the Daniel Plan, a quarter of the plate is starchy vegetables or grains.

Make Ahead Tips To save time, simmer your potatoes, chill and dice a day or two ahead. Then gently fold in the rest of the ingredients. Serve chilled.

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About Yukon Gold potatoes 

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Mediterranean Potato Salad

A classic summer side, this potato salad  borrows from flavors of the Mediterranean with dill, lemon and capers. Cook potatoes a day ahead for easy assembly. If you don’t like dill, try thyme or tarragon. For more herbs, add chopped parsley and even a little fennel seed for more Mediterranean flavor. For brighter lemon flavor, use zest as well.

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes about 4 large
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 2 large ribs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped shallot or substitute sweet onion
• 1 tablespoon capers rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
• 4 tablespoons  Vegenaise  or other healthy mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic finely minced
• 2-3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Place scrubbed (not skinned) potatoes in a medium pot. Cover with cold water and bring to just under a boil. Turn down heat and simmer until completely tender when pierced with a paring knife, about 20-25 minutes. Drain potatoes, cool and refrigerate until cold. You can do this a day ahead.
• When potatoes are cold, dice into approximately 3/4″ cubes and place in a medium bowl. To the potatoes, add celery, shallot, capers, dill. In a small bowl, stir or whisk together the vegenaise, lemon juice, garlic, and mustard until smooth, then gently fold into the potatoes until the they are well coated. Add salt and pepper to taste, and add extra lemon or dill if preferred.