My Mother's Potato Salad Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Make Ahead

by: Kenzi Wilbur

October4,2022

4.7

7 Ratings

My Mother's Potato Salad Recipe on Food52 (1)

Prep time 30 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Serves 4 to 6

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Author Notes

I asked her for her recipe recently, and because I’m her daughter, I subbed and swapped and tweaked (to do this to a mother’s idea is just short of genetic obligation), but it’s still her salad, in essence: burly and rich from olive oil and mayonnaise (make your own if you’re inclined; it’s not necessary); brisk from pickles; heady from tarragon. If you forgo the hard boiled egg you don’t know up from down. Well-chilled and left to meld, It bears a lot of flavor resemblance to Sauce Gribiche, which is likely why it tugs my heartstrings quite like it does.

I’d walk you through it, but you know how to make this: Boil the potatoes; toss; mix; do as you do. Potato salad’s beauty is not in its technique.

It’s my mother’s birthday soon, and I think I’ll make it for her, my way. You’d be smart to make it for the Fourth, and every week thereafter, until the temperatures drop and the sun shines shorter. Always make extra -- you’ll want the leftovers -- and then spend the rest of the day outside. —Kenzi Wilbur

Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients

2 poundsbaby potatoes, scrubbed and the larger ones halved
2 tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
¹/₄ cupolive oil
¹/₄ cupbest-quality mayonnaise (homemade or store-bought)
1 tablespoonwhole-grain mustard
3 tablespoonsfinely chopped red onion
¹/₃ cupchopped cornichons
2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
¹/₄ cupchopped fresh herbs (I use tarragon and parsley)
Salt to taste
¹/₄ cupthinly sliced radishes
Chives and chive blossoms, for finishing, optional

Directions

Boil the potatoes in a big pot of salted water until they're fork-tender. Drain, and shock in an ice bath if you want a potato salad that will maintain its shape. (If a few squished potatoes are okay with you, this step is not necessary.) While the potatoes cook, soak the red onion in a bit of water to soften its bite.
Place drained potatoes in a large bowl, and sprinkle vinegar on them.
Mix olive oil, mayonnaise, and mustard together to make your dressing, and set aside.
To the large bowl, add the drained red onion, cornichon, hard-boiled egg, and herbs. Add the dressing -- starting with half, as you may not use it all -- and toss to coat. (You'll want enough dressing to slickly coat each potato, but you don't want a pool at the bottom of the bowl. If for some reason you find you need more dressing, add an extra splash of olive oil and a dollop of mayo to taste.) Add salt, and/or more vinegar to taste.
When it's where you want it seasoning-wise, fold in the sliced radishes. Garnish with chives and/or chive blossoms if you like, and serve. It's even better after it's been in the fridge for a day.

Tags:

Potato Salad
Salad
American
Chive
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Radish
Vinegar
Vegetable
Potato
Make Ahead
Serves a Crowd

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28 Reviews

[emailprotected] May 18, 2022

Kenzi Dear, as a mother and a grandmother, I had wanted to intercept your serving your mom HER potato salad to her for HER birthday with YOUR inspired improvements! But now, I note that your post was from 2017! So, Kenzi, you have already learned, I hope, that it is hardly kind to present your mom’s dish to her with said inspired improvements. My kids constantly ask me for the recipes I raised them on, and then expect praise for THEIR inspired improvements. Unless you yourself react in a selfless, generous manner when your friends serve a dish of yours to you that includes the fortunate improvements they have made, DO NOT do this again to your own mom!!!

Paige April 12, 2020

Delicious! Made this during quarantine so used shallot in place of red onion (did not soak in water) and only dill for herbs because that's what we had. Excellent side for our brisket for Easter dinner!

Lucy K. September 1, 2019

This is the best potato salad I've ever made. I used ground mustard instead of wet, and I left out the pickles. I sliced the red onion extra thin-you have to trust it when you see it. Don't guess when adding the vinegar it can ruin the dish. BUT it's AMAZING. Thank you for this!!

Karen B. June 23, 2018

What is a cornichon? Thanks, Esttexan

Miche June 23, 2018

A cornichon is a small pickle.

Jordan B. May 27, 2017

This is the best potato salad I've had, just got done with it and the flavor is amazing just made, can't wait to have it tonight after melding together for several hours.

Kenzi W. May 29, 2017

I'm so happy to hear this!!

Therese B. August 26, 2016

This is my new favorite potato salad! I have made it multiple times this summer and am always asked for the recipe. You and your mom have a winner here!

Roger C. October 2, 2015