Sunday, August 8, 2010

Light and Lemony Potato Salad ~ Ode to a Tuber - Part Fifteen

Quoting from an EHow contributor: "Potato salad is neither new or American. It was first written about in 1597 and recipes first appeared in print in the 19th century. It was popular in Europe before it became a staple of the American diet. Potatoes themselves are native to America and were first introduced to Europe by returning explorers. The immigrants brought the potato salad recipes to America. Mayonnaise was first made in France, and the French and German immigrants are credited with creating potato salad."

My recipe was taken from the August, 2010 issue of Southern Living Magazine.  Once again, a Midwesterner living vicariously through romantic locations with better climates than her own!  It still is REALLY cold here in the winter, however, NOT in the summer...




The recipe that caught my eye in this issue (other than that glorious pie on the cover..but we're not going there until I lose the 3 pounds that have mysteriously appeared in the past two weeks) was the lightened version of potato salad. Perfect for a light, summery, Sunday dinner. 

Made with olive oil, lemon juice and dry mustard vinaigrette, with green onions and fresh, chopped parsley from my garden, it sounded wonderful.   I pulled out my very best olive oil for this recipe. 


The potatoes are tossed with the dressing while still warm. I found this advice from a potato salad article in the Atlantic Monthly (which is not normally your go-to site for potato salad):

"Dress potatoes while they're still warm, I've always been told, if you want them to absorb maximal flavor. The rule is sacred to many Germans, who view potato salad practically as a national symbol... Heat will also dissolve salt and sugar and begin to emulsify the oil in the dressing, providing a smoother consistency."



There is another great reason to make this potato salad. Using red potatoes and leaving the skins on, adds antioxidants and fiber to your diet. They also contain healthy flavonoids which have been known to protect against certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Here is this delightful and light recipe from Southern Living:

Light, Lemony Potato Salad
Adapted from the August, 2010 issue of Southern Living Magazine
Printable Recipe

Serves 6

2 pounds small red potatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
1/4 cup good-quality olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 green onions, very thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Fill a large pot with cold water, add about 1 teaspoon of salt and the potato wedges. Bring to a boil and cook until just barely tender, about 10 minutes (testing frequently to be sure you don't overcook them). Drain potatoes, rinse very lightly with cool water, and allow to cool for five minutes. The potatoes will still be warm.

While the potatoes are cooling, whisk together the olive oil and next 4 ingredients until creamy and emulsified in a bowl large enough to fit the potatoes. Add the warm potatoes, green onions and parsley. Toss to coat.

Serve at room temperature or may be chilled.

26 comments:

  1. Yay! Glad you could join me Susan. This potato salad sounds like and summery for sure. I have to say though that your photography is the star of this post. That first shot might just go down as my favorite food photo ever. You've got such great lighting. And the pink and yellow together are so pretty.

    My mother subscribed to Southern Living in my growing up years and I always skipped back to the recipes first :-)I have a subscription now too and am really enjoying it again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That would be "light and summery"

    ReplyDelete
  3. That picture of potato salad and the recipe is going to cause me to increase my magazine subscriptions! Not to mention that lemony cover!

    Copying this, I know my family will love this recipe! Thanks, Susan!

    Love the magazine challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The lemon potato salad looks sooo good! I love Southern Living magazine, I have been getting it for 31 years!! That's how long I have been in the south, I grew up in the Chicago area, but consider myself a Southern Girl now!

    ReplyDelete
  5. looks great and great informative post

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love non-mayo versions of potato salad! Especially lemony non-mayo versions!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love Southern Living magazine- this is a great recipe pick. Your potato salad is lovely. It would be a perfect picnic dish. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This salad has all the right ingredients. I especially like the fact that you do not use mayo in it. This makes it lighter and can be enjoyed even while on a diet, just like I am currently.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This looks like a wonderful version of potato salad and such a change from the traditional mayo version. I will have to try it soon. A great recipe for the magazine challenge. I have my issue but the cover hasn't been opened yet :) I agree SL is such a fun read for us midwesterners.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely! My Sicilian grandmother never made mayo based potato salads- hers was very similar to this. We still love it
    xoxo Pattie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your potato salad looks delicious! Love the dressing and Southern Living also. It has the best recipes! It's potato salad season for sure, I posted a recipe for it today. A perfect dish for summer. Great recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am always looking for a new way for spud salad. My daughter just doesn't do mayo, this will be perfect. I am so glad you posted it. I am thinking supper tonight with some lightly fried fish. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful salad and such summery yellow placemats. I'll have to give this one a try. My husband is not a mayo person.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like an unusally light potato salad, and delicious. How nice that you won the oil from Rebecca and are using for your salad :) Your picture is beautiful with your garden calling to us in the background!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a delicious change from the mayo based potato salad I usually make. I think this would be delicious with grilled salmon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I stumbled across your website via Foodgawker and have to say this definitely won't be my last visit. I have to say I ADORE your photography. It's so beautiful. Especially the first photo in this post. What camera do you use?

    The lemon potato salad looks delicious too. I make something similar without the mustard. I really love the combination of lemon with potato which makes it such a refreshing light salad compared to the usual potato salad recipes that use mayonnaise.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Reminds me of another SL recipe from years ago ... Lemon Basil Potato Salad. I made it without the bacon and it was delicious!

    Pretty pics. Love the thin lemon slices in your glass of water.

    http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=257432

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful recipe and my Gram always said to dress potato salad while the potatoes were warm for the same reason... love the lemon addition... makes a great alternative to vinegar!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That first photo is just SO beautiful (well really, they all are). I love the idea of adding lemon to potato salad. So summery and fresh!

    Sues

    ReplyDelete
  20. We like potato salad made with red potatoes straight from the farm. Nice and light for summer. It looks delicious!
    Gorgeous pics, as usual, Susan!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Susan...this looks devine :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

    ReplyDelete
  22. A perfect salad for summer... great recipe and the best picture! Congrats

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love the tip- I would never have thought to toss potatoes with dresing when they're still warm- it's such a smart ideat though! This looks really yummy! I love potato salad, although I've never made it myself....

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a beautiful photo Susan! I am loving the color yellow this year. The potato salad sounds very refreshing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. That looks great...got a bunch of potatoes I nees to use, will do this for lunch next week! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment!