potato salad.  has two primary types are: Creamy and cold or Vinegar based and Hot. Now that you acknowledge that you can commence to formulate your own potato salad recipes.

Cold potato salads are typically a mayonnaise based but may be made with other creamy substitutes such as yoghourt or sour cream. because we use these styles of bases they have to be keep cold.

German variety potato salad most often uses a vinegar base which can be served hot.

Don’t fail to remember the single most fundamental ingredient of your potato salad is the potato. Not all potatoes are created equal. What you are looking for in a potato salad recipe is spud that is high in water content. These causes them to stay firmer when cooked so you don’t end up with a mashed potato salad. So you are looking for Yukon Gold or the littler red potatoes. Stay away from baking potatoes like Russets.

There is constantly the debate about skin on or skin off I can go either way the only thing is if you leave the skin on them make sure you scrub them down to get off any dirt or grit. When you cut them up the key is to keep them the same size so that they cook evenly. You do not want a little half cooked and some over cooked. Put the cut up potato into a pot and add water to just cover them. Put the lid on and bring it to a boil and add a fair amount of salt. Turn the heat down till you have a small boil and cook until fork tender. This should only take betwixt 9 and 15 minutes. Don’t overcook them.

When they are done take them out and drain them. They will keep some of that heat and cook a little while longer so it’s better to under cook slightly and they will finish up while they drain.

When making a German style potato salad that you intend to serve right away, you can and should make the dressing ahead of time and read to go. As soon as they have drained add the salad and mix and server.

You can speed up the cooling by placing your cooked potatoes in the refrigerator when making cold potato salad.

Cold potato salad dressing can be made while the potatoes are cooling. This is where all potatoes salads come into their own. What you choose to put into your salad dressing is what makes it different from everyone else’s potato salad. This list of things that can go in is endless so I will just list some of the most popular items.

Cider, lemon juice, horseradish, sweet paprika, hot sauce, fresh herbs, plain yellow mustard, tarragon, basil, thyme, and rosemary, tomatoes apples, shallots, olives, fennel, pimentos, watercress, and artichoke hearts, Crumbled cheeses including smoked cheddar, or feta, Roasted nuts and seeds, especially walnuts, sesame seeds, or pecans, cooked or cured meats like prosciutto, smoked salmon, or bacon and, of course, hard-cooked eggs

So when you have come up with your list of additions mix it all up and add it to the cooled potatoes and stick it back in the chill chest over night because potato salad.always taste better if they sit for a coulpe of days.

 

Technorati Tags: ,