Salad Recipes – Balsamic Potato Salad
When Spanish conquistadors returned home, after exploring the new world, they brought back several interesting ingredients of which, one was potatoes.
Despite the fact, it is most likely that the birth of potato salad was in Germany. The recipe was made from dressing of hot vinegar, onions, and bacon drippings.
But with potatoes spanning across Europe, newer versions of potato salad and other recipes based on potatoes sprang up. For instance French chefs disliked the taste of hot vinegar and replaced it with full-scale vinaigrette, while Greek and Italian had their version of which, one was of garlic, lemon and vinegar and the other of herbs and olive oil.
By 19th century many Europeans migrated to the US. They had to adapt their traditional recipes with local ingredients and so the standard European potato salads which were served warm, were now being made cold. They were heavier and heartier (creams, sour cream and cheese) some varieties included mayonnaise and chopped vegetables, such as pickles and pimentos etc.
Today US has one of the largest array of potato salad recipe.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp – Olive oil
2 tbsp – Balasmic Vinegar
500 gms – Baby potatoes
3/4 cup – Sour cream
1/2 cup – Spring onions sliced
1/2 cup – Celery coarsley chopped
2 tbsp – Almond/pine toasted flakes
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
A wide variety of dressings, marinades and at bargain prices.
Method:
Wash and cut the spring onions and soak in ice cold water to give crispiness. Then dry thoroughly.
Cook the potatoes in salt water until just cooked. Strain and leave aside.
Let the potatoes cool just enough to handle and then half.
Mix sour cream, vinegar, salt, pepper, oil till well combined.
Add the dressing, celery and spring onions to the potatoes and toss till well combined.
Garnish with nuts and serve.
Tips: Salad ideas with potatoes – you can include radishes, scallions and orange bell pepper, all of which add colour, flavour, as well as a crunchy texture.
Pitted black or green olives, unconventional but make a delightful surprise to a savoury potato salad recipe.