Recipe: Southern Smashed Potato Salad
Everyone’s mother has a signature potato salad recipe, at least in the South it seems. I’ve got about four versions that I rotate between, including an Ina Garten recipe that uses whole-grain mustard and my mother-in-law’s recipe with Greek yogurt and plenty of chives.
With warmer weather promising lots of potential potlucks and barbecues, I decided it was high time I came up with my own signature potato salad.
When I thought about the flavors I find most important, I kept returning to a potato salad I enjoyed at a little sandwich shop in my tiny North Carolina college town. I Googled it, hoping to find a description listed on the menu to guide me in the right direction. Unfortunately the only information I could find was its name, “Southern Potato Salad.” Not very helpful at all.
I racked my brain, remembering that it was rather chunky with both potatoes and their red skins. It was creamy, yet tangy, with the slightest hint of yellow. I also recall there being something crunchy and green, because I picked at everything around it. (At the time I didn’t like things that were either crunchy or green, a taste preference that I am very glad has since evolved.)
I grabbed a handful of ingredients and got started in the kitchen: red potatoes with the skins still on, mustard powder for spice, and prepared mustard for color. Mayonnaise is a given because no self-respecting Southerner doesn’t add at least a little bit, and finely chopped shallots and celery for both added flavor and color.
I started out slowly and tasted and stirred; a pinch of this and a handful of that. Then I left it to chill to see how it changed. A few hours later and what do you know? It was positively delightful! I’m not sure if it really is anything like that potato salad of my memory, but you can bet I’ve found my “signature” recipe. Of course like all recipes in this category, individual preferences differ. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to make it your very own.
What is your signature potato salad? Is it hot or cold, light or creamy? Is it a family recipe or did you come up with it on your own?
Southern Smashed Potato Salad
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 pounds
petite red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
- 3/4 cup
mayonnaise
- 1 1/4 teaspoons
dry mustard powder
- 1
heaping teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup
finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup
finely chopped shallots
- 1 teaspoon
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish
Instructions
Bring the potatoes to a boil in a large pot of salted water. Cook until tender and easily pierced with a knife, 20 to 25 minutes total. Drain potatoes and return to the pot.
Add the mayonnaise, dry mustard powder, yellow mustard, celery, shallots, salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Smash using a potato masher until desired texture is reached. (I like small chunks of potatoes throughout.)
Refrigerate until chilled. Adjust seasonings to personal preference upon serving; the flavors will have married and become a bit less pungent.
Recipe Notes
This recipe was originally published April 2012.