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Dr. Potato Addresses Summertime Potato Salad Doldrums

In my extended circle of family and friends I am usually the one who volunteers to make potato salad for all the summertime events. Having just finished up with Memorial Day weekend, I found that the regulars at these get-togethers really love my Mom’s Southern Style Potato Salad. However, the younger generations in particular just look at this as “same old, same old” and often skip it. What can I do to jazz up the usual ingredients of Idaho Russet potatoes, salad dressing or mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickles, mustard, sliced hard boiled eggs with a little paprika sprinkled on top? I’m going to make potato salad again for the Fourth of July and then there’s Labor Day weekend. Signed, I’m bored.

The answer is quite simple…don’t abandon tradition! People may have their minds set on the taste profile. You could do ½ mayo and ½ sour cream instead, or add some crispy fried onion strings or bacon bits sprinkled on top, or make a version of a loaded baked potato salad like this:

Loaded Baked Idaho® Potato Salad

The easiest solution might be to make two potato salads, and the Idaho potato growers would love that concept! One is “expected” and the other might be a vinaigrette based potato salad, or spicy, smoky, ethnic or loaded with other vegetables.

To get you started, I’ve included a number of potato salad recipes below. In addition, I’d like to share some of the gourmet/ethnic/functional and multiple choice flavor trends to see if something inspires you to be creative with that second potato salad preparation:

Add Different Spices to Your Potato Salad (some of these you may have to look up or buy at an ethnic grocery store):

Chimichurri, coriander, curry, dashi, furikake, ginger, garam masala, gochujang, harissa, piri piri, sriracha, togarashi, saffron and Spanish paprika

Add a Fruit or Vegetable to Your Potato Salad (especially to vinaigrette based dressings)

Broccoli or cauliflower, green tomato, ghost pepper, mango, wasabi, even a salsa verde could make that second potato salad pop with color and flavor.

Here are some additional Idaho® potato salads that reflect current flavor trends:

Cooking trend - Fire, Smoke and Insta Pot:

Smoked® Idaho Potato Salad

Put a smoky twist on a summer-time classic with apple wood chips.

Rainbow Panzanella Salad with Idaho® Potatoes

Traditional panzanella potato salad is full of juicy, fresh tomatoes, and stale or toasted bread that soaks up all the delicious dressing.

Cooking trend - Ethnic:

Nepalese Idaho® Potato Salad

Chukauni, a yogurt-based potato salad from the hilly region of Palpa in midwestern Nepal.

Idaho® Potato and Avocado Salad Arepas

A vegetarian take on a classic Venezuelan dish that is not only easy to make, but hearty and very satisfying. Savory corn cakes filled with a delicious potato and avocado salad.