Simple American-Style Potato Salad
Simple American-Style Potato Salad
Easy Homemade Potato Salad, Classic American Style
Discover how to make a classic American potato salad with tender potatoes, crisp onions, and tangy pickles all brought together with creamy mayonnaise. This simple recipe is perfect as a side dish or a sandwich filling, offering a delightful balance of textures and flavors.
Main Ingredients- 3-4 medium potatoes
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3-4 dill pickles (or sweet pickles)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (approx. 120ml)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1-2 Tbsp mustard (Dijon or yellow)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Gather all your ingredients for this delicious potato salad. Washing and measuring everything beforehand will make the cooking process much smoother.
Step 2
Peel the onion and dice it very finely. This fine dice ensures a smoother texture in the salad and reduces its sharpness. If you’re sensitive to raw onion flavor, soak the diced onion in cold water for about 5 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
Step 3
Peel the potatoes (or scrub them clean if you prefer leaving the skin on) and cut them into uniform 2-3 cm (about 1-inch) cubes. Cutting them evenly helps them cook at the same rate.
Step 4
Place the cubed potatoes in a pot and cover them with water. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Step 5
Drain the cooked potatoes thoroughly in a colander. Immediately rinse them under cold running water to cool them down. This step helps prevent the potatoes from becoming mushy and maintains their texture for the salad. Let them cool completely.
Step 6
Wash the celery stalks and dice them finely. Celery adds a wonderful crispness to the salad. (This ingredient is optional, but it really enhances the flavor and texture if you have it.)
Step 7
Finely chop the dill pickles. The pickles’ tangy and slightly sweet flavor cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and adds a refreshing element. Dill pickles will give a more pronounced flavor.
Step 8
Combine all the prepared ingredients – the cooled, cooked potatoes, diced onion, chopped pickles, and diced celery – into a large mixing bowl. Get ready to mix everything together.
Step 9
Add the mayonnaise and mustard to the bowl with the potatoes. Season with a pinch of black pepper. Gently fold everything together using a spoon or spatula, being careful not to mash the potatoes. Mix until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more mayonnaise, salt, or pepper to your preference. For the best flavor, chill in the refrigerator before serving.
