Potato salad is a dish made from boiled potatoes that comes in many versions in different regions of
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| A coarse cut potato salad |
the world. Though called a salad, it is generally a side dish, as it usually accompanies the main course.
Potato salad is often served with barbecue, roasts, hot dogs, fried chicken, hamburgers and cold sandwiches. It is generally considered casual fare, and as such is typically served at picnics, outdoor barbecues, potlucks and other casual meals and events.
It is a popular menu choice of cooks preparing food for a large number of people, because it is easily made in large quantities, it can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until needed, and requires inexpensive ingredients.
General versions of potato salad include:
* salad with a mayonnaise, yogurt or sour cream dressing;
* salad with vinegar dressing;
* salad with bacon;
* salad with a fresh herb or dill dressing and/or chives, scallions, tarragon, gherkins, capers or other items;
* salad with raw onions and pickles;
* salad with hard-boiled eggs (a combination of potato salad and egg salad).
Different versions of potato salad are served at different temperatures. Most potato salads are served at room temperature or chilled, though the southern German variant may be served warm as well. In the U.S. and northern Germany potato salads are commonly served chilled and require refrigeration beforehand.
Germany
German "Kartoffelsalat" is a popular variation that is generally prepared with vinegar, potatoes, oil,
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| Northern German potato salad |
vegetable broth, bacon bits, parsley, red onion and topped with chive and served warm. This style of potato salad is usually found in Southern Germany. Potato salad from northern Germany is generally made with mayonnaise and quite similar to its U.S. counterpart. Potato salad and sausages (like Bratwurst, Weisswurst, Bockwurst or Vienna sausage) is a popular German dish for Christmas Eve.
Russia and the former Eastern bloc
Russian version, called Olivier salad or Stolichny salad, became popular as a zakuski (appetizer) or a side-dish for Christmas and New Year's Eve (Novy God) feasts across the former Soviet sphere of influence. Originally, the salad included various kinds of poultry, meat and sea fruit; in its current widespread form, it usually includes potatoes, diced boiled chicken (or sometimes ham or bologna sausage), eggs, brined dill pickles, carrots, green peas and onions, dressed with mayonnaise. It can thus be considered as a combination of potato salad, egg salad and chicken salad. Variations of this salad are also popular in the Balkans, Spain, as well as in some Asian and South American countries. In some of these countries this salad is known as Russian salad (e.g. Greek ρώσικη σαλάτα, Spanish ensaladilla rusa, Turkish rus salatası etc.)
Italy
A version of potato salad popular in Latium is boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, vinegar, finely minced parsley and garlic, hot chili peppers and salt. In Sicily, potato salad is made with string beans and red onion, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
United States
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| Cold potato salad served at a restaurant |
Although potato salad is enjoyed any time of year in the United States, it is commonly associated with summer and picnics. White and/or red potatoes are commonly used; it is customary to leave a bit of the skin on red potatoes—especially when Americans make it German-style.
Basic ingredients for traditional American potato salad include: cubed, boiled potatoes (typically russet potatoes), mayonnaise or a mayonnaise-like substitute such as yogurt or sour cream, yellow mustard and/or mustard powder (dry mustard), black pepper, salt, celery seed, dry dill, chopped pickles (pickled cucumber), chives, finely-chopped red or white onion, chopped green or red bell pepper, thinly-sliced/finely-chopped celery and sometimes chopped hard-boiled egg whites (usually one egg per batch of salad). Vegetable ingredients (not including the potatoes) are incorporated raw and never cooked. The salad is often topped with paprika and chives, and generally served cold or room temperature.
