Easy French Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

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A simple vegan French potato salad recipe made with a tangy grainy Dijon mustard vinaigrette and fragrant fresh herbs. Chives, thyme and parsley make for a lovely marriage of flavors but feel free to add in some dill, tarragon and even salty capers. No mayo, no gluten!

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French Potato Salad

Easy like Sunday morning, this is a fabulous authentic Provencal side dish you can prepare in advance and proudly bring to any holiday party. Wait till you get there to combine the potatoes with the dressing, then make it all pretty with some fresh herbs and edible flowers.

The Potatoes:

Yukon gold potatoes work best here, they slice nicely without falling apart. The red skin potatoes, purple heirlooms, fingerlings or baby goldens would work great as well, you’ll just need to cut them in half to expose their flesh to the vinaigrette. Just in case you feel they might be absorbing a little too much of the dressing you can always add an extra light drizzle of olive oil or veggie broth and give it a gentle toss.

The Mustard Vinaigrette:

French Dijon mustard is the only way to go here, and in my honest opinion the grainy variety is the best. Creamy or grainy just don’t skip the main ingredient of the classic French dressing.

The Herbs:

Fresh chives, thyme and parsley are the Holy Trinity when it comes to herbs in my book. However you can get a little creative here using fresh dill, tarragon, basil and even rosemary instead.

You see, having super tasty French food at home on a Tuesday is no big deal, there are no excuses not to enjoy a lovely potato salad any day of the week!

Vegan and gluten-free, this salad pairs perfectly with a meaty vegan burger, this mushroom lentil loaf, green bean tomato salad, cucumber tomato salad + these vegan bbq ribs.

Potato Salad Add-Ins:

  • steamedgreen beans
  • salty capers
  • vegan tempeh bacon bits
  • sweet green peas (steamed)
  • tangy cornichons, roasted red peppers or artichoke hearts
  • thinly sliced radishes
  • sprinkle with toasted nuts like pine nuts, walnuts or pepitas
  • avocado.

watch how to make it:

  1. Cook the potatoes.
  2. Prepare the dijon dressing.
  3. Gently toss everything together.
  4. Adjust seasonings and dive in!

P.S. As always, If you make this recipe please come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag us with #VeggieSociety on Instagram. ~ Florentina Xo’s

Easy French Potato Salad Recipe (8)

5 from 2 votes

Easy French Potato Salad with Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette

A simple vegan French potato salad recipe made with a tangy, grainy Dijon mustard vinaigrette and fragrant fresh herbs.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Total Time:25 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Scrub and rinse the potatoes well, add them to a large pot and cover with water by an inch or so. Add the bay leaves and a good sprinkling of salt. You want the water to taste like salt water. Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes for about 15 to 20 minutes until tender but still al dente. Use a knife to check for doneness after 12 minutes. If the knife comes out easy with very little or no resistance then the potatoes are done.

  • Drain the potatoes and discard the bay leaves. Allow them to cool completely while drying off in their own steam. Once cool enough to handle gently peel and discard the skins. They should easily come right off.

  • Use a sharp knife and slice them into 1/4 inch slices. Transfer to a large bowl and allow them to cool even more.

Prepare the Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette:

  • Whisk together the olive oil with the dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, parsley, thyme or tarragon and chives. Reserve some of the herbs for garnish. Season to taste with a little sea salt then pour it over the sliced potatoes.

  • Using a spatula gently fold the dressing into the potatoes until nicely coated. Adjust seasonings with more sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve at room temperature garnished with more fresh herbs like chives and tarragon.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 5g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 29.2mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 6.6mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Keyword: French Potato Salad, plant based, potato salad, vegan,

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 234kcal

Author: Florentina

Plant-Based Recipes:

Easy French Potato Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to keep potatoes from falling apart when making potato salad? ›

Taste of Home Deputy Food Editor James Schend suggests adding a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to the water before it comes to a simmer, which will help create a “crust” on the potatoes. This way, they'll be less likely to fall apart.

What is potato salad dressing made of? ›

Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in large glass or plastic bowl. Add potatoes, celery and onion; toss. Stir in eggs. Sprinkle with paprika.

How to make potato salad Martha Stewart? ›

Directions
  1. Put potatoes in a large pot of salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain; let cool.
  2. Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and dill; season with salt and pepper. Peel potatoes; cut into 1-inch chunks. Fold into mayonnaise mixture.
Feb 25, 2021

What is French mayonnaise made of? ›

Ingredients For

In a bowl, mix the egg yolks, white wine vinegar, Burgundy mustard and salt. Whisk it all together. Then, gradually add the oil while continuing to whisk. It is important to add the oil little by little, especially at the beginning.

Does potato salad contain mayo? ›

Key Ingredients in Potato Salad

Mayonnaise: Use mayonnaise and a touch of mustard to bind the potatoes and mix-ins together. Celery: Add some crunch to the potato salad with chopped celery. Hard-boiled eggs: Classic potato salad recipes often include diced hard-boiled eggs.

Should I cut potatoes before boiling for potato salad? ›

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

Should potatoes be cool before adding mayonnaise? ›

Some people say potato salad tastes better the next day. Even if you're not in that camp, you need to allow about one hour for the potatoes to cool before adding the mayonnaise.

When making potato salad do you peel potatoes before boiling? ›

Much of this depends on what type of potato you are using. If you're going for the starchy potato, I would peel it first, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and boil it. Other potatoes have thinner skin and I think seeing the skin of potato adds some interest to the salad.

What are the ingredients for a good potato salad? ›

Stir mayonnaise, pickles, hard-cooked eggs, red onion, celery, mustard, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Fold in cooled potatoes until well combined. For best flavor, chill potato salad in the refrigerator until chilled or overnight before serving.

What kind of potatoes are best for potato salad? ›

Waxy potatoes are generally considered the best for classic potato salad because they retain their shape, you don't have to peel them, and they have a smooth texture.

Should you add salt to water when boiling potatoes for potato salad? ›

Dense potatoes don't absorb seasonings easily, so you'll need to salt the water liberally so that the water the potatoes do drink up also carries in seasoning. And because potatoes are so timid in flavor, they need that salt to bring them out of their shells. Pour some salt in, then keep going.

Why are my potatoes hard in my potato salad? ›

Not Getting The Cook Time Right

It's a delicate balance to achieve soft, tender potatoes for that just-right potato salad texture. Defer to your recipe for specific cook times, which depend on the type of potato being used, but a good rule of thumb is to boil them until you can pierce the spuds with a fork.

Are French potatoes healthy? ›

Because of their starch content, french fries are a high-glycemic food, posing a cardiovascular and metabolic health risk. However, they are high in fibre, water, and nutrients, which are beneficial. Therefore, limiting them and viewing them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while treat rather than a staple may be wise.

What is potato French? ›

potato, the ~ pomme de terre, la ~ (f) Noun.

What do the French call potatoes? ›

'Pomme de terre' is how you say potato in French, and it literally translates to 'apple of the earth'.

References

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