Vibrant and Elegant Homemade Potato Salad
How to Make a Delicious Potato Salad at Home
Today, I’m sharing a recipe for a hearty and elegant potato salad. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a freshly delivered fried chicken feast, making for a truly delightful meal! Add a glass of wine, and it becomes even more romantic. This salad is inspired by the style commonly enjoyed in the southern regions of France, particularly in Nice. It features a wonderful combination of fresh vegetables and creamy potatoes, offering a rich and satisfying flavor. Topped with a delicious dressing, it’s simply divine! Enjoy a special meal at home with this beautiful creation.
Salad Ingredients- 5-6 leaves Romaine lettuce
- 2 medium-sized potatoes
- 1 ripe tomato
- 7 cloves whole garlic
- 7 walnuts
- 3 stalks scallions
- 1/2 red onion
- A handful of broccoli florets
- 8-10 black olives
Special Dressing- 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (freshly minced)
- 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (freshly minced)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare all the ingredients for our salad. We have crisp Romaine lettuce, ripe tomatoes, fluffy potatoes, aromatic whole garlic, fresh scallions, nutty walnuts, savory olives, sweet red onion, and vibrant broccoli. These colorful and texturally diverse ingredients will come together to create a truly delicious salad.
Step 2
Now, let’s get our ingredients ready for assembly! 1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces. 2. Remove the core from the tomatoes and cut them into 4-6 wedges. 3. Chop the scallions into about 2-3 cm lengths to add a fresh, oniony aroma. 4. Thinly slice the red onion and cut it in half for a beautiful presentation. 5. Slice the whole garlic cloves thinly lengthwise to bring out their subtle flavor.
Step 3
To ensure a clean and refreshing taste, it’s best to remove the sharp pungency of the red onion. Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for about 5 minutes. After soaking, drain it very well. Thoroughly drying the onion slices will prevent the salad from becoming watery and maintain its crispness.
Step 4
Broccoli is not only healthy but also adds a beautiful pop of color to our salad. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of sea salt, and then blanch the broccoli for just 10 seconds! Be careful not to overcook it, as this can destroy its nutrients and make it mushy. After blanching, do not rinse it under cold water. Instead, drain it on a colander; the residual heat will gently cook it further, preserving its vibrant green color.
Step 5
Let’s also prepare some boiled eggs for added creaminess and richness. Aim for a soft-boiled egg rather than a hard-boiled one. Once cooked, cut them into 2-4 pieces for an attractive arrangement on top of the salad.
Step 6
Now, let’s cook the potatoes. Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the prepared potatoes and cook them until they are tender when pierced with a fork. It’s important not to overcook them to the point where they become mushy.
Step 7
Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them well while they are still warm. You can either mash them coarsely or leave them in chunks, as per your preference. Sprinkle the chopped scallions around the potatoes. Then, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a pinch of black pepper, and half a pinch of salt. Gently mix everything together and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This step allows the potatoes to absorb the delicate flavors of the scallions, olive oil, and pepper, making them incredibly fragrant and tasty.
Step 8
On a large serving platter, arrange the sliced tomatoes, garlic slices, and walnuts attractively. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each of these components. Then, lightly sprinkle each with a pinch of salt and another pinch of pepper. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 9
Next, we’ll infuse the broccoli with a subtle garlic aroma. Heat a pan over high heat, then reduce to medium heat. Do not add any oil to the pan.
Step 10
Cooking broccoli can reduce the amount of beneficial nutrients like lutein. Lightly coating it with garlic flavor minimizes nutrient loss while enhancing its taste, making it a win-win situation.
Step 11
As the garlic in the pan turns a light brown color, it will impart its aroma to the tomatoes, creating a similar effect to marinating them with garlic. This process adds a gentle, mellow garlic flavor instead of the raw pungency.
Step 12
Once the tomatoes are slightly cooked, push them to one side of the pan. Add the walnuts and sauté them for about 15 seconds. Sautéing the walnuts lightly will bring out their nutty aroma and enhance the salad’s overall flavor. Turn off the heat immediately after sautéing.
Step 13
Now, let’s whip up the exquisite dressing that will tie all the flavors together! In a bowl, combine 5 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of sesame oil, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1.5 tablespoons of honey, and 1 tablespoon of freshly minced garlic. Whisk everything together until well combined. You’ve just created a perfectly balanced sweet, savory, and nutty dressing.
Step 14
It’s time to bring all our beautifully prepared ingredients together and artfully arrange them on a serving platter. As the saying goes, ‘The eyes eat first,’ so let’s make this salad as visually appealing as it is delicious.
Step 15
Start by laying a generous bed of washed Romaine lettuce leaves on the bottom of your serving dish. Then, arrange the sliced red onion in a circular pattern. Fill the center of the red onion ring with pieces of tomato or the halved soft-boiled eggs for a more stunning presentation. Arranging it like a beautiful flower will make it a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
Step 16
Finally, generously drizzle the delicious dressing you prepared over the artfully arranged salad. The dressing will meld with the ingredients, deepening their flavors. Now, you’re ready to savor your wonderful homemade potato salad!
