Southern Red Potato Salad - Oil Based Dressing
New Red Potatoes Tossed with Olive Oil and Seasoned with Herbs
When the new red potatoes come in, Southerners often make salads with the potato peelings on and a zippier sauce. New red potatoes have thinner skins and a nice rich flavor. The extra color also makes for a very pretty salad.
The herbs add a special touch to this salad and give it a burst of flavor. Many gardeners in the South grow their own herbs. Fresh herbs are perfect for this recipe, but dried herbs are fine. If using fresh herbs, you need more than if you use dried herbs.
Red Skinned Potato Salad can be made with other types of potatoes and can be made with peeled potatoes. Firm potatoes work better than the softer types. The potatoes need to stay intact for this dish to look and taste good.
Southern Summer Red Skinned Potato Salad Recipe
- 1 lb small red skinned potatoes (usually 6 to 8 potatoes)
- ½ cup olive oil (can use vegetable oil – but the dish is a little heavier tasting)
- ½ cup wine vinegar
- 3 TBS parsley dried (can use fresh – double amount)
- 3 TBS basil dried (can use fresh – double amount)
- 2 TBS sage dried
- 4 small Roma or other firm tomato
- ¼ cup chopped onion (colored onions are nice – Vidalias have a milder flavor)
Directions:
- Boil the potatoes until done. Place in boiling water. Reduce heat. Add potatoes. Cook for around ½ hour. Check for doneness. Cooking times vary depending on size of potatoes and stove.
- Cut potatoes into small wedges with the skins on and place in larger serving bowl (with a lid – or can use Saran wrap etc).
- Combine olive oil and wine vinegar in a small bowl.
- Add parsley, basil, and sage to oil/vinegar mixture and stir.
- Add tomatoes and onion to potatoes and gently stir.
- Pour oil/vinegar mixture over vegetables and toss lightly.
- Refrigerate for a couple of hours until chilled. May want to gently toss the salad a few times while it’s chilling to get mixed better and to meld flavors.
Red Potato Salad is excellent with grilled foods of all types. See Yes You Can Grill for ideas on the grill and for more side dish recipes. Grilling is always popular in the South - even during the winter months, since Southern winters are generally mild.
Other Favorite Southern Potato Recipes:Old Fashioned Potato Salad - If you're looking for potato salad like Grandma made, this is the one. It does have the mayonnaise base and is rich and creamy.
Potato Salad with Italian Dressing - This potato salad looks like a traditional Southern potato salad, but the Italian dressing gives it a little extra flavor. Excellent recipe and easy to make too.
