"my people" classic southern potato salad recipe

This is a classic Southern soul food recipe for real deal Southern potato salad, the one that with get you elevated to potato salad duty for all family barbecues. It's the perfect side dish for any family cookout whether it be July 4th, general family gatherings, or your next family reunion.

Potato salad is serious business in black family households and neighborhoods. Only certain people are allowed to be in charge of the potato salad. If it's not yellow, seasoned well with a good dose of paprika, doesn't include relish, and is absent of eggs it ain't real potato salad.

And god forbid you add foreign ingredients like raisins. This is the kind of shit that will get you banned from the cook-out and absolutely murder your chef credentials. You could be Marcus Samuelson, Gordon Ramsey, or Bobby Flay and it wouldn't matter. My people don't eff around when it comes to classic potato salad.

If you think I'm kidding, there are articles written by very smart people on matters of the importance of potato salad to black people. Peep the rest of the post to get the scoop on all things classic Southern potato salad.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with potato salad)

The possessive, irrational, and polarizing nature of potato salad in the minds of Southern and/or black folks necessitates a pairing that ties to a highly culturally appropriate song like Erykah Badu's "My People" which has a strong Afrofuturistic vibe to it.

Best Potato Salad Recipe Ingredients

Many potato salad recipes call for mayo as the potato salad dressing base, but this one includes both mustard and mayonnaise. Note that mayo-mustard ratio involves enough mustard to be yellow! For the best potato salad go with the combo.

• Potatoes - I'm a Yukon guy. They have great texture and flavor. Russet potatoes also get consideration and often times are blended 50/50 with yukon gold. Red potatoes are altogether something different in a potato salad recipe
• Large Eggs - eggs are a most for legit potato salad. Hard boiled eggs add heft, flavor, and additional texture.
• Mayo - Miracle Whip was the standard in my house growing up, but after working on that business for a while as an insider I go with Hellman's or Duke's. The combination of mayo + sour cream + sweet relish make for a more natural alternative to Miracle Whip.
• Yellow Mustard - Need the tang and the collard to make this pop and for street cred lol. I'm more of the plain yellow mustard type, but I get the dijon mustard choice of some.
• Sour Cream - under the radar sneaky ingredient that adds some zip and creaminess to the dish
• Celery, Onions, Relish - this is where the crunch comes from. If your potatoes are crunchy, this is not a good look. I prefer dill relish or even diced dill pickles, but others are more on the sweet pickle relish tip. I'm not as big a fan of sweet pickles in my potato salad. Green onion is another crunch element consideration.
• Rice Vinegar - is mild so doesn't compete with the many flavors present, but still has some tanginess and helps with moisture in the potatoes
• Kosher Salt
• Paprika - prefer a good quality smoky sweet paprika for that earthy and smoky flavor.
• Garlic powder
• Sugar - just enough to balance against the many salty/savory ingredients
• Chicken Broth and bay leaf - these along with some salt are used to season the potatoes. You want to season at every level and boiling the potatoes in seasoned liquid is a highly effective way to maximize flavor.
• Relish - I'm a sweet relish guy but if you prefer dill pickle relish go for it
• Fresh dill - finishing touch to add that fresh dill flavor.
• Celery Seed (optional)
• Onion powder (optional)
• Hot sauce (optional)

How to make potato salad (step by step)

The ingredients and measures are included, but note that I never saw my grandmother measure anything when she made her potato salad and I learned from her. The measurements included are meant to be a guide. You should taste and adjust the seasoning and quantities as needed based on tasting as much as needed.

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes

Boil potatoes in a large pot with a seasoned broth (salt, bay leaf, chicken stock, and optional fresh oregano). Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Eggs

Boil the eggs, then drain and set aside. Peel once cooled.

Step 3: Mix the Potato Salad

In a large bowl Mix cooked potatoes with the mayonnaise, mustard, sour cream, and seasonings (sugar, salt, garlic powder, paprika). 

Add dill, celery, vinegar, and eggs mixing well. Taste for flavor, then adjust with more seasoning and/or mayo and mustard. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Garnish with paprika and green onions.

What To Serve With Potato Salad

Serve the potato salad with fresh dill and a nice smoky paprika. There are several dishes that would pair well with Southern potato salad and be a great on your cookout menu. Here are some options:

1. Grilled or Barbecued Meats: Southern potato salad is a classic side dish for grilled or barbecued meats, such as ribs, chicken, pork chops/pork steaks, or beef steak. The creaminess of the potato salad pairs well with the smoky flavor of grilled or barbecued meats.
2. Fried Chicken: Southern potato salad is also a great side dish for fried chicken. The tangy and slightly sweet flavor of the potato salad can help cut through the richness of the fried chicken.
3. Coleslaw: Coleslaw is another classic Southern side dish that pairs well with potato salad. The combination of the crunchy cabbage and carrots in coleslaw with the creamy texture of potato salad is a delicious match.
4. Baked Beans: Baked beans are a staple at many Southern barbecues and are a great complement to potato salad. The sweetness of the baked beans balances out the tanginess of the potato salad.
5. Cornbread: Cornbread is a traditional Southern bread that goes well with potato salad. The slightly sweet and savory flavor of cornbread complements the tangy and creamy flavor of the potato salad.
6. Greens: A side of greens, such as collard greens, kale, or spinach, can add a fresh element to a meal featuring Southern potato salad.
7. Sweet Tea: A glass of cold, sweet tea is the perfect drink to wash down a meal featuring Southern potato salad.
8. Hot or Sausage Dogs: Gourmet or basic hot dogs make for easy work.

The recipe also pairs well with any classic popular soul food meat dishes like beef neck bones. I like to set out some pickled okra for folk to nibble on pre-bbq, as well as keep some chow chow relish on hand as a condiment to any meats I've cooked on the grill.

Tips For Making Potato Salad Southern Style

• Use Yukon gold potatoes for better potato salad
• Try to dice your ingredients as evenly as possible. Smaller chunks are also better than larger ones. You want each bite to get a mix of the different ingredients vs. only the larger diced potato.
• Sweet pickle relish can be polarizing. Go with your preference and don't look back!
• Use salted water to cook your potatoes if not going with chicken stock trick.
• Bring the water and potatoes to a rolling boil vs. heating the water first. Beginning with cool water and the potatoes simultaneously will cook the potatoes evenly this way.
• Season at each step,especially early. During boiling the potatoes can/will absorb the flavors in the liquid. Boil potatoes in seasoned broth to maximize flavor
• This is a recipe for potato salad not mashed potatoes, so don't cook the potatoes to a super soft fork tender texture. They should be creamy in the center with a fair amount of disintegration on the outside. 
• I actually like plain white or yellow onions, but red onion works well. It adds a sweeter taste while still delivering on the crunch. White parts from green onions can also be used for that onion crunch.
• The sour cream and mayo add a certain level of richness, so you'll want some acidity from the rice vinegar to break up the dairy richness. If you don't have rice vinegar substitute apple cider vinegar. It's not as mild as rice vinegar so you don't have to use as much.
• Crunch on some level is necessary. Celery, green onions, dill pickles, etc. are good sources of crunch!
• Don't add the mayo too early. Wait till the potatoes are close to room temperature otherwise, the potato salad will end up very oily. Waiting to mix the ingredients with the potatoes also provides the needed time for the water to evaporate. Trust me, you don't want a watery potato salad. That's another no-no. The more evaporation the better the dressing mix clings to the potatoes.
• If I don't have dill relish on hand I will simply dice up dill pickles and use instead.
• A proper Southern bbq has some sweet tea on hand

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Making A Southern Potato Salad Recipe

What kind of potatoes are best for southern potato salad?

Starchy potatoes are the enemy in potato salad. You actually want waxy potatoes like fingerling or even Yukon which is my preferred. Yukon are low in starch and have a smooth texture, plus they're easy to find.

How Long Do I Boil Potatoes For Potato Salad?

Both undercooked and overcooked potatoes are absolute no-nos. The key to determining "just-right" is the fork test. The fork should slide in cleanly with just a tiny bit of resistance. The time to finish will depend on the size of the potatoes, but generally, about 10 minutes should be sufficient.

How long do I need to boil the potatoes?

Boil the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are tender but not mushy.

Should I peel the potatoes before boiling them?

It's a personal preference, but for Southern-style potato salad, it's common to leave the skin on the potatoes for added texture and flavor.

What other ingredients should I include in my Southern potato salad?

Some common ingredients include hard-boiled eggs, chopped celery, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, sweet relish, dill pickles, and paprika.

How long can I keep Southern potato salad in the fridge?

Store potato salad in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, but it's best to consume it within the first 2 days for optimal freshness.

Can I make Southern potato salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it a day ahead of time, but hold off on adding the dressing until right before serving to prevent the salad from getting too soggy.

Can I add bacon to my Southern potato salad?

Yes, you can add bacon to your salad for an extra crunch and smoky flavor.

For other BBQ sides, try these:

Collard Green Salad

Southern Collard Greens w/ Smoked Turkey

Fried Black-eyed Peas

Black-eyed Pea Salad

Collard Green Slaw

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Southern Fried Cabbage w/ Brisket Fat Cap

Purple Potato Fries

Make Soul Food Potato Salad Recipe

This black people potato salad recipe was absolutely delicious! The combination of tender potatoes, creamy dressing and crunchy vegetables created a dish that provided tasty flavor from first bite to the last. It’s simple to make this beloved dish and assemble all the ingredients in very little time.

If you’re looking for a potluck dish that will get you props at the cookout, then you should definitely consider giving this Southern Potato Salad a try. Not only is it loaded with authentic flavors, but also it's bound to become a favorite among family members and friends.

If you make this classic southern potato salad recipe or any other please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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