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    Home » Salads

    French Potato Salad

    Posted: Jun 8, 2020 · Updated: Feb 16, 2022 by Tonje

    178 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    French potato salad is made with a simple olive oil based dressing, fresh herbs and potatoes. It's the perfect summer side salad, and can be enjoyed with any grilled meat or fish.

    French potato salad with dill and parsley.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🥗 Serving suggestions
    • 🍲 Leftovers
    • 🍴 You might also like these recipes...
    • 📋 Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Potato salads are popular all over the world, and everyone seems to have their opinions on what makes a potato salad great. French potato salads have a lot in common with other European types of potato salad, in that it's made with an olive oil based dressing, rather than a mayonnaise or dairy based dressing.

    The potato salad incorporates herbs like dill and parsley, which gives it beautiful colors as well a fresh flavor.

    Olive oil potato salad in a bowl.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Boiled potatoes are the key ingredient in this potato salad. Use waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes or Yukon Golds, for the best result.

    You will also need olive oil. Keep in mind that the olive oil is the main part of the dressing, so using a high quality extra virgin olive oil is absolutely worth it.

    Fresh dill and parsley, or other fresh herbs, give the dish a lot of flavor. The same goes for Dijon mustard. Add the mustard even if you don't normally like it - it rounds out the flavor of the potato salad without actually giving it a mustard flavor.

    French potato salad with olive oil.

    🔪 Instructions

    Clean the potatoes, and dice them in bite sized pieces. Place the diced potatoes in a large pot, and cover with water. Bring the potatoes to a boil on high heat, then reduce them to a simmer on medium heat.

    Leave the potatoes to boil for 5-10 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Drain off the excess water, and leave the potatoes to chill for at least 30 minutes.

    Add the chilled potato pieces to a bowl along with Dijon mustard, olive oil, chopped fresh dill and parsley. Stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.

    Serve the potato salad immediately, or keep it refrigerated until it's ready to serve.

    Vegan French potato salad.

    💭 Top tips

    Here are my top tips to get this recipe perfect:

    • The fresh herbs are essential in this dish, and cannot be replaced with dried herbs. You can alternatively use a combination of other fresh herbs. Try adding thyme, rosemary or basil.
    • The key to this recipe is cooking the potatoes perfectly. They should not be hard, but not too soft, or they will fall apart. Pierce them with a fork to check, and if you're in doubt you can do a taste test!

    🥗 Serving suggestions

    Potato salad is usually served as a side dish, but there are many ways to enjoy it! Here are some of my favorites:

    • As a side salad: Serve it as a side with your favorite entrees, at a potluck, picnic or a garden party. Potato salads are very popular to serve with grilled meat or fish, or any other summer dishes.
    • As a vegetarian main: Potato salad is also an excellent vegan main dish, served with some bread, or a protein rich side.
    • In sandwiches: Serve as an easy lunch in sandwiches, wraps or baguettes.
    Potato salad with dill and parsley.

    🍲 Leftovers

    Leftover French potato salad can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes it perfect as a make ahead side dish for summer BBQ parties, picnics and more!

    Keep the salad refrigerated as much as possible. I would not recommend freezing leftover potato salad.

    🍴 You might also like these recipes...

    If you love healthy side salads, you should try any of these recipes:

    • Tabbouleh with quinoa and parsley.
      Tabbouleh with Quinoa
    • Pear and walnut salad with red onion in a bowl.
      Pear and Walnut Salad
    • Thai Cucumber Salad
    • Close up of tomato and cucumber salad.
      Tomato and cucumber salad

    📋 Frequently asked questions

    Can you make potato salad the day before?

    Absolutely! This potato salad stores really well, and can be made one or two days ahead. Keep the salad refrigerated before serving.

    Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up?

    Both methods work, but it's easier to get nice chunks of potatoes if you cut them before boiling.

    How long should I boil potatoes?

    This depends on the size of the potatoes, but 15-20 minutes is typical. The pieces should be soft enough to pierce with a fork with little resistance.

    Is it better to leave the skin on potatoes?

    This depends on your personal preference! Keeping the skin on will give the potato salad a nice color as well as extra fiber, but you can remove the skins if you like.

    What's the best potatoes to use for potato salad?

    Use waxy potatoes for potato salad, as these will hold their shape after they are cooked, and not turn into fluff. Red potatoes and Yukon Gold are popular options.

    Recipe

    French potato salad with parsley and dill.

    French Potato Salad

    French potato salad is made with a simple olive oil based dressing, fresh herbs and the best in season potatoes. It’s the perfect summer side salad, and can be enjoyed with any grilled meat or fish.
    No ratings yet
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Resting Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine French
    Servings 4
    Calories 174 kcal
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    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lbs red potatoes (500 g)
    • ½ cup fresh dill, chopped (15 g)
    • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped (15 g)
    • 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • salt
    • pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Clean the potatoes, and dice them in bite sized pieces.
    • Place the diced potatoes in a large pot, and cover with water. Bring the potatoes to a boil on high heat, then reduce them to a simmer on medium heat.
    • Leave the potatoes to boil for 5-10 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Drain of the excess water, and leave the potatoes to chill for at least 30 minutes.
    • Add the chilled potato pieces to a bowl along with Dijon mustard, olive oil, chopped fresh dill and parsley. Stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    • Serve the potato salad immediately, or keep it refrigerated until it’s ready to serve.

    Notes

    Can you make potato salad the day before?
    Absolutely! This potato salad stores really well, and can be made one or two days ahead. Keep the salad refrigerated before serving.
    Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up?
    Both methods work, but it’s easier to get nice chunks of potatoes if you cut them before boiling.
    How long should I boil potatoes?
    This depends on the size of the potatoes, but 15-20 minutes is typical. The pieces should be soft enough to pierce with a fork with little resistance.
    Is it better to leave the skin on potatoes?
    This depends on your personal preference! Keeping the skin on will give the potato salad a nice color as well as extra fiber, but you can remove the skins if you like.
    What’s the best potatoes to use for potato salad?
    Use waxy potatoes for potato salad, as these will hold their shape after they are cooked, and not turn into fluff. Red potatoes and Yukon Gold are popular options.

    Leftovers

    Leftover French potato salad can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes it perfect as a make ahead side dish for summer BBQ parties, picnics and more!
    Keep the salad refrigerated as much as possible. I would not recommend freezing leftover potato salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 49mgPotassium: 516mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword dairy free, dill, easy, egg free, gluten free, olive oil, parsley, potatoes, summer, vegan
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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