Secret Weapons Celebrity Chefs Use In Their Potato Salad
Potato salad, a staple at picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and family gatherings, is a dish that evokes memories of summertime and good times with loved ones. All potato salad recipes contain cooked potatoes, but have you ever wondered what sets one potato salad apart from the next? It's all about the secret weapon!
Behind every delicious potato salad lies a chef's secret touch. Whether it's a dash of spice, squeeze of citrus, or sprinkle of herbs, these extra-special additions can elevate the classic side dish. Let's be real: Most of us have had our fair share of bland, mayonnaise-laden potato salads. That's why we decided to take a cue from the experts — celebrity chefs. These culinary masterminds have taken the humble potato salad to new heights with their creative use of secret ingredients.
Celebrity chefs' additions can range from the unexpected to the unconventional, transforming potato salad from an ordinary side to a stand-out creation. But these special ingredients aren't just for show; they also serve a purpose. Pickles add a tangy crunch, herbs bring a fresh burst of flavor, and peppers grant a spicy kick. And let's not forget, these unique touches also add a pop of color, transforming a dull potato salad into a visually stunning dish. With some inspiration from these celebrity chefs, you can turn that plain potato salad into a flavor-packed masterpiece.
Ina Garten: dill
Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, has a classic recipe for potato salad that involves boiling red potatoes until they are tender and then cutting them into bite-sized pieces and tossing them with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, scallions, celery, and salt and pepper. While the steps and ingredients seem pretty ordinary, Garten uses a secret ingredient that is naturally sourced: Fresh dill is added (via Barefoot Contessa).
Dill, a delicate and fragrant herb, is a staple in many professional and home kitchens. With its feathery leaves and distinctive flavors, this fresh ingredient is a perfect earthy addition to a creamy side dish. So, how exactly do you add dill to potato salad? Easy. Just chop up a few sprigs of fresh dill or sprinkle in the dried variety and mix it in with the mayonnaise, mustard, or vinegar. You can also add the herb to the boiling water when you're cooking the potatoes. Heat can easily overpower the flavor of the fragile herb, so be mindful of the timing of when you add it into the recipe. It's best to add it at the end of cooking or as a garnish. If you are using dried dill, keep in mind that it has a much milder flavor than the fresh variety, so you may need to use more.
Rachael Ray: honey
Looking for a twist on traditional potato salad? Look no further than celebrity chef Rachael Ray's secret ingredient — honey. Yes, you read that right, honey. The sweet nectar we normally pair with toast and tea is finding its way into our favorite side dish. Don't knock it till you try it. By adding a touch of honey, Ray transforms plain potato salad into a tantalizing blend of sweet and savory (via Rachael Ray).
But why honey? Firstly, it lasts forever. You never have to worry about honey going bad. Secondly, its sweetness pairs perfectly with the creamy, tangy dressing typically used in potato salad recipes. Just as a pinch of salt can enhance the flavor of a dish, a drizzle of honey can do the same. It brings out the dish's natural sweetness and a whole new level of flavor. Plus, it's a healthier alternative to refined sugar, so you can indulge in your potato salad without worry.
When it comes to adding honey to potato salad, there are several ways to do it. One option is to mix in a tablespoon or two into the vinaigrette or mayonnaise mixture. This will add a subtle hint of sweetness throughout all the components in the dish. Another option is to drizzle honey over the top of your potato salad just before serving. That way you and your guests get the desired amount of honey in each spoonful. If you're feeling adventurous, try adding some honey to the boiling water when cooking your potatoes for even more sugariness.
Ree Drummond: sweet pickles
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, is a well-known blogger, author, and television personality who has been serving up delicious recipes for years, and her classic potato salad recipe is no exception. It's time to ditch the boring and bring on the bold. Enter the unlikely secret ingredient used by the celebrity chef — sweet pickles (via Southern Living). Drummond is known for her down-home cooking and her love of bold flavor, and adding sweet pickles to the recipe is a testament to that. Adding this variety of pickled cucumbers to the classic side dish is sure to surprise and delight even the most seasoned palate.
With her ability to make complex recipes accessible for home cooks, Drummond replaces the ordinary dill pickles. Sweet pickles introduce a sweet tanginess to the potato salad recipe, versus the tart taste you're probably used to. The crunchy texture of the sweet pickles also adds an extra layer of interest to this classic dish, easily making it a cookout favorite. The best way to add this ingredient to potato salad is by chopping the pickles up as finely as desired and combining them with the other staple ingredients. You can also add a splash of the pickle juice to the mixture for an extra burst of flavor.
Guy Fieri: capers
Potato salad just got a major upgrade thanks to the one and only Guy Fieri, the American restaurateur, author, show host, and television personality best known for his roles on "Guy's Big Bite," "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," and "Guy's Ranch Kitchen." Potato salad is a creamy, comforting crowd pleaser, and the king of flavor is taking the classic side dish to new heights with his signature twist. You might think you know potato salad, but wait until you try it with a pinch of Fieri's secret ingredient: capers (via Insider).
These little, briny buds come from a caper bush and add a unique pop of flavor to any dish. Capers are handy to keep around the kitchen if you're interested in bold, new flavors. Guy's potato salad recipe is a flavor bomb that's tangy, sweet, salty, and savory all in one bite because of this component. Capers are often used in Mediterranean cuisine due to their prevalence in the region, as per McCormick. The trick to using them in potato salad is moderation. The pungent secret ingredient does not need to be cooked and can be easily combined with the dressing. Make sure to rinse the capers thoroughly before smashing, dicing, or adding them in whole to the potato salad. Whether you're grilling up burgers, hot dogs, or steaks, caper-infused potato salad is a perfect combination to complete your meal.
Anne Burrell: apple cider vinegar
As the well-known author of "Cook Like a Rock Star" and host of the show "Worst Cooks in America," Anne Burrell knows the perfect secret ingredient to elevate potato salad. She is a true force in the culinary world and has inspired countless home cooks to get into the kitchen and start cooking. Burrell shares a tangy twist to the ordinary potato dish in the form of the surprising blend of flavors in her German-style potato salad — which uses apple cider vinegar (via Food Network).
Unlike the traditional American dish, German potato salad is made with a tangy dressing using apple cider vinegar as a main component. German potato salad, also known as "Kartoffelsalat," is also usually served warm. And yet, just like the American favorite, this dish is popular at get-togethers. But let's talk about taste. The tangy and slightly sweet flavor of apple cider vinegar is potent and complementary to the mild-tasting ingredients in potato salad. The acidity in the secret component pairs perfectly with the creamy mayonnaise and starchy potatoes. Adding a touch of vinegar to the recipe not only enhances the flavor but also provides a multitude of health benefits. Apple cider vinegar is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, aiding in digestion, and even helping with weight loss (via Medical News Today).
Jamie Oliver: pancetta
Jamie Oliver is a renowned chef and infectious TV personality who first gained recognition as the "The Naked Chef." When the celebrity chef isn't running one of his restaurants or writing cookbooks, he's, well, cooking. And the kitchen guru has just the ingredient for your next potato salad. The secret weapon to Oliver's recipe? Pancetta. He swears by the Italian cured meat, which is made from pork belly and is similar to bacon but has a sweeter and saltier flavor profile.
Adding a few ounces of diced pancetta to your potato salad introduces not only a burst of flavor but also a satisfying crunch. While the potatoes are cooling, the celebrity chef fries the pancetta in a pan until crispy (via Jamie Oliver). When it's done cooking, set the bacon to the side before combining it with the other ingredients. Try crumbling it up and sprinkling it on top of the dressed potato salad for a crunchy texture. You can even mix in pieces of pancetta for a more noticeable flavor.
Mario Batali: caraway seeds
Mario Batali, the man with the distinctive orange Crocs and even more distinct cuisine, is a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world. Batali is known for his bold, hearty dishes that showcase his passion for all things Italian. With a keen eye for quality ingredients and a flair for presentation, he has made a name for himself in the foodie world with his signature dishes. His take on potato salad is no different, with his secret twist being caraway seeds, per ABC News.
Seeds in potato salad? Sure, they're often found in other foods like bread, salads, and puddings. Why not potato salad? Caraway seeds are brownish-black and commonly used as a spice in the culinary world. When it comes to potato salad, caraway seeds add an earthiness to the dish. Caraway can be used in all sorts of ways and has a very pungent aroma and distinct taste. It provides a similar flavor to anise or licorice.
Adding it to the potato salad recipe couldn't be simpler: Sprinkle a spoonful directly into the mayonnaise mixture, just like you would the other seasonings. You can include caraway seeds whole or ground: the choice is yours. For additional flavor, you could try toasting some of the seeds over a medium heat for several minutes before combining.
Sunny Anderson: chipotle peppers
If you're a fan of potato salad, brace yourself for a flavor explosion. Sunny Anderson, Food Network host, cookbook author, and chef, is not afraid to shake things up with her twist on the classic dish. As a food enthusiast, Sunny's recipe packs a punch with its bold blend of spices and seasonings. The culinary queen has taken the humble spud to new heights by infusing it with the smoky heat of chipotle peppers (via Today). The smoky flavor adds an unmatched depth to the dish.
The chipotle peppers bring a touch of heat to the party, while the creamy dressing helps cool it down and balance it all out. This ingredient is typically used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, according to MasterClass. Chipotle peppers are smoke-dried jalapeño peppers, which gives them their signature smoky flavor and intense heat. Adding the peppers to your potato salad is a simple process. You can either use canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or you can use dried chipotle powder. Add the desired amount of heat to the dressing and mix well. Begin with a small amount for a milder flavor. With the addition of chipotle peppers, potato salad is no longer just a side dish; it's the star of the show.
Emeril Lagasse: homemade ranch dressing
Emeril Lagasse is a household name for anyone who loves food, cooking, or a good laugh. Thanks to his infectious personality, appearances on the Food Network, and signature catchphrases like "Bam!" Lagasse quickly became a fan-favorite celebrity chef. The chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality is well known for his love of bold flavors and creative cooking techniques, but he also knows how to put a twist on staples like potato salad.
For Lagasse, the secret weapon in his potato salad recipe is a homemade one. The culinary expert prefers using a homestyle ranch dressing over plain mayonnaise to transform this traditional dish for backyard get-togethers (via Facebook). Made with buttermilk, some mayonnaise, and a blend of herbs and spices, not only is this dressing super simple, but it instantly adds a tangy flavor and creamier texture to the potato salad. Recipes for ranch dressing can vary, with other ingredients like lemon juice and vinegar being added in. Opting for the homemade version over the store-bought product allows you to control the ingredients to tailor the dressing to your specific taste. Once all the ingredients for the dressing are combined, allow the mixture to sit for at least 30 minutes refrigerated, so the flavors can meld.
Alton Brown: cornichons
Alton Brown, the culinary mad scientist, tackles recipes with a unique combination of science, humor, and cooking knowhow. The celebrity chef has become a very recognizable face in the world of food, his unique approach to cooking enabling him to become the mastermind behind the Food Network show "Good Eats." Since its ending, he has also been a host on many other cooking shows like, "Iron Chef America" and "Cutthroat Kitchen." Given his vast knowledge of food science, it's no surprise that Brown's secret ingredient for potato salad is an unconventional one.
Brown scrubs the traditional pickles in his potato salad recipe and instead substitutes cornichons (via Alton Brown). These tiny, sour-tasting pickles are considered a French delicacy and often served on charcuterie boards. Cornichons are made from tiny gherkin cucumbers that are pickled in a mixture of vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and spices (via MasterClass). While still a pickled ingredient, cornichons encompass a completely different flavor profile which helps cut through the richness of the mayonnaise mixture. Don't let their small size fool you, either. These tiny pickles pack a punch of acidic flavor and add a satisfying crunch and texture to potato salad. For the best bite, be sure to finely chop the pickles before incorporating with the other ingredients.
Bobby Flay: bacon
Looking for a chef that knows how to elevate a dish in the kitchen? Look no further than Bobby Flay, who's known for his fearless approach to creating dishes. Flay is a restaurateur and culinary expert with a career that spans over three decades thanks to his numerous TV shows, cookbooks, and restaurants, as per Insider. He is not afraid to experiment with unexpected ingredients and combinations in his kitchen creations. He brings the very same tenacity to his potato salad recipe. For those who love the salty, smoky flavor of bacon, this chef's version of the side dish is just for you.
The culinary master has taken the traditional potato salad recipe and added his own signature stamp, incorporating bacon and its rendered fat to make a delicious dish. For Flay, the bacon fat is just as important as the cooked bacon, so don't go throwing it away just yet. Once the bacon is nice and crispy, set it to the side and save the fat in the pan to mix in with the mayonnaise or dressing mixture you've prepared. You can also use the excess to cook the other ingredients such as onions and garlic in for added smoky flavor throughout the dish, as the chef demonstrates in an episode of "Boy Meets Grill." Aside from the flavor, bacon is also a great textural component that's complementary to the softer elements in the dish.
Giada De Laurentiis: lemon juice and zest
With her warm personality and infectious smile, Giada De Laurentiis is a true culinary star. She has made a name for herself with her signature brand of simple, delicious, and approachable Italian-inspired cuisine and showcasing her skills on air for the Food Network show "Everyday Italian." Since then, she has gone on to host other shows such as "Giada at Home" and "Giada Entertains." When it comes to adding bright, fresh ingredients to a dish, who better than Giada?
De Laurentiis' secret weapon is using a fresh ingredient in her potato salad in two ways: lemon juice and lemon zest are highlights of the recipe. The citrus adds a vibrant, zesty flavor to the dish. Simply squeeze the juice from one to two lemons directly into the dressing you're preparing to pour over the boiled potatoes. The acidity will bring a beautiful balance to the mayonnaise mixture.
As for the zest, the key is having the perfect tool for the job. A microplane grater is ideal for peeling citrus. This kitchen gadget zests the lemon's flavorful outer layer, leaving behind the bitter white pith. Once you have your zest, you can add it directly into the mixture or finely chop it some more to further release its fragrant flavors. This ingredient will give potato salad a potent, lemony flavor.