Warm Potato Salad For Summer and Buffets

Summer is a time to start thinking about salads. There are many reasons to think of eating more salads, whether it's for health reasons, better diet or because the weather calls for them: hot, lazy days that call for no-fuss salad selections. Since cookouts take precedence over traditional oven fare in summertime, we are all looking for new additions to the buffet table.

The French eat outside all summer long and enjoy refreshing salads that can be thrown together in minutes. This fact inspires me to come up new and different salads all summer long (yes, that's like 4 months worth of salad creating!) Picnic-style food is in great demand from June through September.

Here is one of those creations. I tend to change my recipes around because I'm not one to eat the exact same salad or dish over and over. I like to use what's on hand. But in this case, I've made this salad several times as per the following recipe while entertaining guests and people love it!

Add fresh bread, rolls or biscuits to round out your meal then finish up with fresh summer fruit (with or without the whipped cream!) and you'll find that summer is a great time to be tossing up salads in the kitchen. And in the end, (and in my book) you can never have too many salad recipes. (Ever.)

Warm Potato Salad for Summer Buffet Table

Serves: 6

What I like about this salad is the brightness of the broccoli and lettuce that offsets the white from the potatoes. Using red russet or new red potatoes adds lovely contrast to the white and green. The touch of mayonnaise brings out the comfort-food feeling and is a crowd-pleaser. It is also important to use fresh broccoli and to not over steam it. I find that frozen broccoli just doesn't hold up as well in this salad.

Another few good points about this salad is that most people like potato salad and most people (yes, even kids) actually like broccoli so combining the two gets applause. Adding broccoli and some lettuce adds lightness and fiber to the salad, making it more "digestible". Add some leftover meat that you have on hand, and the meal is complete, all in one bowl. Finally, this salad can be made in advance and chilled, it can be served at room temperature or chilled.

2 lb. Potatoes, red russet or new red1 ? cups broccoli florets1-2 cups lettuce, broken into bite-size pieces2 green onions? cup olive oil1/3 cup mayonnaise2 tablespoons cumin1 tablespoon chili powder2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese2 tablespoons fresh parsley, snippedsalt and pepper to taste

optional: 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded (if serving as main course salad)

Peel and coarsely chop potatoes to desired size. Place in large pot; cover with water, bring to boil and cook 15 minutes. Potatoes should pierce easily with fork but still firm. Be careful not to over cook or potatoes will be too mushy for salad.Chop broccoli into bite-size pieces. Steam 3-5 minutes until tender-crisp.Prepare dressing ingredients by whisking together olive oil, mayonnaise, cumin, chili powder and cheese in small bowl. Set aside.Drain potatoes in colander when ready, let cool slightly before adding to serving bowl. Add broccoli, chicken and lettuce (if using); add dressing and toss. Sprinkle with parsley.

Can be served warm or room temperature.

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Southern Style Potato Salad

Sweet iced tea, honey glazed ham, and potato salad are items that make up a typical lunch or dinner served in the south during the spring and summer months. Potato salad has a long and historic past with roots that reach back to Germany. Throughout the centuries this warm salad traveled with immigrants all over before it settled in America. Upon its arrival it became hugely popular, however not by all. Like the French, the Americans chose to serve potato salad cold and with a French creamy dressing of whipped eggs, oil, and herbs.

Although there is no recorded history as to when this recipe took on its new southern look and taste, many suppose that it occurred during the early 1900s. During this time the dressing mentioned above became industrialized and widely known as mayonnaise. Among mayonnaise, there were many other additions that helped to slowly change this Germanic recipe into a charming dish that is now considered the cornerstone of all things southern.

This style of potato salad is unique because for it to be truly southern, there can only be six ingredients. Those ingredients are potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, onions, sweet pickles, mayonnaise, and yellow mustard. There are many variations to this recipe, however this recipe is considered to be what many call "the way Grandmother use to make". Cold, creamy, and absolutely delicious, southern style potato salad is typically found palatable by those living in southern United States.

When preparing this potato salad, choose the potatoes carefully. Small varieties are best, and they should be drained well. The reason for this is so that upon adding the mayonnaise it does not become soupy. Also, remember that less is always better. Once ingredients are added they cannot be removed. As for the onions, eggs, and sweet pickles, these should be roughly chopped.

As for herbs and spices, this is generally done by personal taste. Dill and parsley can be added sparingly, where as salt and pepper are a must to enhance the flavor of the potatoes. For a finishing touch, paprika is sometimes sprinkled atop the dish before it is served to give it a pop of color and spice. Southern style potato salad is a wonderful recipe that tastes old-fashioned and is packed full of memories, especially for those who played under weeping willow trees when they were little. After you have mastered a few simple recipes you can experiment and create your own variations of this delicious dish.

Potato salad is a favorite dish found in cuisines around the world. Hot or cold, mellow or tangy, creamy or chunky, it is the perfect dish for picnics, patio parties, and potlucks. Browse and select a traditional or contemporary potato salad recipe and find a delicious accompaniment to your favorite entrees.

The History of the Potato and Its Many Varieties

Domesticated several thousands of years ago, potatoes are native to the southern areas of Peru. This South American country is located on the western coast of the continent, and is home to over 5,000 varieties of potatoes. Also known as a tuber, this starchy food was once considered to be eaten solely by Incan gods. For this reason, the potato was an integral part of the Incan Empire's diet. The rest of the world did not become aware of this Peruvian delicacy until the Spanish arrived and conquered the Incan Indians.

The potato was introduced to Europe in the late 1500s, but it was not initially embraced. Once European farmers learned how to propagate the potato, it soon became a very important part of their cuisine. Although the potato was largely responsible for the European population boom in the 19th century, no one could have imagined that it would also be the reason for a country's famine and near destruction. Due to the limited varieties, potatoes became vulnerable to disease. In 1845, late blight, a plant disease, attacked crops across Ireland. Quickly spreading, late blight killed crops and was blamed for the Great Potato Famine.

Fast forward to today, and potatoes are one of the largest crops produced in the world. With thousands of varieties still growing in the Andes of Peru and all over the world, the potato is still an essential food eaten in many households. Over the past decade China has become known as the largest potato growing country. More than 300 million tons of potatoes are harvested worldwide each year, and almost one-third of them come from Asia.

With the average of 70 pounds eaten annually by the global citizen, potatoes are unlikely to fade from the culinary spotlight. Potatoes are full of nutrients like Vitamin B1, B6, C, and minerals like potassium and magnesium. Compared to other tubers and root vegetables, potatoes actually have substantial protein content. Depending on how the potato is prepared, it can be a healthy carbohydrate choice.

Potatoes are popular around the globe for their versatility, flavor, nutrition and cost. Most supermarkets offer several varieties of potatoes that are perfect for preparing appetizers, salads, soups, side dishes, and main courses. There are tens of thousands of recipes available for using potatoes and an infinite number of ways to prepare them. Potatoes are and will continue to be a prominent staple food for many, no matter where they live.

Potato salad is a favorite dish found in cuisines around the world. Hot or cold, mellow or tangy, creamy or chunky, it is the perfect dish for picnics, patio parties, and potlucks. Browse and select a traditional or contemporary potato salad recipe and find a delicious accompaniment to your favorite entrees.