Old-Fashioned Potato Salad With Cooked Dressing

The secret to the yumminess going on in this Old-Fashioned Potato Salad is the cooked dressing. Don’t worry. It’s really easy if you make the dressing in the microwave, although you can make it on top of the stove if you prefer.

Recipe Inspiration

Potato salad is right up there with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and chocolate cream pie. Everybody likes their mama’s best. But just in case you don’t have a favorite already, try this one.

The same sister who makes a wonderful chocolate cake also makes a tasty potato salad.  It’s possible this potato salad is another recipe she got from her southern mother-in-law. I’m not sure.

Kay’s recipe is unique in that the dressing is cooked. It has much more flavor than potato salad made with straight mayonnaise. 

Why cook the dressing?

Isn’t this more trouble? A little, but the flavor is worth it! Pull out your blender, food processor, or a good whisk to mix up the ingredients for the dressing.

Follow the easy directions for cooking the dressing in the microwave. It’s foolproof–unlike the original recipe that called for cooking on top of the stove with constant stirring.  It was easy to burn or curdle the old way.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• MILK: Use your favorite milk or whatever milk you have on hand.
  
• CORNSTARCH: If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use arrowroot as a gluten-free substitute.
  
• VINEGAR: Apple cider vinegar is my favorite. White vinegar would be a good substitute.
  
• EGG: I always use large-sized eggs.
  
• ONION: White or yellow onions are perfect.
  
• CELERY SEED: This is an important ingredient for this recipe. I can’t think of a substitute except for celery salt. Not the same, but kinda close.
  
• MAYONNAISE: My favorite mayonnaise is olive oil mayonnaise. If you prefer, Miracle Whip could be used instead.
  
• POTATOES: The potatoes you choose will affect the texture of your salad. Russets will make a more mealy texture–good if you like your potato salad to be “mashed.” Small red potatoes or waxy potatoes will hold their shape better after boiling. Yukon gold potatoes are a nice compromise.
  
• SWEET PICKLE RELISH: I’m a sweet relish girl. Sweet pickle relish goes with the sweetness of the cooked dressing. If you prefer dill relish, I would decrease the sugar in the dressing.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes. It needs to chill before serving. The day before is not too soon to assemble this potato salad. Refrigerate.

This recipe should be kept in the refrigerator–up to 4 days.

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Old-Fashioned Potato Salad with Cooked Dressing

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

A classic potato salad with homemade cooked dressing-- tangy but no mustard.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 3/4 t. celery seed
• 1/4 c. mayonnaise (I like the olive oil type)
• 7 medium potatoes, diced and cooked
• 3 hard-cooked eggs, diced
• 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

Instructions

1. Blend first 6 ingredients in a blender, food processor or with a whisk until smooth. Add butter and onions.
2. Pour into 2 quart batter bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 4-5 minutes, whisking well after every minute (important so sauce will be cook evenly). Mixture should be thick like pudding.
3. Add celery seed and mayonnaise to cooked dressing. Whisk till smooth. Fold in potatoes, eggs, and pickle relish. Garnish with smoked (or regular) paprika and chill. Serves 6

Notes

Do you have smoked paprika in your refrigerator? If not, use regular paprika. However, the smoked paprika adds a subtle bacon flavor that is delicious. Good on deviled eggs too.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 451mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 12gProtein: 8g

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