Potato salad is a BBQ staple. I can’t imagine going to a BBQ in Australia without a bowl of potato salad being on the table. But, it can be a bit bland. Unless you throw a lot of flavour into it.
I had a friend at school who had German parents. I have no idea whether this version of potato salad comes from them or whether it is a twist on potato salads I have had in Germany. It doesn’t really matter. But I always think this dish has a German provenance. And as you always have sausages at a BBQ (and the Germans love their sausages), this works well with the meat from the barbie.
I know lots of people put hard boiled eggs through potato salad. Not me. I think it is an abomination. However, I am nothing if not flexible so add eggs if you really want to. There are so many other flavours in this recipe that I don’t think it is needed but do what works for you.
This recipe is enough for 6-8 people. Scale it up if you are catering for lots of people.
Potato Salad with the lot
Ingredients
1 kg of potatoes, peeled and chopped into cubes
200g ham, chopped into batons
1 red onion, finely chopped
Mayonnaise (as much as you need – probably about 200-250ml)
1/2 tbs of English mustard
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Cracked black pepper
1/2 cup of chopped chives
1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley.
Big pinch of salt
2 gherkins, finely chopped
100g German salami, chopped
1 red chili, really finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
Cook the potato cubes in boiling water with a big pinch of salt until soft but retaining their shape. Drain.
Mix mayonnaise with the mustard, cayenne pepper and black pepper and then stir through the potatoes. Be generous. Potato salad should not be dry.
Stir through all the other ingredients and cool in the fridge.