You don’t need mayo for a terrific Potato Salad! The secret is to marinate the potato so it sucks up flavour. This Lemon Potato Salad is bright, zesty and well seasoned. Great warm, at room temp, on the day and the day after!
For a healthy creamy alternative, try this Potato Salad with a no-mayo Creamy Potato Salad Dressing OR no-mayo Creamy Lemon Dressing!
I realised it’s been far too long since I shared a potato recipe and had to rectify that immediately.
Plus I wanted to share something super simple after doing Biryani on Friday. There’s no doubt that one of the aspects that I love the most about my job is creating the more challenging recipes. The whole process from start to finish – starting with research, developing, testing it over and over again, photographing, filming, editing the video, reading and responding to comments and questions.
Let me clarify, “research” involves going to restaurants for taste testing. It’s a tough, tough gig….
BUT! The post taste testing part is actually quite hard work – so I need to share something super simple today to recover! 😂 So today’s recipe is a simple, bright, no-mayo Lemon Potato Salad.
MARINATE YOUR POTATOES!
There’s nothing more disappointing than biting into a generous sized piece of potato with any kind of dressing – mayo or non mayo – only to find the inside of the potato tastes of nothing more than unseasoned potato.
Solution: Douse your potatoes with dressing while hot. They act as a sponge and suck up all the flavour. It’s SO GOOD you almost don’t need to add any other dressing to it!
NO MAYO POTATO SALADS are in hot demand!
While I have a huge soft spot for the classic Creamy Potato Salad which is in great demand around holiday season, I make this no-mayo Lemon Potato Salad far more often throughout the year. It’s particularly in great demand by my friends, most of whom are anti-mayo for varying reasons.
There’s plenty of variations like this No-Mayo Red Potato Salad with Charred Corn and Bacon or my German Potato Salad. Just don’t skip the marinating for both! I promise it’s worth it. ❤️ – Nagi x
PS I’ve called it a Lemon Potato Salad, and lemon flavour you shall get. It’s not the juice – that’s just sour. The lemon flavour is in the zest. So if you want a lemon flavoured potato salad, don’t skip the zest!
MORE POTATO SIDES
-
Mrs Brodie’s Famous Potato Salad with bacon
-
Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes (and I mean seriously crunchy!)
-
Crispy SMASHED Potatoes – a crowd favourite!
-
See all Potato recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Lemon Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 1 kg / 2 lb baby potatoes (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp salt (for water)
- 1 cup green onions , sliced
- 1/4 cup parsley , finely chopped
Dressing:
- 5 tbsp / 75 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup / 65 ml lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (1 large lemon)
- 1 garlic clove, large, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1.5 tsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing: Shake in a jar.
Potatoes:
- Halve so they are about 2.5cm / 1" pieces (cut large ones into 3).
- Bring 4 litres / 4 quarts water to the boil, add salt. Add potatoes, bring back up to the boil then reduce to simmer. Cook for 5 minutes or until just cooked - don't let them overcook or become too soft, they will keep cooking from residual heat.
- Drain and immediately transfer to a bowl.
Potato Salad:
- While potatoes are hot, pour over half the Dressing. Use rubber spatular to gently stir.
- Set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes, even overnight.
- Add green onions and parsley, pour over remaining Dressing. Carefully toss with rubber spatular, then serve. Great warm or at room temperature, and it's also great the next day.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Back to bounding around free at the park! That’s a smile you see on this face. 🙂 Under instructions for controlled off leash exercise though, so I had to take him somewhere without other dogs to tempt him. So this isn’t actually an off leash park…..
Pammy McIvor says
Absolutely yummy 😋
Nagi says
Thanks Pammy!
Carol says
I have made this several times as it is just amazingly fresh tasting for several days. Tonight I wanted hot potatoes quickly to go with ham steaks and steamed broccoli, so I sautéed my dish of leftovers in a dry non-stick pan – wow! I will make plenty every time just to have extra extra leftovers for sizzling 🙂
Nagi says
Sounds amazing Carol!
Cath says
Excellent and simple recipe, can throw together with a minimum of effort. You can be even lazier about it if you have quality bottled lemon juice and organic lemon oil on hand, as I do (such as Now brand). 3 drops is enough. Saves grating the zest, or if you don’t have a fresh lemon. Making for the 3rd time tonight to serve with Greek marinated butterflied chicken, and sauteed rapini. So good together!
Poh Lin says
Hi Nagi! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I noticed that you mentioned to marinate it for 30 minutes or even overnight. Do I leave it overnight in the fridge or outside since I live in Malaysia?
Jules irving says
Yum I’m going to do both the lemon potatoes and corn and avocado to add to my summer lunch of ham prawns oysters and rocket fennel ruby grapefruit salad . A super duper Japanese knife would have made things easy . Hope you and Dozer have a fab festive season with family and friends
Vikki says
Have made this a few times now its a total hit! First time was when we were traveling around Italy and had a week in a villa with a group of friends. We had prosciutto in the fridge (obviously!!) We cooked that to crispy and sprinkled it over just before serving – delicious!! This will be on high rotation this summer!
One question is it ok to make the dressing the day before? I’m making it this weekend but will be away so easier to have it all done in a jar to take away?
Cheers
Vikki
Nagi says
WOW! I am sooo jealous, I am yet to do Italy!! Absolutely make the dressing the day before, keep the herbs and potatoes separate and toss it all together on the day! N x
Cathy Atkinson says
Delicious!!! Fabulous dressing – makes the potatoes sing!
Nagi says
So glad you enjoyed this Cathy! Thanks for letting me know – N x
Rebecca Louise says
I woke up this morning, with no work call to get me moving, so I browsed my emails as I sipped my coffee. It didn’t take me long to discover this gem in my inbox, and declare that this is what I was making for dinner tonight!
True to my word, I did indeed prepare this meal this evening, and it was as amazing as you promised! (Not bad for someone who usually stumbles onto terrific recipes, only to file away for later, when I have the time and energy.) I really appreciated the simplicity and flavours of this dish, and I plan to cook it again.
Side note: garlic baby potatoes made an excellent wide dish! 😉
Cathy Stanicic says
Oh this looks good, I need an alternative to mayonaisey salads for summer! I have a question please. Would it be OK to use garlic powder in the dressing? If so , how much?
I’m off to find the Greek Roasted Potato recipe now, love your work Nagi!
Nagi says
Hi Cathy! I didn’t think about garlic powder in this, I normally wouldn’t put it in a dressing like this. It’s not like ranch dressing, so it wouldn’t dissolve, if that makes sense?? I think the better way may be to sprinkle it on the potatoes while they are still hot. The heat will essentially cook the garlic powder, that would add terrific flavour! I’d probably use about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp, sprinkle then toss. 🙂 Greek Lemon Potatoes coming soon!!
Cathy says
Thanks Nagi!
Diane says
Thanks Nagi for another great recipe….but wait, aren’t they all?!? A perfect potato salad recipe without the mayo and while it’s a great summer recipe for us in the states right now, I can easily see using this recipe year-round. The lemon makes the salad light and fresh, while the minced garlic adds a wow! Thanks for sharing…love that Dozer is enjoying his romps in the park🤗🤗, hugs to you both…
Alan Gow says
Yum, another great recipes Nagi and we made this in our motorhome in the Aland Islands between Sweden and Finland. I bet you didn’t expect your recipes to travel so far. We love so much of what you put up thanks.
Nagi says
I LOVE HEARING THAT!!! Are you on a road trip or is that where you live??? 🙂 N x
Alan says
Both – we are living in our motorhome for 3 – 4 years, touring all around Europe, and your recipies come with us. We make your lemon cake all the time in our Omnia oven, and your rocket and chickpea salad is another favourite. Please keep it up thanks.
http://ucminiapp.in says
When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and
from now on whenever a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service?
Kudos!
Goh says
Hi there! This is Goh, RecipeTin Eats IT helper. I need more information from you to troubleshoot this problem. I tried to email you at the address you left, but it’s invalid. If you could please reply to this comment and include your proper email address (but not publicly of course!), I’d be happy to try to help you. Thanks!
Nagi says
Or email me directly just by replying to any of my new recipe emails and I’ll pass it on! 🙂
Nagi says
Or email me directly just by replying to any of my new recipe emails! 🙂
Nagi says
Sorry about that! I have IT looking into it! 🙂 N x
vivian says
This was really delicious and a refreshing change from mayonnaise based potato salad. Served it with corn on the cob and grilled salmon for a summery meal. Next time I may add some chopped dill too. Thanks for a great recipe!
Gaia says
I was ready for another potato salad…your recipe was timely.
The citrus was tangy and refreshing, rather than the mayo.
I Will be serving it for the third time tonight… (Nice to have dinner prepared.)
I ran out of lemons, so I used half lime as well…so delicious!
Thanks Nagi
Ellie says
IHi Nagi
Thanks for sharing the biriyani recipe. I tried it at the weekend n it was loved by the family. It was much easier to make than I always thought!
So looking forward to trying more of your recipes!
Xxx
Gillian DidierSerre says
Hey Dozer I am told by my owner Gillian that you are romping about at the park and getting back to the original dozer awesome dide🐕👍.
Hi Nagi..lemon potato salad yum yum..my favorite I am not much of a mayo fan so thanks 👍🍷
Theresa V says
Looks so good Nagi, I am definitely making it this weekend. 😁
Ewa says
Can I use lime instead of lemon? Unfortunately, you cannot get lemons in Peru 🙁
Nagi says
Absolutely! Lime would be wonderful in this and I’d use it in a flash! N x
Rachel says
I saw this recipe yesterday and just happened to have all the ingredients – it turned out great!! My husband loved it. The leftovers are even better….I just polished them off for breakfast 🙂
Nagi says
I kid you not, I put leftovers into a egg scramble this morning!!! Glad you enjoyed this Rachel, thanks for letting me know! N x
Ron says
A very Scandinavian style potato salad. Me likes.
Dozer looks fantastic. Whom ever believes dogs don’t smile have never watch for it.
Nagi says
Ohhh! Didn’t even think of that. I totally should have done “that sell”!😂