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!
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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…..
This was a hit! Didn’t want to use mayo so this was perfect. I used a little less oil and garlic but added celery and a red pepper. So delightful, as are all your recipes!
Greetings from Canada!
This is the first time I left a comment on a food website, but I had to do it.
Nagi – you are amazing, Every time I am looking for an inspiration to a dish, you are my get-to website. I have tried many recipes and ALL of them turned out excellent. This potato salad was very much appreciated and enjoyed by my family as it was the side dish to the salmon recipe. Thank you and hugs to Dozer.
Hi Nagi, I often make this potato salad, and can confirm that it lasts very well. However, last night I wanted some style of hot potatoes with chicken tenderloins and thought that using the last of the salad could work. It was a resounding success 🙂
I put the dressed potatoes in a cold non-stick pan and gradually heated it up, stirring often, until the dressing started to evaporate (it did spit a bit!), then turned up the heat until the potatoes had caramelised all over in the yummy oiliness. A wee bit like Greek potatoes.
Absolutely divine! I shall always make extra to allow for this in future.
Have a wonderful New Year, from Carol in Auckland
Hi Carol. Thanks for that great idea. I made this for a picnic & had so much left over. Just fried it up like you did, and it actually tasted better than the salad! (Sorry Nagi!) 🙂
Hi Julie, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😋
Looks yum, can’t wait to try it out! Do you think I can sub chopped green onions with dill? Just a thought
Glad I tried it and such anice alternative to the creamy potato salad. This is so light and fresh, I’m going to add smoked salmon to it since I have some.
I have been searching high and low for a side that my honey and picky toddler love! I can’t wait to make this on repeat forever!
Let me start with the fact that I love mayo. Your recipe for mayo based potato salad is great. Adding french dressing while the potatoes are warm and then mixing in sour cream and horseradish with the mayo…. fabulous.
This lemon dressed salad, so tasty in addition to eating lighter (and I don’t mean because it’s approx 100 calories less per serving).
Looking forward to my next “bring a dish” event.
Made this evening. Fabulous!!
Fantastic Maria! I’m glad you enjoyed it! N x
Can you leave out the mustard
I didn’t use mustard and it was still a hit! Added a red pepper and celery.
Yes you can Caitlin, if you don’t like it. N x
Would it be okay to make it without or is there a substitute for mustard
Would it be okay to make it without or is there a substitute for the mustard?
PS: I’m a big fan of your recipes
I’m a potato obsessive & did not expect the lemon to be as delicious as what it was. Will be making again & again.
Your Lemon Potato Salad is out of this world! I’ve made it with sweet potato as well – my latest favourite salad! Thank you for placing it.
Hi Nagi, to marinate do we leave at room temp or move to the fridge? I’ve just made it and don’t need it till dinner thank you
Hi Nagi, I’m a huge fan of your recipes and ‘ve already made this delicious recipe before. I’m wondering if you could add a little bit of sour cream to it for creaminess (if that’s an existing word?).
That IS a word! You could try some sour cream in this if you like. I haven’t tested it so let me know how it turns out! N x
Thanks so much for this refreshing Potato Salad, the longer you marinate it the better so delush 😃
This was super yummy. Made as a side with Greek chicken and lemon rice. It’s lemon Sunday at our home. Thanks for all the yummy recipes Nagi. I make at least one of your dishes every week (generally more)
Lemons are so sunny and delicious – glad you liked it! N x
I am just wondering how long this dressing would keep in the fridge if I was to double the amount? Thanks
Hi Lisa, as it’s got fresh garlic in it – I wouldn’t keep it longer than 3 days. N x
In a vinaigrette the vinegar is a strong enough acid to prevent anything going off, even at room temperature. Lemon juice is not quite such a good preservative, but should be good for a week in the fridge, I think,
I noticed that the photos feature lemon slices, but the actual recipe doesn’t. Is that optional or just to make the photos more appealing? BTW either way it is delicious.
Hi Alan, just for presentation purposes here – not required for the recipe 🙂 N x
I made this last year for the first time and it was a big hit. But more than anything, this is now my new favorite salad dressing! I make a double-batch and it lasts a few weeks. I put on veggies, have also used to marinate chicken before cooking. LOVE this dressing and potato salad recipe!! Thank you!!