This Real Food Homemade Potato Salad, made the old fashioned way with celery and pickles, is based off of my grandma's old family recipe. This healthier version is "real foodified" without mayo, packed with organic potatoes and filled with herby goodness. It's the perfect side dish for BBQ's and potlucks!
Real Food Potato Salad ... without mayonnaise please!
I loved potato salad as a young girl. It was something that I looked forward to every spring and summer.
My beautiful grandma {she made it to 101 years old!} always fixed up a batch during the warmer months and it truly was THE most delicious potato salad I had ever had. Nothing could compare!
My grandma had been making her recipe for many years and had it down to a science. No measuring needed and she didn't need to look at her handwritten recipe card.
My mom wanted to learn how to make the potato salad, because like I said, no one else could make potato salad that compared to my grandma's.
As the story goes, my grandma gave my mom her recipe. My mom, excited to make the potato salad got right to it ... but it just didn't taste the same.
On my mom's next visit to my grandma's, she told her something wasn't right. It turns out my grandma wanted to keep her "secret" Southern roots recipe to herself. But ... she agreed to make it while my mom was visiting and let my mom watch over her shoulder as she made it.
From that day forward, my mom mastered my grandma's potato salad recipe and she made it often during the summertime.
My grandma's homemade potato salad was made the old fashioned way.
This potato salad is packed with celery, steamed onion, lots of pickles {which was probably subbed with relish from time to time} and a mayo base.
Now don't get me wrong, I loved this potato salad as a kid, but I am NOT a fan of mayonnaise and neither is my husband. That being said, I still love the flavors of this old fashioned recipe, but of course I had to real foodify it for my family.
The Real Food Homemade Potato Salad Version
Instead of the kosher dill pickles that I grew up eating, I use lots of my own homemade refrigerator pickles. I add a bunch of fresh dill because my husband loves it plus it adds such a refreshing flavor. I also tend to use red potatoes, but good ole Russet potatoes are just as good {my grandma and mom always used Russet potatoes}.
My grandma and mom used yellow mustard - which adds a great flavor, but I prefer Dijon or horseradish mustard. And mayo, step aside because you will not come near my potato salad! Instead, I use sour cream as the creamy base and it's just as delicious, better in my opinion.
My grandma and mom always put diced up hard boiled eggs in the potato salad too. If you enjoy eggs in your potato salad, go for it! It adds a nice amount of protein plus some nice texture.
One more extra thing to add - olives if you'd like, they are a nice addition too. My mom often added black olives to the potato salad and occasionally green olives with pimentos. So salty and yummy!
The first time I made this potato salad for my husband his eyes got big and he said it was the best he had ever tasted. He's always honest with me about my food. I love when he enjoys my recipes, it warms my heart.
I'm sharing this real food homemade potato salad recipe today in honor of my mom. This was one of her favorite recipes and she was always so proud that she was able to get the recipe out of my grandma.
Enjoying this potato salad made by my grandma and my mom, plus the "how" my mom got the recipe is a fond childhood memory that I hold close to my heart. My mom passed away last year on July 2nd. As the first year anniversary of her death is approaching, my heart is aching and I am missing her more than ever. Today I honor her and share a little part of her legacy.
I hope you enjoy the Real Food Homemade Potato Salad recipe as much as my family does.
Be well friends. xo
Real Food Homemade Potato Salad {No Mayo}
Real Food Homemade Potato Salad {No Mayo}
This Real Food Homemade Potato Salad, made the old fashioned way with celery and pickles, is based off of my grandma's old family recipe. This healthier version is "real foodified" without mayo, packed with organic potatoes and filled with herby goodness. It's the perfect side dish for BBQ's and potlucks!
Ingredients
- 5 pounds organic red potatoes {about 10-12}
- 1 ½ cups celery, diced {about 5-7 stalks}
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 2 cups organic sour cream {I use Nancy's brand}
- 3 heaping tablespoons organic horseradish mustard or Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons organic apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more if needed (<-- this is my favorite sea salt)
- 1 cup homemade refrigerator pickles, fermented pickles or organic pickles, diced
Instructions
- Wash and prep all produce.
- Cut potatoes into halves or quarter depending on how big the potatoes are. Add them to a stock pot, barely cover with water and boil until fork tender - about 10 minutes. Drain potatoes and add to a large mixing bowl. Mash potatoes up a bit, leaving some chunks remaining.
- While potatoes are cooking, dice celery and onion. Chop the dill and dice the pickles.
- Immediately add diced onions on top of HOT potatoes to steam for about 10 minutes. [Note: If you don't like raw onions, you can do a quick sauté instead while the potatoes are cooking. Or simply omit onions.]
- Add celery, dill, sour cream, mustard, apple cider vinegar and sea salt to the potatoes. Fold to incorporate.
- Fold in the pickles.
- Taste for seasoning. Add more sea salt or mustard if needed.
- Refrigerate about 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving if you prefer your potato salad to be cold.
Notes
YOU WILL NEED: Large Stock Pot, Cutting Board, Knife, Large Mixing Bowl, Mixing Spoon, Measuring Cup, Measuring Spoons
Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Dairy-Free Version: Use a quality, soy-free, dairy-free sour cream.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 383Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 733mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 6gSugar: 7gProtein: 9g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Renee Kohley
This is so pretty! Looks really good! I like sour cream for my potato salads too! Thinking of you this week - I thought we were getting closer to the first year - praying you have a peaceful week <3
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Sour cream is so yummy in potato salad 🙂 Thank you dear friend xo
Jessica
I love that there is dill in this recipe, so fresh and yummy! Great recipe, Emily!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Jess! I love fresh dill 🙂
Marjorie
Delicious recipe and beautiful memories. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts this week <3
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you Marjorie! <3 xo
Anna @Green Talk
I love the idea of pickles in this recipe. Can't wait to try it.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
The pickles are so yummy! 🙂
Andrea Fabry
I've been thinking about making potato salad! I like the idea of using Nancy's sour cream. Thanks so much for this!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I love Nancy's brand. Now I always buy Nancy's after reading about their practices through one of Eat Beautiful's posts - Lavender-Creme Fraiche Ice Cream.
linda spiker
Beautiful recipe. Pinned and shared. Love the pictures of your mom too:)
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Linda xo
Tash
This potato salad looks amazing! I'm a huge potato lover and will eat them with every meal if I can. This would go great with lunch today! 🙂
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
We love potatoes in our family too 🙂
Megan Stevens
What lovely memories. Foods that are linked with the people we love. <3 I'm sharing this today on my FB page and it has LOTS of likes and LOTS of shares!! 🙂
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you so much Megan! That's really exciting to hear. xo
May
I love potato salads and this sounds like one of the best combinations ever! Cooking together with your mum has to be one of the best things ever. Such a beautiful post and I'm thinking of you xx
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks so much May xo
The Food Hunter
Love the photos and memories. And of course the recipe!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks so much 🙂
Kristine
I never make comments on websites--this is my first one! I felt compelled to tell you how beautiful your potato salad looks, and to thank you for sharing your recipe. I love to make delicious food and am always searching for ways to tweak the tastes by bringing it up a notch. I was also touched by your homage to your mother. I, too, lost my beloved mama three years ago. The holidays are the hardest times, because moms make everything memorable with food and the motherly touches they so delicately leave for us to discover, like little hidden gifts. How I miss my mama! I keep her spirit alive by making her recipes, sometimes just reading them makes me smile. God bless you and I hope the years will bring only joy when you think of your mom.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Kristine, I am honored that you took the time to comment. Thank you! Huge hugs to you, you are so right, holidays really do seem to be the hardest. I love what you said about food, we were so fortunate to have moms who created those special memories around food. I love that you make your mom's recipes too 🙂 Thank you again for taking the time to leave your thoughtful words here.
Erica D.
AND homemade pickles too? Fantastic recipe!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
🙂 thanks Erica!
Raia
I'm definitely a fan of sour cream over mayo. 😉 Look delicious!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you Raia 🙂 me too 😉
Rachel
I was really touched when I read this post. The potato salad looks amazing and Im making it today for a family bbq. I will think of you and your mom when I make it. Im glad she got the recipe!!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Such kind words Rachel, thank you! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing that with me. Made my day 🙂
Rachel
Everyone loved the potato salad! No leftovers at all.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Oh good!!! I'm so happy to hear that! xo
Mindy
First time making a homemade potato salad, but I felt compelled to do so for todays fourth of July BBQ. I loved reading about your mother and how you added your own creativity to the recipe! Thought of you guys while blasting my Paris Cafe Spotify station...thank you for sharing this beautiful (and so tasty!) recipe for others to enjoy as well! xoxo - Mindy Briar
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Hi Mindy, that just made my day! 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words, I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me. I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July and I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the potato salad. xo
Jean
Mmm, potato salad is my favorite for summer picnics! Love those photos of you and your mom, Emily. It's amazing how food can help us feel so close to our loved ones.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Jean 🙂 I'm happy I have these photos and memories. I love that about food too!
Yang
Classic flavours! What a great timing as well - I am making this potato salad today and I have all the ingredients!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
ChihYu
Potato salad with no mayo is the best ! it goes well with everything and perfect all-year-round side dishes !
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Yes! I agree 🙂
Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica
What a lovely post filled with family memories. So sweet that your mom was able to entice her mama into sharing the recipe that way -- traditions handed down thru the generations. You have made it your own now for your family and I bet it tastes just as good!! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to try it.. and yes.. I will add olives -- dill too of course!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you Carol, it was her mother-in-law so that made it a bit harder lol Love that dill! 🙂
Tessa Simpson
Food has a way of bringing back so many memories for me...I love to make things that remind of those I have loved and lost...a little way to reconnect. Beautiful salad Emily, look forward to tryin it.
Kathryn
What a special family story. I love that your grandma held her recipe so close- she must have been a character. Potato salad is the perfect summer food. I can't wait to try this version!
Anne
I am not a fan of potato salad with mayo, and I love that you used sour cream and horseradish. I'm going to have to give this recipe a try!
Melissa @Real Nutritious Living
I hated potato salad until I was pregnant. Now I love it. I can't wait to try this version since I can't do eggs!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday!
So sorry about your mom, but what a nice way to honor her memory! Your spin on the family classic looks so good!
May
I love this recipe Emily and special memories and photos you've shared here, so beautiful. Thank you
tina
Hmmmm yum! Perfect for a picnic or BBQ day!
Yvonne
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Love all the memories and photos. Potato salad is always a big favorite at our family gatherings and I love the horseradish for that little extra "zip".
Katja
Mmmmm... this looks absolutely delish. I haven't made potato salad in forever. I think it's time.
Lindsey Dietz
Oh yeah, I'll take sour cream over mayo any day! I love this recipe and love how much your mom is woven into your food. So sweet.
Katie Walsh Beck
I love this whole post 🙂
It is so personal and the potato salad looks amazing. Pickles in my potato salad has long been my favorite way to do it.
ChihYu
They look so creamy delicious ! I love that it has no mayo, too ! My husband would love this!
Christina
I’ve never made a potato salad with sour cream before, Emily! Yours looks and sounds so fresh and flavorful!
Darryl
Can you suggest a substitute for sour cream? Would love to give this a whirl.