Tarragon Potato Salad

Change up your traditional potato salad recipe with this tarragon potato salad. This red skin potato salad is simple to make, and the flavors are incredible. This creamy potato salad recipe with fresh tarragon is perfect for a barbeque, picnic, or pot luck.

Recently, we went to my girlfriend's house for dinner, and she made a tarragon potato recipe that everyone raved about. So, I asked her for her recipe, and I veganized it for our dinner last night. I love red skin potato salad, but adding fresh tarragon and a few simple ingredients made this vegan potato salad recipe a keeper. 

Jump to:

• Cooking Red Potatoes
• Salad Ingredients
• Salad Substitutions
• What does Tarragon Taste Like? 
• How to Make the Salad
• Salad Dressing Ingredients
• Dressing Substitutions
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Other Salad Recipes to Try!
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

When summer heats up, we love to eat outdoors and enjoy cold salads. For that reason, I like the variety of different potato salad recipes. However, it's fun to mix it up and make different kinds of potato salads to keep them interesting. And, who wants the same boring salad over and over again? 

Even though I use different types of potatoes in my salads, for this tarragon potato salad recipe, I chose red potatoes. As a rule, I always leave the skins on. Another great tip for making perfect red skin potato salad is to cut the potatoes the same size, so there cook evenly. 

Also, I prefer red potatoes because they hold their shape when they're cooked and keep their firm texture in the salad when they're chopped up and tossed with dressing. 

As a result, the red potatoes are firm on the outside and soft in the middle, and the salad keeps its texture instead of looking and tasting like mashed potato salad. 

Cooking Red Potatoes

Again, the secret to perfectly cooked red potatoes for potato salad is cutting the potatoes in uniform size. Once cut, cover cold water and 2 teaspoons of salt. 

Cook on high heat until the water boils, then reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes (after a rolling boil begins). Be aware, however, that the size of the cut potatoes determines the specific amount of cooking time. 

The goal, however, is to cook the potatoes so they pierce easily with a fork. Overcooked potatoes fall apart when cooked too much, creating mashed potatoes. Undercooked potatoes taste starchy and uncooked. With that being said, test the potatoes to determine the perfect timing. 

Once cooked, transfer the potatoes to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. 

Salad Ingredients

• Red Potatoes: These creamy potatoes are perfect for this potato salad. I left the skins on for maximum nutrition and beautiful color.
• Green Onions: Green onions are also called scallions. They add a light onion flavor without overpowering the salad.
• Celery: Celery provides the perfect crunch to any potato salad. Always dice in small so it is easy to chew and enjoy in a salad.
• Chives: Chives are the ends of green onions. They are bright green and fresh tasting.
• Tarragon: Similar to licorice, or fennel, tarragon has a fresh yet bittersweet flavor. When combined with the other salad ingredients, it is the rock star of this salad.

Salad Substitutions

• Yukon Gold potatoes are slightly yellow in color but have a similar flavor and texture to red potatoes.
• OR - Use another thin-skin potato such as white potatoes or other yellow potatoes.
• If you don't have green onions, dice up a leek or shallot.
• Although the star of the potato salad is the tarragon, if you don't like tarragon, try basil, which has a similar flavor profile.

What does Tarragon Taste Like? 

Similar to fennel, tarragon is a fresh herb that tastes like licorice due to the presence of estragole, an organic compound. 

According to Healthline, tarragon is used to treat digestion problems, poor appetite, water retention, and toothache; to start menstruation, and to promote sleep. In foods and beverages, tarragon is used as a culinary herb.  

If fresh tarragon is difficult to locate, skip the fresh tarragon and substitute tarragon vinegar in the recipe. 

How to Make the Salad

Once the red potatoes cool, place them in the base of a large bowl. Then add the celery, green onions, and chives.

Then, make the magical dressing that brings this simple red skin potato salad together

Salad Dressing Ingredients

• Vegan Cashew Mayo: I prefer to make my own plant-based mayo. The recipe includes two different nut-free options.
• Garlic: I love fresh garlic over jarred garlic.
• Tarragon: Fresh herbs are always best. When using dried tarragon only use half the amount.
• White vinegar (or substitute tarragon vinegar and skip fresh tarragon): White vinegar has a strong, sharp flavor profile.
• Caraway Seeds: Caraway has a sharp, stimulating aroma and is sometimes confused with fennel or cumin. Its flavor has a nutty, bittersweet sharpness with a hint of citrus and anise
• Celery salt: Celery salt is a mixture of common table salt with ground celery seeds — or sometimes dried and ground celery stalk and leaves, too.
• Pepper: I like fresh ground pepper.

Dressing Substitutions

• Apple cider or malt vinegar is similar to white vinegar.
• Substitute jarred garlic for fresh, but double the amount.
• If using dried herbs instead of fresh, use half the amount of dried herbs in a recipe. Dried herbs are much stronger in taste.
• Use celery seed instead of celery salt. Multiply the amount of celery seed called for by ¼ or ½, then measure out that amount in celery salt to use in your recipe. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of celery seed, use 1 ¼ or 1 ½ teaspoon of celery salt.

Next, pour the dressing over the cooled potatoes and vegetables and stir. 

Now, refrigerate covered for at least an hour or more, so the flavors enhance. And, right before serving sprinkle with parsley and paprika as a garnish. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• A quick way to cool potatoes and stop the cooking process is to prepare an ice bath. Then drain the potatoes and transfer them to the ice bath.
• Cook the potatoes in advance, cool them, and place them in the refrigerator covered up to a day ahead.
• Remember, when using dried herbs instead of fresh ones, use half the amount of dried herbs compared to fresh ones. Dried herbs are much stronger in taste.
• Add other chopped veggies like red bell pepper, carrots or any of your favorites

Don't be surprised if your guests come back for seconds. The next time you're looking for a unique potato salad recipe., try tarragon potato salad. You won't be disappointed.

Other Salad Recipes to Try!

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