Black People Southern Potato Salad

Black folks’ Southern potato salad recipe is a must-have for any Black cookout, family reunion, picnic, or potluck! It’s creamy yet tangy dressing balanced by soul food seasonings and flavors. 

What is a Black folks’ potato salad recipe?

Most Southerners have their family recipe for potato salad, and there are different versions of it all over the South.

This is my mom’s recipe that calls for main ingredients russet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickles, sweet onion, and celery. Amongst a host of flavorful seasonings. A favorite among children and adults alike.
 
You could also add optional condiments that are personal favorites, such as chopped bell pepper, garlic powder, red onion, or green onion.

But no raisins in Black folks’ potato salad, please.

A Black folks Southern potato salad recipe is flavorful! The same way Persian people feel about their beloved fesenjan recipe is also how Black folks cherish soul food potato salad.

If Black folks Southern fried chicken is Michael Jackson.

Black folks’ Southern potato salad is Prince.

Its fans are Die. Hard!

People will wait in line for Black folks’ potato salad. And if it were to ever die, people would mourn it for months. (If not years!)

All of what I just said might be lost on you, so let me explain…

Black potato salad vs. White potato salad

People often ask, “What is Southern potato salad?” 

Southern food can be described as down South, home-cooked comfort food recipes where you can taste the hospitality. But soul food goes way beyond Southern cooking. Which sparks the conversation about “Black potato salad vs. White potato salad.” 

A discussion about why Black people distrust potato salad recipes prepared by hands that are not Brown. (See more Black people’s recipes HERE.)

Don’t believe me? 

It’s a real thing. And a whole article dedicated to the conversation HERE (Why We Don’t trust White People’s Potato Salad), backed by SNL and Black Panther King T’Challa.

What goes in Black folks’ Southern potato salad?

If you’re looking for amazing flavor and seasoning, a Black folks’ potato salad recipe is exactly what you need! This recipe is tried and true and full of flavor. Careful attention to balancing the seasonings and ingredients ensures the classic taste and texture revered in the tradition of Black folks’ Southern cooking.

Measurements for the recipe can be found in the printable recipe card below. 

• Russet potatoes – With their fluffier texture, form the perfect base
• Small red or purple potatoes (optional) – Add a delightful contrast, both visually and in terms of bite
• Water – Necessary for boiling the potatoes. Or you could boil the potatoes in chicken or vegetable broth to intensify the exquisite flavor!
• Hard-boiled eggs – Lend a rich texture to the salad and meld with the starchiness of the russet potatoes beautifully
• Rice vinegar – Offers a slight tang
• Sweet pickles or relish – Balance the vinegar’s tang, a contrast hallmark of Southern potato salad. However, if you prefer, dill pickle relish can be used instead.
• Celery – Gives a crisp bite that perfectly counters the creaminess of the dressing. While fresh celery is best, you can substitute it with celery salt.
• Yellow onion – Contributes to the salad’s classic flavor, spice, and subtle sweetness
• Dressing of mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip) and mustard – These dressings blend to create a creamy foundation. Mayo or Miracle Whip is a personal preference, and the amount you use is the same, whichever you choose!
• Seasonings: sugar, salt, and black pepper -Introduce layers of flavor, unifying the dish and elevating it to a level that sings with tradition and comfort
• Paprika – Adds a beautiful red hue for a Southern-style garnish

What kind of potatoes are best for Southern potato salad?

In this Black potato salad recipe, my mom uses russet potatoes, the official Southern potato. We recommend using waxy potatoes like russet or Yukon gold. They’re high in moisture and starch and have a floury and crunchy texture, ideal for this recipe. 

Since russet potatoes do not have a high protein or sugar content, they hold their shape well when cooked. I also added a few small, colorful potatoes—purple and red potatoes—for an enhanced and colorful presentation. 

Because we eat with our eyes first!

How to make Black cookout potato salad 

What’s special about Black American potato salad?

In a Black family, you have to earn the right to bring this iconic Black folks’ recipe! Because Black people will ask the who, what, when, where, and why about potato salad brought to a large gathering like a cookout or holiday event.

Because it’s a sacred and protected dish. (It ain’t called “Black folks potato salad” for nothing!) So, if it’s your turn to bring it, start here for how it’s done!

For an easy soul food potato salad recipe, you can use the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker to quickly boil the eggs and potatoes.

Step-by-step instructions with guided pictures can be found in the printable recipe card below.

1. Peel the russet potatoes and leave them whole. If you’re using the optional small red or purple potatoes, do not peel them. (Potato peeling is totally a personal preference. Both ways work perfectly fine in a soul food potato salad recipe.)
2. Open the Instant Pot lid and place the Instant Pot trivet rack inside the stainless-steel inner pot.
3. Add the water and then the potatoes on the trivet rack.
4. Close the Instant Pot lid and pressure cook.
5. Open the pot and use an oven mitt to remove the trivet rack with the potatoes.
6. Allow the cooked potatoes to cool. It’s easier to cut them once they’ve cooled.
7. Then coarsely chop the potatoes into medium-sized chunks and add them to a large mixing bowl. The potatoes are softer to cut after they’re cooked.
8. Pour the vinegar over the chopped potatoes.
9. Add the trivet rack or egg rack inside the Instant Pot.
10. Add the eggs, pour the water over the eggs, and pressure cook.
11. While the eggs are cooking, dice the veggies: pickles, celery, and onion.
12. Add the mustard, mayonnaise, and seasonings to the bowl.
13. Place the boiled eggs into an ice bath to cool off.
14. Coarsely chop the eggs and add them to the large bowl of potatoes and seasonings.
15. Gently fold the ingredients into the potatoes.
16. Garnish with paprika, and then slice the remaining boiled egg to garnish on top.

Watch how to make potato salad with video key moments.

Pro tip: Some Black folks’ potato salad recipes get really fancy and garnish with deviled eggs for a soul food deviled eggs potato salad!

🎙Check out this recipe as featured on The Soul Food Pod Episode 7: Black Cookout Food

How to keep potato salad from getting mushy

Because you want potato salad, not mashed potatoes! Waxy potatoes like russets or Yukon Gold work best for potato salad. They do not break down or turn mushy when boiled or overcooked. 

It’s best to use these long-cooking potatoes because they’re good for baking or boiling and hold their shape well when cooked. 

Can you serve potato salad warm?

The Root best explains this: “Since prime potato salad making and eating season occurs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, temperature is an issue too. If you leave it sitting out in the sun too long and try eating it, you will die. Like, literally.”

While you can serve potato salad both warm or cold (German potato salad is served warm). Black people eat potato salad as a cold side dish during summer. 

How long can potato salad sit out?

Because it’s a moist recipe made with eggs, potato salad should be refrigerated overnight. However, it can be left out for several hours at room temperature without going bad.

What to serve with Black Southern potato salad

BBQ! Or really any cookout food like burgers, buttermilk fried chicken, soul food baked macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, tuna steaks, macaroni salad, chicken salad, or baked beans. And of course, Southern sweet tea.

Print this recipe for classic soul food potato salad ingredients and a host of flavorful seasonings below!

Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest “Soul Food Recipes” board!