What is the greatest American dish> It could be hamburgers or French fries. it could be turkey and gravy. yet since it;s summer and salad season - it's potato salad. This mix if spuds ,onions,eggs and mayo is the dish of the summer reflecting everyone's heritage and taste.
Regular contributor and James Beard winner, Wesley Morris,a food historian wrote about this classic in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. He believes it truly is an American dish because anyone from the most novice home chef to the most experienced one can make it. Every ethnic group in this country has there version of it. The Spanish invented it, first dressing the newest sensation from the New World with boiling them in wine or vinegar and serving then with herbs. Yet it was the Germans who recharged the recipes for Kartoffelslat , a warn version with bacon eggs and herbs.It changed in the 1920's when mayo was added and became a cold dish.In Peru ,it;s insalata rusa and in Spain it's ensaladilla rusa , both made with potatoes carrots and peas.Sometimes cubed beets are added with mayonnaise.The Japanese version has rice win e vinegar added while the French version calls for a light vinaigrette plus a heavy sprinkling of such fresh herbs as tarragon chervil ,parsley and chives.
Mr Morris gives his recipes. he has been making his mother version since the age of eleven.By the time he was fourteen he took on more responsibility , mincing the celery, pulverizing a dozen eggs, peeling and dicing the potatoes and drizzling n the mustard. What kind of potatoes are recommended? Mr Morris uses Yukon Gold which are always recommended He also uses a yellow onion and four meaty celery stalks. Five hard boiled eggs are also used a long with a cup of mayonnaise. A sweet pickle relish is mixed in to give the salad a sweet flavor. Don;t use a dill pickle one because I would be too tangy.A quarter to a half cup of mustard is used to tingle the salad its' traditional yellow hue. Remember to use the freshest one (check the experiation date when buying it)White granted sugar is added - but just a tiny pinch to meld out the other flavors. He sprinkled hot paprika on the finished salad l Sweet paprika along with the tiniest pinch of cayenne can be subbed in too. There should be a subtle hotness that's felt at the back of the throat
America's favorite salad and side has to be potato salad. It is a perfect blend of textures and flavors. What better to celebrate a country on its' 250th anniversary?
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