Ina Garten’s Classic Tarragon Potato Salad Recipe – A Summer Hit

Tarragon potato salad whispers summer nostalgia with its vibrant herbal notes and luxurious creamy texture.

Fresh green herbs dance through tender potatoes, creating a harmonious culinary melody.

Each forkful brings a delightful blend of tangy and smooth sensations that elevate simple ingredients.

Mediterranean-inspired seasonings transform an ordinary side dish into something extraordinary.

Classic comfort meets gourmet elegance in this remarkable recipe that speaks directly to food lovers.

Subtle nuances of classic herbs provide depth and character to every bite.

Why Tarragon Potato Salad Is Fresh and Fancy

• Craft Creamy Comfort: This potato salad delivers a luxurious, velvety texture with its perfectly cooked potatoes and rich mayonnaise-based dressing, creating a smooth and indulgent side dish that feels like a warm hug.
• Burst Bold Herbal Notes: Fresh tarragon and dill transform this classic recipe into a vibrant, aromatic experience, adding sophisticated layers of flavor that dance on your taste buds and elevate the traditional potato salad.
• Master Simple Gourmet Technique: Ina Garten's method of steaming potatoes and letting them sit with dressing allows flavors to develop naturally, making this recipe foolproof for home cooks while producing restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

What You’ll Need for Tarragon Potato Salad Perfection

• Potatoes: Starchy, waxy potatoes perfect for creamy salads with a smooth texture.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps in potato cooking process.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that binds the salad and adds rich flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Bright, acidic component that balances the richness.
• White Vinegar: Adds tangy depth and helps cut through the creaminess.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and aromatic spiciness.

• Tarragon, Dill: Classic French-inspired herbs with delicate, distinctive flavors that complement potatoes.
• Scallions, Red Onion: Sharp, fresh aromatics that add texture and bright onion notes.

How to Make Tarragon Potato Salad With Flavor Balance

Step 1: Boil Potatoes

Place potatoes in a large pot, covering them completely with water. Add salt and bring to a rolling boil. Simmer until potatoes are fork-tender, which takes about 15-30 minutes depending on potato size.

Step 2: Steam and Rest Potatoes

Drain potatoes in a colander and cover with a kitchen towel. Let them steam for 10 minutes, creating a fluffy interior that absorbs flavors beautifully.

Step 3: Prepare Potato Pieces

Once potatoes are cool enough to handle, carefully peel and slice into half-inch thick rounds. Transfer to a spacious mixing bowl.

Step 4: Whip Up Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Lemon juice
• Vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Coat Potatoes With Dressing

Pour dressing over warm potatoes and gently fold to ensure even coating. The warmth helps potatoes absorb the tangy mixture.

Step 6: Add Fresh Herbs and Aromatics

• Chopped scallions
• Minced red onion
• Fresh tarragon
• Fresh dill

Toss gently to distribute herbs evenly.

Step 7: Let Flavors Marry

Allow potato salad to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This magical resting period lets ingredients mingle and develop a rich, complex taste.

Step 8: Final Touch and Serve

Do a quick taste test and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve at room temperature for maximum flavor enjoyment.

Tips That Make Tarragon Potato Salad a Standout

• Select Waxy Potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes guarantee a creamy, smooth texture that won't crumble during mixing, ensuring a perfect potato salad consistency.
• Warm Potato Dressing Magic: Drizzling dressing over warm potatoes helps them absorb maximum flavor, transforming a good salad into an extraordinary one.
• Gentle Steaming Technique: Covering freshly drained potatoes with a kitchen towel creates a steamy environment that softens the interior without turning them mushy.
• Precision Herb Chopping: Finely mincing tarragon, dill, and scallions distributes their aromatic essence evenly throughout the creamy dressing.
• Flavor Melding Moment: Letting the salad rest for 30 minutes allows ingredients to harmonize, intensifying the delicious taste profile and creating a more complex dish.

How to Store Tarragon Potato Salad the Smart Way

• Vacuum Seal Method: Preserve peak freshness by vacuum sealing potato salad in specialized bags, removing all air to prevent bacterial growth. Prevents oxidation and extends refrigerator storage life up to 5 days without flavor degradation.
• Glass Container Strategy: Choose clear glass containers with tight-fitting lids to maintain salad's texture and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors. Store in the coldest section of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf, away from temperature fluctuations.
• Portion Control Technique: Divide potato salad into smaller individual serving containers before refrigerating. Reduces contamination risk, maintains optimal taste, and allows easy grab-and-go meal preparation for quick lunches or side dishes.

Twists to Try With Ina’s Tarragon Potato Salad

• Spicy Southwestern Spin: Replace tarragon and dill with chopped cilantro, add diced jalapeños, and mix in smoked paprika for a zesty kick that transforms the classic potato salad into a bold Mexican-inspired side dish.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, incorporate crumbled feta cheese, add chopped kalamata olives, and use fresh oregano and mint instead of traditional herbs to create a lighter, Mediterranean-style potato salad.
• Rustic Bacon and Herb Blend: Crisp up diced bacon and fold into the salad, replace some mayonnaise with whole grain mustard, and add fresh chives and parsley for a hearty, smoky version that elevates the original recipe with rich, savory flavors.
• Vegan Creamy Alternative: Use vegan mayonnaise, add roasted garlic, include chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and garnish with toasted pine nuts to create a plant-based potato salad that's creamy, tangy, and packed with robust flavors.

One Creamy Bite to Close the Tarragon Potato Chapter

Potato salad perfection emerges from Ina Garten’s classic recipe, blending creamy textures with herbaceous magic.

Tangy mayonnaise and bright herbs create a harmonious symphony of flavors dancing across each potato slice.

Lemon juice and vinegar add zesty complexity that elevates this simple side dish into a culinary masterpiece.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients weave together seamlessly, promising a memorable dining experience for anyone seeking comfort and sophistication.

Scallions, dill, and tarragon bring garden-fresh notes that transform an ordinary potato salad into an extraordinary celebration of seasonal ingredients.

Savor this recipe, share its delightful story with friends, spark conversation around your dinner table, and spread delicious inspiration that connects people through remarkable culinary craftsmanship.

Ina Garten Tarragon Potato Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s tarragon potato salad brings French countryside elegance to classic American picnic fare. Fresh herbs and creamy dressing create a sophisticated side dish that delights palates with its subtle, herbaceous charm.

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Ingredients

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Potatoes:

• 2 lb (907 g) medium Yukon Gold potatoes

Herbs:

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
• 3 tablespoons chopped scallions, white and green parts

Seasoning and Dressing:

• 1 cup (240 ml) good mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons tarragon or white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons minced red onion
• Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare the potatoes by placing them in a large pot, covering with cold water, and adding 15 grams () of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer for 15-30 minutes, depending on potato size.
2. Test potato doneness by inserting a sharp knife – it should glide through easily without resistance. Once cooked, drain the potatoes in a colander.
3. Cover the drained potatoes with a clean kitchen towel and let them steam for 10 minutes, allowing excess moisture to evaporate and creating a fluffy texture.
4. When cool enough to handle, carefully peel the potatoes and slice them into uniform 1.25-centimeter (1/2-inch) thick rounds. Transfer the slices to a spacious mixing bowl.
5. Create the creamy dressing by whisking together 240 milliliters () of mayonnaise, 30 milliliters () of fresh lemon juice, 30 milliliters () of vinegar, 10 grams () of kosher salt, and 5 grams () of freshly ground black pepper in a separate small bowl.
6. While the potatoes are still warm, gently pour the prepared dressing over them, carefully folding to ensure even coating without breaking the potato slices.
7. Enhance the salad by incorporating 45 grams () of finely chopped scallions, 45 grams () of minced red onion, 30 grams () of fresh tarragon, and 30 grams () of fresh dill. Toss delicately to distribute herbs evenly.
8. Allow the potato salad to rest at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify.
9. Perform a final taste check, adjusting seasoning with additional salt if necessary. Serve at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

• Let flavors develop by resting the potato salad for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing each ingredient to blend harmoniously.
• Mince herbs like tarragon, dill, and scallions super finely to ensure an even distribution of fresh, aromatic notes throughout the creamy mixture.
• Steam potatoes gently after draining by covering them with a kitchen towel, creating incredibly soft and fluffy interiors without risking mushy texture.
• Coat warm potatoes immediately with dressing to help them absorb maximum flavor, transforming a simple side into a delectable experience.
• Select Yukon Gold potatoes specifically for their waxy, creamy consistency that holds shape perfectly and prevents the salad from becoming a mushy mess.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 358 kcal
• Sugar: Data not specified
• Sodium: 1,322mg
• Fat: 20.5g
• Saturated Fat: 3.57g
• Carbohydrates: 27.92g
• Fiber: 3.2g
• Protein: 6.7g
• Cholesterol: 170mg