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Tuscan Potato Salad

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 8, 2011

Time

40 minutes, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 6

Tuscan Potato Salad

Ingredients

2 pounds small red potato (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed and sliced ¼ inch thickSalt and pepper 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons water 2 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves 2 jarred roasted red peppers, drained and sliced thin½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (see note)

Before You Begin

Shred the cheese on the big holes of a box grater. This potato salad can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Instructions

  1. Bring potatoes, 2 tablespoons salt, and enough water to cover potatoes by 1 inch to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 5 minutes. While potatoes simmer, whisk vinegar, water, garlic, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl.
  2. Drain potatoes thoroughly in colander and spread in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle half of vinegar mixture over hot potatoes and let stand until cool, about 20 minutes. Stir mustard into remaining vinegar mixture, then slowly whisk in oil.
  3. Scatter parsley, peppers, and Parmesan evenly over potatoes. Transfer potato mixture to bowl with vinaigrette and toss gently until combined. Serve.
Tuscan Potato Salad

Tuscan Potato Salad

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

40 minutes, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 pounds small red potato (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed and sliced ¼ inch thick
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
2 jarred roasted red peppers, drained and sliced thin
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (see note)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 pounds small red potato (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed and sliced ¼ inch thick
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
2 jarred roasted red peppers, drained and sliced thin
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (see note)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 pounds small red potato (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed and sliced ¼ inch thick
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
2 jarred roasted red peppers, drained and sliced thin
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (see note)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a bold, creamy potato salad, we found that the sturdy, waxy texture of small red potatoes was ideal. (Russets and Yukon Golds were too tender and mealy.) Slicing the potatoes rather than quartering them created more surface area for the vinaigrette to soak into. For the vinaigrette, tasters preferred red wine vinegar above all others—especially when it was cut with a little water to temper its harshness, which was also balanced by the assertive flavor of extra-virgin olive oil. A mere teaspoon of potent rosemary and a finishing hit of parsley added welcome herby flavor, and a little mustard tied everything together and helped emulsify the dressing.

Before You Begin

Shred the cheese on the big holes of a box grater. This potato salad can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Instructions

  1. Bring potatoes, 2 tablespoons salt, and enough water to cover potatoes by 1 inch to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 5 minutes. While potatoes simmer, whisk vinegar, water, garlic, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl.
  2. Drain potatoes thoroughly in colander and spread in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle half of vinegar mixture over hot potatoes and let stand until cool, about 20 minutes. Stir mustard into remaining vinegar mixture, then slowly whisk in oil.
  3. Scatter parsley, peppers, and Parmesan evenly over potatoes. Transfer potato mixture to bowl with vinaigrette and toss gently until combined. Serve.

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