French🍚 Starches

Classic French White Wine Potato Salad

Name: Classic French White Wine Potato Salad
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: ~1½ lb small waxy potatoes (such as French Ratte or fingerling potatoes); to taste salt (for boiling potatoes); ~1 cup white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc); 4 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp vinegar; to taste salt (for seasoning); to taste black pepper; ~2 tbsp chives; ~2 tbsp parsley; ~1 tbsp tarragon

⏱ 50 min

A classic technique from Escoffier's culinary guide: bathe warm potatoes in white wine before dressing them with a fresh herb vinaigrette, so every bite is packed with flavor instead of being bland.

Adapted from a video by French Cooking Academy

Why Your Potato Salad is Bland (And the Classic Trick to Fix It)

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Ingredients

small waxy potatoes (such as French Ratte or fingerling potatoes)Choose similarly sized small waxy potatoes; cook with skins on~1½ lbest.
salt (for boiling potatoes)to taste
white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)Used to bathe the warm sliced potatoes; excess wine is discarded afterward~1 cupest.
olive oil4 tbsp
vinegar1 tbsp
salt (for seasoning)to taste
black pepperto taste
chivesfinely chopped~2 tbspest.
parsleychopped

Steps

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1
Choose similarly sized small waxy potatoes (not starchy ones) — they hold their shape when boiled and have a subtle nutty flavor.
2
Place the unpeeled potatoes in cold, well-salted water, bring to a boil, and cook for about 15-20 minutes depending on size, until a knife slides in easily.
3
Drain the potatoes, rinse briefly in cold water to cool slightly, then peel while still warm and slice them into a large bowl.
4
While the potatoes are still warm, pour in the white wine, mix gently, and let them soak so they absorb the fruity flavor without any harsh alcohol taste; then discard the excess wine.
5
Finely chop the fresh chives, parsley, and tarragon.
6
Make the vinaigrette by whisking together the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, then stir in the chopped herbs.
7
Pour the herb vinaigrette over the wine-soaked potatoes and toss to coat; drizzle with a little extra olive oil if desired, and season with additional salt and pepper.
8
Let the salad rest for about 15 minutes to let the flavors meld, then serve this flavorful potato salad base as is, or customize it further with mayonnaise or other garnishes.

Classic French White Wine Potato Salad

Ingredients

Steps

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