Fancy Pasta Or Potato Salad Food

LOADED POTATO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Equipment: Large mixing bowl, Small bowl, whisk.
• Place potatoes in a medium pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until tender, about 12-15 minutes. Drain potatoes, cut into quarters and place in a large mixing bowl.
• Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Drain onto a towel-lined plate. Transfer half of bacon to the bowl with potatoes and reserve the other half to garnish the final salad. Add cooked pasta, broccoli, 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons chopped chives to the bowl and toss to combine.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, apple cider vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over salad and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to serving bowl. Garnish with remaining bacon, cheese, a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of chives.

PESTO POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 20 minutes, or until they are cooked though, but the skins remain intact. Set them aside until they are cool enough to handle. Quarter the potatoes and put them in a large bowl. Add the peppers and the pesto and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and chill.
• Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over a medium heat until fragrant and golden brown, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. In a food processor, process the pine nuts and the garlic until minced. Add the basil, Parmesan cheese and lemon juice and process until finely minced. With processor on, slowly pour the oil down the food chute. Process until well blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

DRESSING FOR PASTA OR POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Stir all ingredients together.
• Mix in appropriate amount of potatoes/pasta and veggies such as chopped olives, capers, onion, green peppers, etc.

NEXT LEVEL POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Tip the potatoes into a large pan of cold salted water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins until tender to the tip of a knife.
• While the potatoes are cooking, whisk the mustard, vinegar, olive oil and chopped shallot together with a good pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel if you prefer, then halve, quarter or cut them into bite-sized chunks if large, then toss in the mustard dressing until completely coated. Leave to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, mix the mayonnaise, soured cream, lemon juice and horseradish together. When the potatoes are cool, toss them through the mayonnaise mixture along with the spring onions. Tip into a dish and scatter with the crispy onions just before serving, or serve the crispy onions on the side for sprinkling over at the table.