French Garden Potato Salad Food

FRENCH POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Drop the white and red potatoes into a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until they are just cooked through. Drain in a colander and place a towel over the potatoes to allow them to steam for 10 more minutes. As soon as you can handle them, cut in 1/2 (quarters if the potatoes are larger) and place in a medium bowl. Toss gently with the wine and chicken stock. Allow the liquids to soak into the warm potatoes before proceeding.
• Combine the vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Add the vinaigrette to the potatoes. Add the scallions, dill, parsley, basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Serve warm or at room temperature.

FRENCH POTATO AND GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes, bay leaf and thyme branch. Cook at a brisk simmer until the potatoes are firm but easily pierced with a skewer, about 30 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
• While the potatoes are cooking, make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, anchovy, capers, mustard and vinegar. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk again before using if the dressing separates.
• When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, remove the skins with a paring knife and carefully cut into pieces 1/4-inch thick, or slightly thicker. Put the slices in a low bowl, season lightly with salt and pepper and add half the vinaigrette. Using your hands, gently coat the potatoes with the vinaigrette, taking care not to break them. Cover and set aside at room temperature.
• Top and tail the beans. Simmer in salted water until firm-tender, about 3 to 4 minutes, then cool under running water and pat dry.
• To cook the eggs, bring a medium pot of water to a rapid boil. Add the eggs and cook for 8 minutes for a somewhat soft-centered yolk or 9 minutes for a firmer yolk. Cool the eggs immediately in ice water, then crack and peel. Cut each egg in half and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• When ready to serve, season the beans with salt and pepper, then dress with the remaining vinaigrette. (Reserve 2 tablespoons vinaigrette for the arugula, if using.)
• Combine the dressed beans and potatoes, using hands to toss, and pile onto a platter. Sprinkle with chives, parsley and basil and arrange the eggs over the top. Garnish with anchovy fillets, if desired. Dress the arugula and send it to the table separately.

GARDEN POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover by several inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt, and lower to a gentle boil. Cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. Drain into a colander. Using gloves or paper towels to protect your hands, slice hot potatoes into 3/4-inch-thick rounds. Drizzle with vinegar, and set aside.
• Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Fill a large straight-sided saute pan with water, and place over high heat. Bring to a boil; add 1 teaspoon salt and the asparagus. Cook until just barely tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to ice bath until cool. Dry, and cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces. Place peas in boiling water, and cook until bright green, about 1 minute. Drain into a colander; transfer to ice bath to stop cooking. Dry on towels.
• Place mint, basil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, remaining teaspoon salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, add reserved potato mixture, asparagus, peas, sugar snap peas, and fennel, and toss to combine. Garnish with basil and mint leaves, and serve.

POTATO SALAD WITH FRENCH DRESSING

Steps:

• Cover potatoes in large saucepan with water. Bring to boiling and cook until fork tender, about 30 minutes. Drain. When cool enough to handle but still very warm, peel the potatoes and then cube. Place the warm potatoes in large bowl. Add the salt and French dressing, tossing to coat (You can even let the potatoes sit in the refrigerator overnight at this point.).
• Meanwhile, place the eggs in a medium saucepan. Cover with cold water. Bring to just under a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and return the eggs to the pot, covering with ice water. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel the eggs under cold running water, beginning with the large end. Cut into small cubes and reserve.
• To the potatoes, add the celery, onion, and pickle relish.
• In small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and mustard. With a spatula, fold the mayonnaise mixture into the potato mixture until thoroughly blended. Add the egg and gently stir just to evenly distribute. This is one of those dishes that is even bettr the next day. (If you can wait that long).

JACQUES'S FRENCH POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes and put them, whole, in a saucepan with water to cover by 1/2 inch. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook the potatoes gently until they are just tender and can be pierced with a sharp knife. Drain immediately and let cool slightly. (Scrape the skin from the cooked potatoes, if you want, as soon as they can be handled. For a decorative look with fingerlings, scrape off only a band of skin, about 1/2 inch thick, all around the long sides of the potato.)
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small saute pan. When hot, add the scallions and the onion, toss to coat well, and cook for about a minute over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, toss to mix, and cook for just a few moments, then remove the pan from the heat.
• Slice the potatoes while still warm, cutting them crosswise into 1/2-inch sections. Put the pieces in a large mixing bowl, pour the wine and 3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil over them, and toss gently to distribute. Add the warm vegetables from the pan, mustard, chives, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper, and gently fold all together, mixing well but not crushing the potatoes. Taste the salad and add more seasonings as you like.
• Serve the potatoes warm (no colder than room temperature). Arrange the large radicchio leaves, if you have them, in a close circle on the serving platter, with their curved insides up, to form a rough bowl. Spoon the potato salad inside the leaves, sprinkle chopped egg around the edges, and parsley over the top.