balsamic vinaigrette potato salad

I love to cook seasonally, and in my wise old age (at least according to my kids) I’m seeing that the seasons are timed quite perfectly, actually. As soon as I get sick of heavy roasted meals and over-the-top decadent desserts, the weather turns warm and brings with it a whole new wave of culinary options.

My family loves a good cookout. We often get together at my parents’ house to enjoy the pool and beautiful patio, not to mention the great company and delish food. There is always a lot of discussion about the food. Who’s bringing what? Is that enough sides? There’s only one dessert option, is that a problem? Oh, and by the way, the answer to the last question is yes, that’s a problem.

Anyway.

A few years ago, having been assigned to bring a side dish to the upcoming get together, I came across a recipe for a vinaigrette based potato salad, and I gotta tell you, my mind was blown. Growing up, I had only known one type of potato salad and it involved a thick and heavy mayo and mustard based dressing. I liked it alright, but it was never my favorite. This new salad, though, was…wow. Beyond intriguing.

So, obviously I had to try it. I made a batch and my entire family loved it. It was light, yet substantial, and minus the mayo, we didn’t have to worry about serving it on a hot day. The perfect grilling side dish, truly.

Plus, it was a bit fancy, without being fussy. There’s a difference. Sophisticated is perhaps a better word.

Ever since then, my family has been making some version of this vinaigrette potato salad every summer. My mom, sister and I all seem to pass around the assignment of actually making it – not that it’s hard, we just all love it so much. But, it shows up and people love it. Never fails.

And with Mother’s Day just days away, I wanted to share a recipe that reminded me of my mom and sister. We’re crazy about this vinaigrette potato salad. It not only makes the perfect grilling or cookout side dish, it also fits seamlessly into a brunch menu.

Remember the fanciness I mentioned? Moms love fancy, trust me. Fancy potato salad + brunch + not having to do the dishes = a pretty great Mother’s Day.

See how I snuck the dishes thing in? I’m like a conversational wizard.

For my Balsamic Vinaigrette Potato Salad, I went with my new favorite, everyday olive oil: Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It’s got a rich, beautiful flavor that goes well with just about everything. Another good option would be Bumble’s Tuscan Herb Olive Oil. It’s swoon-worthy.

For the balsamic vinegar, I chose the Honey Ginger White Balsamic. I wanted to use something light and fresh, and the Honey Ginger is just that. Bright and vibrant. A bit of honey, mustard and some fresh herbs finishes off the simple yet flavor packed dressing. The best thing about this potato salad (well, one of the best things. I don’t want to be nailed down to favorite feature) is that you can play around with your own combination of flavors. Experiment with different herbs, olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  I happened to have dill, parsley and chives on hand, but you could use any combination of herbs you happen to have. It’s breezy.

Play and experiment. That’s what cooking is all about, right?

So, enjoy your weekend and have a very Happy Mother’s Day!

This post is part of an ongoing relationship with Bumble Olive Oil Company. While this is part of a series of sponsored posts, all of the opinions shared within this post are completely my own.