Dorothy’s Signature Potato Salad

Dorothy’s Homemade Potato Salad: A Creamy, Flavorful Classic for Every Occasion

Dorothy’s Homemade Potato Salad stands out with its incredibly creamy texture and rich flavor. This beloved recipe combines tender, perfectly cooked potatoes with hard-boiled eggs, crisp green onion, refreshing celery, and a unique dressing. The secret to its irresistible taste lies in a blend of creamy mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and the distinctive tang of Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing.

 

A bowl of Dorothy's Homemade Potato Salad garnished with fresh chives, ready to be served.

Welcome to BBQ Season: The Reign of the Perfect Side Dish

Can you feel the warmth in the air? Barbeque season is undeniably upon us, and for many, that means embracing outdoor gatherings, the sizzle of the grill, and, most importantly, an array of delectable side dishes. While grilled meats often steal the spotlight, it’s the accompanying sides that truly complete the meal, transforming a simple gathering into a memorable feast. Among these culinary stars, a truly great potato salad holds a place of honor, and Dorothy’s Potato Salad recipe is designed to be just that – the quintessential side dish that complements anything you serve.

Whether your main course features succulent BBQ Pork Ribs, a juicy Lucifer Burger, a savory Smoked Ham, a casual Chili Dog, or even a classic bucket of fried chicken, this Homemade Potato Salad will be the perfect, versatile accompaniment. Its rich, creamy texture and balanced flavors ensure it’s always a crowd-pleaser, making it an indispensable part of your summer spread or any family meal.

 

This post is proudly sponsored by Nebraska’s very own Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment. My genuine affection for their product and the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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Closeup of chopped hard-boiled eggs and celery being added to cooked potatoes for potato salad.

Crafting the Perfect Potato Salad from Scratch: A Culinary Journey

The question, “How do you make potato salad from scratch?” is bound to elicit a kaleidoscope of answers. Ask ten different home cooks, and you’re likely to receive ten distinct approaches, each deeply rooted in personal tradition and regional preferences. For me, the ultimate potato salad recipe invariably includes hard-boiled eggs – a feature often associated with classic, old-fashioned, or Southern-style potato salads. These add a wonderful depth of flavor and a rich, creamy texture that truly elevates the dish.

While it’s undeniably quicker to grab a container from the deli counter, creating homemade potato salad is an incredibly rewarding experience. The process, though it requires a little more time and attention, results in a dish far superior in freshness and flavor. The core ingredients are wonderfully straightforward: tender potatoes, perfectly hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish for a burst of tang, crisp celery for essential crunch, and a hint of onion, all seasoned with salt and pepper. What brings all these harmonious elements together, coating them in a rich, unforgettable embrace, is the exceptional dressing. And this is precisely where our star ingredient, Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment, steps in to perform its magic. Its unique flavor profile is the secret weapon that makes this potato salad truly special. Keep reading to discover why!

Choosing the Best Potatoes for Your Homemade Potato Salad

The foundation of any great potato salad lies, quite literally, in the potatoes themselves. When I embark on making a batch of potato salad, my go-to choice is usually the versatile Yukon Gold potato. These potatoes are prized for their lower starch content and robust, “sturdy” flesh. This characteristic means they are less prone to breaking down and becoming mushy when peeled, cubed, and boiled, ensuring your salad has beautifully intact, tender pieces of potato. Their naturally buttery flavor also adds to the richness of the final dish.

However, culinary creativity often springs from necessity. If I find myself craving potato salad but my pantry is sans Yukon Golds, I don’t hesitate to use whatever variety I have on hand. On a recent occasion, I successfully used Russet potatoes, and they performed admirably. The key, regardless of potato type, is careful cooking. You’ll want to diligently monitor them as they boil, removing them from the heat as soon as they are tender but still hold their shape. This prevents them from becoming waterlogged or disintegrating. For certain varieties like Yukon Golds or red potatoes, I sometimes prefer to leave the skin on. Not only does it add a rustic touch and a bit of extra texture, but it also contributes to their nutritional value. Ultimately, whether to peel or not to peel is entirely a matter of personal preference, influencing both the aesthetics and mouthfeel of your finished potato salad.

 

A large bowl filled with various chopped ingredients for potato salad: cooked potatoes, celery, green onions, and hard-boiled eggs.

Essential Ingredients for Dorothy’s Signature Potato Salad

The magic of Dorothy’s Potato Salad comes from a thoughtful combination of fresh, quality ingredients that each play a vital role in its overall flavor and texture profile. Here’s a detailed look at what goes into this fantastic dish:

  • **Medium Potatoes:** Cooked, peeled, and cubed to tender perfection, these form the hearty base.
  • **Hard-Boiled Eggs:** Chopped eggs add creaminess, richness, and that classic potato salad appeal.
  • **Celery:** Diced celery provides a delightful crunch and a subtle, refreshing bitterness that cuts through the richness.
  • **Green Onion:** Sliced green onions offer a mild, fresh onion flavor without being overpowering, adding a bright herbaceous note.
  • **Fresh Chives:** A garnish of chopped fresh chives adds a final touch of delicate onion flavor and a pop of color.
  • **Mayonnaise:** The creamy backbone of our dressing, binding all the flavors together.
  • **Sweet Pickle Relish:** This adds a crucial sweet and tangy counterpoint, enhancing the overall dressing profile.
  • **Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment**: The star ingredient! This unique, sweet and tangy dressing elevates the flavor beyond compare. For a lighter option, Dorothy Lynch Light & Lean can also be used without compromising taste.
  • **Salt & Pepper:** Essential for seasoning to taste, bringing out the best in all ingredients.

While I might opt for a dill relish and a mayonnaise-dijon mustard blend for a classic picnic potato salad, Dorothy’s Potato Salad calls for a specific flavor harmony. The inclusion of sweet pickle relish mixed with creamy mayonnaise, alongside the unparalleled sweet and tangy notes of Dorothy Lynch dressing, creates a truly divine flavor profile. This combination isn’t just a choice; it’s a match made in culinary heaven, delivering a unique taste that keeps everyone coming back for more.

 

A chef's knife dicing hard-boiled eggs on a wooden cutting board, with potatoes, celery, and green onions nearby.

Simple Steps to Prepare Dorothy’s Potato Salad

Once all your ingredients are prepped – potatoes cooked and cooled, eggs hard-boiled and chopped, and vegetables finely diced – the assembly process for this incredible potato salad is refreshingly simple. In a large mixing bowl, combine the tender potatoes, chopped hard-boiled eggs, crisp celery, and vibrant green onions. Then, generously spoon in the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and the indispensable Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing. Gently fold everything together until all components are thoroughly coated and uniformly combined. Take care not to overmix, as this can break down the potatoes and lead to a mushy texture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting until the flavors sing. The final, crucial step is to refrigerate the salad for at least a few hours, or ideally overnight. Chilling allows the flavors to meld beautifully, intensifying the overall taste and creating that perfectly integrated, irresistible flavor that makes this potato salad a true standout. Garnish with fresh chives just before serving for a touch of freshness and color.

 

A completed bowl of Dorothy's Potato Salad with a serving spoon, garnished with chives.

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Loved this recipe for Dorothy’s Potato Salad? Make sure you don’t lose track of this culinary gem! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board right now so you can easily find it whenever you’re ready to whip up this delicious side dish again. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, and family dinners alike!

 

A close-up shot of a creamy, sweet and tangy salad dressing, presumably Dorothy Lynch.

Unveiling the Secret Ingredient: What is Dorothy Lynch?

For those unfamiliar with this regional treasure, you might be asking, “What exactly is Dorothy Lynch, anyway?” At its heart, Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment is a truly unique sweet and spicy dressing, characterized by its delightfully thick and creamy texture. Its vibrant reddish-orange hue often leads people to mistakenly categorize it as just another French dressing. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Despite superficial similarities in color, Dorothy Lynch tastes nothing like traditional French dressing. The key differentiator lies in its base: French dressing is typically oil-based, whereas Dorothy Lynch boasts a rich, savory tomato base. This fundamental difference gives it a distinct flavor profile that can only be described as truly “Homemade.” It carries a comforting, familiar taste that sets it apart from mass-produced dressings, evoking a sense of nostalgic culinary craftsmanship.

The legend of this iconic dressing began in the 1940s, when the eponymous Dorothy Lynch crafted her signature recipe. She served it to patrons at a popular restaurant she and her husband operated within the local Legion Club in St. Paul, Nebraska. The dressing quickly soared in popularity, becoming such a local sensation that customers would eagerly bring their own bottles to have Dorothy personally fill them, eager to enjoy its unique flavor in their homes. This grassroots popularity speaks volumes about its undeniable appeal and deliciousness.

More Than Just a Salad Dressing: The Incredible Versatility of Dorothy Lynch

While Dorothy Lynch certainly started its life as a delightful salad dressing, its utility extends far beyond tossing with greens. Its distinctive sweet and tangy profile makes it an incredibly versatile condiment, an indispensable staple in many kitchens. We often find ourselves going through bottles of it quickly, not just for salads, but for a myriad of other culinary applications!

This dressing is truly delicious as a tenderizing marinade for meats, infusing them with its signature flavor. It makes an excellent dip for fresh vegetables, adding a zesty kick. Try it as a unique pizza dip, or pair it with classic American dishes like barbecue and fried chicken, where its flavors truly shine. Both Dorothy Lynch Home Style and Dorothy Lynch Light & Lean varieties are also conveniently gluten-free, making them suitable for a wider range of dietary needs.

Finding Dorothy Lynch is easier than you might think. It can be purchased at numerous locally-owned Nebraska shops and in select grocery stores nationwide, including major retailers like Walmart and Hy-Vee. For those outside these regions, or simply for convenience, it can also be purchased online directly from their official website and through Buy Nebraska.

Elevate Your Cooking: Using Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing in Recipes

Beyond being an amazing potato salad ingredient, Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment has been a secret weapon in my kitchen for decades, adding its signature sweet and tangy zest to countless recipes. From my savory Sloppy Dorothy Sandwiches to delightful brunch pies and everything in between, its versatility knows no bounds. It truly has a way of spicing up everyday dishes, transforming them into something extraordinary and memorable.

 

A collage of various recipes featuring Dorothy Lynch dressing, including sandwiches, dips, and main courses.

Explore More Dorothy Lynch Recipes on An Affair from the Heart

If you’ve fallen in love with the unique flavor of Dorothy Lynch, you’re in luck! I’ve developed a treasure trove of recipes that showcase the incredible versatility of this dressing. Expand your culinary horizons and discover new ways to incorporate this beloved condiment into your meals. Here are some of my favorite Dorothy Lynch creations:

  • Sloppy Dorothy Sandwiches: A fun twist on a classic, bursting with flavor.
  • Dorothy’s Cheesy Bacon Pull-Apart Bread: The perfect savory bread for any gathering.
  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Dorothy’s Cole Slaw: Tender pork with a zesty slaw.
  • Dorothy’s BBQ Pork Chops: Sweet and savory chops that are simply irresistible.
  • Dorothy’s Impossible Pie with Bacon & Swiss: A surprisingly easy and delicious savory pie.
  • Taco Salads with Dorothy’s Homemade Taco: A fresh and flavorful take on taco night.
  • Dorothy’s Cranberry Meatballs: Perfect for appetizers or a hearty meal.
  • Dorothy’s Pizza Pockets: A fun, customizable treat for all ages.
  • Dorothy’s Slow Cooker Glazed Ham: Effortlessly delicious and perfect for holidays.
  • Juicy Dorothy Burger (Jucy Lucy Burgers done better): An elevated burger experience.
  • Dorothy’s Hot Taco Dip: A warm, comforting dip for any party.

For even MORE inventive ways to enjoy Dorothy Lynch in recipes, be sure to visit their official website!

A large bowl of Dorothy's Potato Salad with a serving spoon, garnished with fresh herbs, ready for a gathering.

Now, let’s get into the kitchen and mix up a big, delicious bowl of Dorothy’s Potato Salad that everyone will adore! Michaela's signature

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Dorothy's Homemade Potato Salad in a white bowl on a light background

Print Recipe

Dorothy’s Potato Salad

Dorothy’s Homemade Potato Salad is so creamy and flavorful, made with tender potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green onion, crisp celery, and a dressing made of mayo, sweet pickle relish and Dorothy Lynch!

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best potatoes for salad, creamy, Dorothy Lynch, easy, make ahead, old fashioned, potato salad from scratch, potato salad recipe, sweet relish, the BEST potato salad, with eggs
Servings: 12 -15
Calories: 222kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

  • Rubber Spatulas
  • Glass Batter Bowl
  • 12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener

Ingredients

  • 7 medium potatoes, peeled, cubed, cooked and cooled
  • 4 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 5 green onions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 3/4 cup Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing & Condiment
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Add potatoes to a big bowl, followed by eggs, celery and onion.
  2. Top with Dorothy Lynch, mayo, sweet pickle relish, fold together until everything is incorporated.
  3. Salt and pepper to taste and top with fresh chives before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 |
Calories: 222kcal |
Carbohydrates: 20g |
Protein: 4g |
Fat: 14g |
Saturated Fat: 2g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g |
Cholesterol: 57mg |
Sodium: 265mg |
Fiber: 2g |
Sugar: 3g