Potato Salad with Peas and Mint

You will love this Potato Salad with Peas and Mint. The mellow potato flavour is boosted by fresh mint which adds freshness and brightness. Lemon zest accentuates and lifts the flavours and the dressing is made lighter and tangy by the addition of yoghurt.

Why we love this salad:

There’s no shortage of recipes for the workhorse of salads, the Potato Salad. It is almost guaranteed to make an appearance in one form or another at any barbecue. However, many are often heavy with mayonnaise and light on inspiration. But not this one. This is a zesty and refreshing salad, a lighter, brighter version of a classic Potato Salad. 

To make this salad it may not even be necessary to go to the store. This is a side dish which is quickly and easily prepared from ingredients that you may already have in your store cupboard. 

You can pair this salad with almost any main dish. It goes well with beef, lamb, pork, chicken or fish. 

There are some lovely flavour combinations in this salad. Mint and peas are a classic pairing, perfectly boosting the flavour of the potatoes, whilst lemon zest adds a bright note and the addition of yoghurt gives the dressing a gentle tang.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Potatoes – look for waxy potatoes, they hold their shape. 

Frozen baby peas – use regular frozen peas if you prefer. Fresh peas are a great substitute if you are able to find them also.

Mayonnaise – use a good quality, egg-based mayonnaise.

Greek yoghurt – this makes the dressing lower in fat whilst adding creaminess and a tangy flavour.

Fresh mint leaves – a great flavour booster for many dishes.

Lemon zest – adds a bright note to the salad.

Honey – adds just a touch of sweetness.

Spring onion/scallion – also known as green onions, they have a milder flavour than regular onions.

Step by step instructions:

1. To make my Potato Salad with Peas and Mint, I begin by boiling the potatoes in lightly salted water until they are tender then drain in a colander and set aside to cool.
2. Then, I cook the peas by boiling in salted water, draining them and refreshing them in iced water to retain their colour and then drain again.
3. To make the dressing I combine the mayonnaise, yoghurt, mint, lemon zest, honey and spring onions/scallions.
4. When the potatoes are cool, add them to a medium size bowl with the peas and fold through the dressing. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Add more lemon zest and mint if desired. Garnish with extra fresh mint leaves, peas and a wisp or two of lemon zest.

Tips for success and FAQs:

Be sure to salt the water in which you boil the potatoes. This is important to add flavour to the potatoes throughout. You will not get as much flavour by sprinkling salt on the surface. As well, for even cooking, start your potatoes in cold water. 

Suggestions to customise the salad:

Create diverse flavours with what you have on hand. The mellow flavour of potatoes marries well with a huge variety of ingredients. Consider hard boiled eggs, olives, crispy bacon, dill gherkins, celery, onion or sweetcorn. If you don’t have fresh mint, parsley or dill would be lovely. The combinations are endless and the potatoes so accommodating that you can customise a potato salad to suit your taste.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

We love salads, and don’t believe they should ever be boring! Here are some more of our favourites for you to try:

• Sweet and Sour Carrot Salad
• Marinated Tomato Salad
• Gluten-Free Quinoa Tabouli
• Orange, Spinach and Pomegranate Salad
• Quinoa, Mandarin and Spinach Salad
• Pumpkin, Cranberry and Almond Salad
• Charred Corn and Black Bean Salad
• Char-grilled Asparagus with Feta and Mint
• Radish, Feta and Cucumber Salad
• Broccoli, Bacon and Cashew Salad
• Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad
• Chargrilled Zucchini Salad
• Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Turmeric

My Potato Salad with Peas and Mint is a crowd-pleaser, enjoyed by young and old alike. It is a zesty and refreshing spin on a classic salad and is an essential inclusion at every picnic or barbecue. As well, it is an ideal side dish to many main meals.

Please let us know in the comments if you try this recipe.

Alex xx

This post was originally published in July 2018. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe remains the same.