While potato salad is considered a classically American Fourth of July dish, the hard-working potato has nourished people around the world. In Potato Salad: 65 Recipes from Classic to Cool, author Debbie Moose travels the globe to discover the classic potato salad in all its permutations, stating, "Potato salad comes in many cultural guises, from the Russian appetizer to the oil-and-vinegar-and-bacon German dish, tot he dill-accented Scandinavian delight."
Moose loves the potato as back yard or picnic fare, and revitalizes this classic dish so it will no longer be shoved to the side, but eagerly scooped onto a plate. She goes beyond picnics, however, to raise potato salad to new heights. Organized by section, she has grouped the classic back yard fare as Picnic Pals, but goes on to include a section called Uptown Taters, where potatoes are dressed up to accompany an elegant roast beef or pork, or a savory grilled steak. Knowing the universal love for potatoes (and their economical aspect!) she adds a section titled "Spud Suppers" in which potatoes are the star of a salad that functions as a meal in itself.
Moose begins with a short discussion dealing with the more than 200 varieties of potatoes: how to select the right variety, how to prepare potatoes, as well as how to serve them. Then she digs in for good cooking.
Among the mouth-watering variations on the classic salad, you will find a wide variety of recipes, from Tarragon-Lemon Potato Salad, or Tuscan Taters with capers, basil, and sun-dried potatoes, Ruddy Roasted Pepper Salad done with finely chopped red bell peppers, even Spuds Step Out made with caviar for that rare treat. There are classic recipes as well, but given new zing, and you will find such recipes as Herbs and Garlic Salad, Grilled Potato Salad, Potato Salad Olé with a Mexican flavor, a Double Tater Salad that combines sweets with white potatoes.
For more robust meals that move potatoes from the sideboard to the center of the table, there are recipes such as such as Potato Salad with Crab or Spring Ham Salad, Pizza Potatoes that bring the flavor of pepperoni to the table, or Buffalo Chicken Spuds that combine the popularity of spicy Buffalo chicken wings together with potatoes.
Potato Salad is illustrated throughout with 36 full-color, full-page photos. This is a great book for back yard and buffet table both.
©
