A simple French Potato Salad with fresh herbs – tarragon, parsley and chives, with a flavorful Dijon Vinaigrette. Healthy, vegan and light with no mayo!
Where do we possibly find peace in the midst of chaos, division, injustice, destruction of land, pollution of air and water, illness and death? We find it in the deathless Spirit that is here in each moment. We find it in the Mystery that is awake within each of us, in the Heart of Awareness that neither refuses nor attaches to our thoughts and emotions but holds everything in its Love. ~Dorothy Hunt
Savory, quick, and easy, this French Potato Salad is simple to make, yet deeply satisfying. It pairs well with so many things and is perfect for gatherings and potlucks.
It highlights fresh colorful potatoes that are abundant right now at local farmers’ markets- so many fun varieties to choose from!
Here we’ve used purple fingerlings, German butterball, red potatoes, and Yukon golds. Play around with different varieties for diverse flavor, shape, and color. Thin-skinned potatoes work best here.
Fresh herbs like tarragon, parsley, and chives enhance the flavors making it taste quite magical. Tarragon adds a unique complexity to the salad, and is a classic ingredient in true French Potato Salad – but if you wish, you can substitute different tender herbs like dill or basil.
The flavors are more intense warm or at room temperature but still quite good served chilled.
A perfect end-of-summer salad or side dish!
Slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
Cover with water and add the salt.
Add whole garlic cloves to the simmering water.
While the potatoes simmer and soften (about 5 minutes) make the Dijon Vinaigrette and chop the fresh herbs.
Drain the potatoes and let them cool slightly.
Then gently toss the potatoes in a bowl with the flavorful Dijon dressing and the fresh herbs.
Serve immediately or at room temperature, or feel free to chill it! It will keep for 4 days in the fridge.
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- Cool Recipes for Hot Summer Days!
- Creamy Potato Salad
We know you will enjoy the fresh flavors of this French Potato Salad and won’t miss the mayo one bit! Pair it with all your grilling this holiday weekend and please let us know what you think in the comments below.
Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo
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French Potato Salad
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: salad, vegan,
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This French Potato Salad is loaded up with fresh herbs – tarragon, parsley, and chives and dressed in the most flavorful Dijon Vinaigrette. It’s vegan, with no mayo, and quick and easy to make. Healthy and light!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh potatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick (little, thin-skinned potatoes work best here)
- 2 tablespoons of sea salt
- 2 large garlic cloves
Dijon Vinaigrette:
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Fresh Herbs:
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, roughly chopped (or sub 1/4 cup dill or basil ribbons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives (or sub green onions), minced
Instructions
Boil the Potatoes: Place the sliced potatoes in a large saucepan cover completely with cold water. Sprinkle in salt and bring to a boil. Add the 2 cloves of garlic, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until potatoes are just tender.
Make the Vinaigrette: While potatoes are simmering, make the vinaigrette by whisking together dijon, oil, vinegar and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
Assemble: Drain potatoes and garlic. Place potatoes mostly single layer on a baking sheet to cool. Mince the cooked garlic and add to the vinaigrette. Drizzle the vinaigrette evenly over the warm potatoes. Let sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes.
Serve: Add to a serving bowl gently tossing with the chopped fresh herbs. Serve at room temp or refrigerate and chill.
Notes
This can be made ahead and chilled up to 4 days, but also really delicious served at room temp.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¾ cup
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 1813.1 mg
- Fat: 9.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.5 g
- Fiber: 2.9 g
- Protein: 2.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This is OUTSTANDING! Was looking for a potato salad recipe that was not mayo based and this did the trick! I used purple and red pototoes and with the green tarragon and parley it was also a visual win! Thank you! Another awesome recipe!
Great to hear Cynthia!
Thank you for this awesome Recipe, best potatoe salad, healthy and delicious. And Thank you for all your Great Recipes. I enjoy them always
Thanks Marlene, so glad you are enjoying!
Our annual block party is coming up shortly and I was trying to think of a salad to bring that doesn’t have mayo (the temps have been very summer-like here in MN). Your post just re-appeared in my feed and this French Potato salad will be absolutely perfect!! I’ve made it once before and it was delicious, easy, and the recipe was requested by many who enjoyed it, so thank you for jogging my memory!
Perfect timing Ceejay!
I just served this amazingly delicious potato salad to a crowd over Fourth of July and everyone of all ages raves about it! It is so easy to make and the tarragon gives it a French flare! I love All of your recipes!
Thanks for the awesome review Joelle ❤️ Happy you all loved it!
Easy and delicious!
This was ever so delicious. I used white balsamic vinegar because I did not have champagne vinegar and it worked well. I chopped about 1/2 cup of fresh chives from the garden. I will make this again and again. Thank you!
Great to hear this Madeline!
Love! Love! Love! It‘s so fresh and light. I really enjoyed the Tarragon in this. Delicious!!
Awesome Ingrid!
It was delicious and easy to make. Next time I will try with fresh dill.
Great to hear!
This is my all-time favorite potato salad recipe and every time I serve it at a party it is a huge hit!
Such a good one- one of my favorites too!
This is a great recipe! I’ve been looking for a non-mayo potato salad recipe for quite a while and this is PERFECT. So yummy and simple! I’ve made it a number of times and everyone loves it.
Glad you enjoyed this Angie!
REALLY good potato salad! We loved it. Next time, I think I’ll try to soften the tartness of the dressing a tiny bit – but, otherwise, it was perfect. Thanks – again!
Thanks Laura!
Great recipe! Easy to make. I used different colored potatoes and fresh herbs and it was beautiful. I served this with the baked cod with lemon, thyme, and asparagus from your site and it paired really well with that main dish.
Fantastic. My husband loved it and ate it all! Was so easy to make. The tarragon makes the dish!
This potato salad is quite tasty. Thanks for the recipe.
This is my new favorite potato salad! Absolutely delish!!! I made it exactly as instructed.
Great to hear!!!
We loved it! Used dried tarragon, but fresh parsley and chives from our garden.
This was amazing! We had it warm and cold loved it both ways! I used apple cider vinegar (I didn’t have the vinegar’s listed in the recipe) and a touch of honey. It was wonderful!
OK. I’m Making it again! Can’t wait!!
Perfect Josie!
What a novel way to perfectly salt potatoes for salad. I added extra pepper and used cider vinegar since no white and it was still delicious!
I made this French Potato Salad yesterday. In fact I made a double recipe and there was nothing left by the afternoon! What does that tell you?!? It was soooo good! I will be doing it again in a couple of days!
That is awesome Josie!
Easy and delicious at room temp. Pretty enough to make for friends. I like the versatility of the fresh herb combination.
Glad you enjoyed this Crystal!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I made it early this afternoon to enjoy with chicken this evening. Sampled it a few times during the afternoon and loved how the flavors melded the longer it sat. The combination of the mustardy vinaigrette and fresh herbs are spot on. I always look forward to your emails and your thoughtful quote from Dorothy Hunt was a much appreciated reminder of the truths that enfure. Thank you again.
Awesome, glad you enjoyed this! 🙌
I love this recipe. For the carnivores among us, I added grilled prosciutto with the dressing. It is a almost a complete meal and will become a “go To” one in this home
Great to hear Jan!
Delicious! Served with a simple grilled steak, and the flavor was awesome!
Quick and easy and very moorish
Liked by everyone
Great to hear!
Loved the recipe. Tarragon and mustard vinaigrette is a perfect combo.,
Glad you enjoyed Sharon!