I have never met a potato salad that I didn't like. And I LOVE that every family has their own recipe. I find that so exciting; every barbecue is a new adventure! My mother-in-law is from Spain and her potato salad is more mayonnaise-based with canned tuna (the good kind, packed in olive oil) and green olives. Its totally different from what I'm used to but so, so delicious.
My mom's recipe is simple, but also delicious. She takes a mustard approach, with eggs, celery, onion, sweet relish, and hot sauce. This recipe is a plant-based homage to her classic potato salad.
I talk about the underrated glory that is the potato in my e-book but its worth talking about it again here. If I can do one thing in my nutrition life, it's to debunk the bad reputation that potatoes have gotten over the years. Potatoes are wrongly accused of contributing to obesity, diabetes, inflammation, candida overgrowth, cancer, and other conditions, but in reality, they can REVERSE these conditions. The toxic oil in which potatoes are fried, the processed cheese sauce that gets slopped on top, and the heaps of butter, sour cream, and chemically created bacon bits are the true culprit of these diseases.
The skin of the potato is one of the best sources of nutrients on Earth. Its made up of amino acids, proteins, and phytochemicals. The entire potato, both inside and out, adds value and benefit to your health. They are high in potassium, B6, and the amino acid lysine. Lysine is a powerful warrior against cancers, liver disease, inflammation, and viruses like shingles and Epstein-Barr that are the cause of joint pain and autoimmune disease. In addition to being antiviral, they are also antifungal and antibacterial. Potatoes stave off liver disease, sooth nerves and the digestive tract, strengthen the kidneys, and can reverse Crohn's, colitis, IBS and peptic ulcers. They're truly your friend if you suffer from chronic illness.
Furthermore, potatoes are a grounding food. If you feel out of touch or not like yourself, eat some potatoes. They center your perspective, and bring peace and balance to your life.
If you've got a 4th of July barbecue coming up, I encourage you to make and take this potato salad with you. It does great at room temperature since its mayonnaise-free, and I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised at how delicious and nutritious potato salad can be!
Ingredients:
Salad:
10-12 medium gold potatoes, washed thoroughly, skins on
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 dill pickles, finely chopped
1 batch of cashew cream (recipe below)
Cashew Cream:
1 cup of raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours in hot water
3/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened and unflavored
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup yellow mustard
1 tablespoon of avocado oil
1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon of salt
2-3 (or more) shakes of your favorite hot sauce (I like Cholula or Yellow Bird)
