The beloved potato salad gets a unique and flavorful upgrade with the help of miso paste and za’atar. Incredibly savory and satisfying, this Asian potato salad, with a Middle Eastern nod, dares to steal the spotlight from any main dish.

Now that we have our main dish established, it’s time to fill out this Casual Summer Dinner Party with a few more offerings. First up, a quintessential summer dish, potato salad. But the thing about this potato salad. It’s different than any you’ve had before. With characteristics similar to that of a German potato salad, this Asian potato salad also has a creamy element, thanks to the miso paste.

An unassuming side dish at times, this Asian potato salad with za’atar will wow you in just one bite. And although this ain’t Grandma Gusty potato salad, it does evoke a sense of nostalgia in the best possible way—taking something familiar and making it new.

3 Rules for Making the Best Potato Salad

Here’s the thing, I love potato salad. But there are some ground rules that, in my world, have to be followed in order for a potato salad to be worthwhile.

Rule 1: Use the Right Potato

You’ve got to use a good, creamy potato. No, russets are not cut out for potato salad, leave those for the mashed potatoes, gnocchi, and potato rolls.

Just please, for the love of God, do no use them in potato salad. Why? Because they are dry! No matter how you cut it, the russet is a dry tuber. No amount of dressing will help them. Only butter, milk, and a potato masher can help that tater.

I don’t mince words when it comes to potato salad.

So what potato should you use for potato salad? Well first it’s good to know what kind of potatoes are available.

As a point of reference, potatoes fall into one of three camps; starchy, all-purpose, and waxy. Russets fall in the starchy category, while varieties like Yukon gold and white fall into the all-purpose category. All-purpose potatoes are suitable (although not the best) for potato salads.

The preferred potato for potato salads are waxy potatoes like fingerlings, new, and red potatoes. They also do well on the grill, roasted, and boiled.

Rule 2: Big. Bold. Flavor.

We’re talking potatoes after all, the veggie that’s real good at soaking up all of the flavors, and also muting them just a bit. So when you think you only need a few pinches of salt, you probably need double that (be sure your cooking water is generously salted as well).

Think a tablespoon of vinegar is sufficient? Think again. Potatoes can handle bold flavors and can take a lot of them too, so don’t be afraid to get big and bold with your potato salad!

Rule 3: Don’t Overcook or Undercook Potatoes

Undercook your potatoes and you’ll suffer through a crunchy potato salad. Overcook them and you’re potato salad will turn into something resembling mush.

Start testing the potatoes for doneness 10 minutes into boiling. To do so, use a fork to gently pierce a few of the potato pieces. Is the potato still firm enough that it’s hard to pierce with a fork? Then the potatoes need more time. Continue to test every 1–2 minutes.

When you think they’re getting close to being done, start taste testing the pieces. They should be somewhat toothsome and tender, but not mushy.