Description
Classic potato salad meets Italian-American pizza vibes in this pepperoni potato salad recipe. Bold flavors and creamy textures combine for a crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll crave at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 lbs (1.8 kg) baby Yukon gold potatoes
- 24 oz (680 g) mozzarella pearls, drained
- 7 oz (200 g) pepperoni, quartered
- 2 cups pitted green olives, halved
- 1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise
- ¾ cup (180 ml) marinara sauce
- ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 scallions, green and white parts, chopped
- ½ cup (20 g) fresh basil, cut into chiffonade
- ½ cup (20 g) fresh parsley, chopped
- kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Immerse whole potatoes in salted cold water, bring to a vigorous boil, and cook until fork-tender, approximately 15-20 minutes. Drain and cool slightly before halving and transferring to a large mixing bowl.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, marinara sauce, and Parmesan cheese into a smooth, cohesive dressing. Drizzle over warm potato halves, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Flavor Layering: Integrate scallions, mozzarella pearls, pepperoni slices, green olives, and fresh basil leaves into the dressed potatoes. Distribute ingredients gently to maintain potato integrity while maximizing flavor complexity.
- Seasoning and Finishing: Season with freshly ground black pepper, then fold in most of the chopped parsley. Toss gently to blend herbs and enhance the salad’s aromatic profile.
- Presentation: Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with remaining parsley, creating a visually appealing dish that promises a burst of Italian-inspired potato salad flavors.
Notes
- Quick Potato Cooking Tip: Use cold water start and generously salt to ensure even, tender potato cooking without mushiness.
- Dressing Consistency Hack: Whisk marinara, mayonnaise, and Parmesan until smooth for perfect flavor integration and creamy texture.
- Temperature Technique: Add mix-ins while potatoes are still warm to help ingredients absorb maximum flavor and create a more cohesive dish.
- Garnish Strategy: Reserve some fresh herbs and toppings for final plating to boost visual appeal and provide bursts of fresh flavor in each bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 564
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1,215 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg