Potato Salads

I was just prepping dinner for tonight, greek salad, lemony potato salad, served with chicken kebabs from our local Farm Shop when I thought these are so lovely and seasonal that you may want to jazz up those lovely Jersey Royals that we have in our shops at the moment.

I grew up in a fairly poor working class family, my Father was a gardener for a big house and grew the most amazing vegetables. At a very young age I had the delights of Asparagus dipped in melted butter, fresh fruits from the Orchard, Tomatoes warm straight off the vine and grew up with an understanding of seasonal fresh vegetables and just how truly amazing they are. Nothing has ever tasted so amazing as the carrots that my Dad dug fresh from the garden, or peas popped straight from the shells into our mouths. Summer always reminds me of trying to sneak down to the Strawberry beds where I would steal the forbidden fruit which was suppose to be for the Big House!!! I just wished I had inherited my Dad’s Green Fingers !!!!

Any way, time to stop reminiscing as dinner is nearly ready & there are hungry mouths to feed, heres the recipes :-

Lemony Potato Salad – Serves 6

Boil 900g halved new potatoes for 15mins until just slightly overcooked but still holding their shape. Whilst still warm toss with 3tbsp olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 1tsp each toasted cumin seeds & black mustard seeds, 1 finely chopped (optional) green chilli, 1/2 finger-length piece grated ginger, pinch tumeric & 4 sliced spring onions. Season. Can be made up to a day ahead & chilled, but take out of the fridge a good few hours before serving.

Warm Potato Salad with Caesar dressing – Serves 4

750g Jersey Royals or small new potatoes, unpeeled & halved if large.

1 garlic glove, roughly chopped

2 anchovy fillets, roughly chopped

3 rounded tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp olive oil

juice 1/2 lemon

3tbsp grated Parmesan

1 bunch spring onions, finely chopped

Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender. Meanwhile pound the garlic & anchovy fillets to form a paste. Mix with the mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice & Parmesan, season with salt & pepper. Toss the dressing through the potatoes with the spring onions while still warm.

Jersey Royals useless facts – Jersey Royals arrive in the Supermarket within three days of being picked. Harvested on the Island since 1878, this kidney-shaped potato has a distinctive, nutty taste and is a tasty addition to any summer meal.

Buon appetito.