Recipe of the Day: Perfect Potato Salad

August 22, 2011 Perfect Potato Salad Recipe courtesy of Anne Burrell Make a creamy homemade mayo for this red bliss potato salad that features chopped celery and crispy bacon for crunch. Get the Recipe: Perfect Potato Salad All-American Macaroni Salad Chicken Salad Go to FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients

• For the Mayonnaise:
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• Kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups neutral-flavored oil (such as vegetable, canola or peanut)
• For the Salad:
• 2 1/2 pounds small red bliss potatoes, quartered
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• Kosher salt
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup dijon mustard

Directions

• Make the mayonnaise: Put the egg yolks in a food processor and add the vinegar, mustard and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Turn on the machine and very slowly start to drizzle in the oil (drip until the mixture starts to look like mayonnaise, then you can start adding it in a slow, steady stream). If the mayonnaise is too thick, add a few drops of water; if it is not thick enough, add a little more oil with the motor running.
• Make the salad: Put the potatoes and garlic in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the potatoes by 2 inches and season generously with salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until fork-tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the onion, celery and vinegar. Season with salt.
• Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl (discard the garlic). Add the bacon-onion mixture to the hot potatoes and stir to incorporate. Gently stir in 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise and the mustard and season with salt. Refrigerate until cold.

Photograph by Yunhee Kim