One of the many things I've learned from the French is that recycling is next to godliness. The French are absolutely recycle-crazy; they never throw anything away, especially when they can press it into service elsewhere. My Dutch neighbor and I decided to do them one better.
My neighbor Marion has the famous Dutch thrifty gene, and she will renovate/repurpose anything that doesn’t move. AND she’s married to a Frenchman. So when she was helping me clear up after a large summer party for which I had over-enthusiastically made a mountain of potato salad, she said, “I’ll take some of that leftover salad home and make dinner for you tomorrow night. I’m going to experiment with it.”
I was puzzled. “What can you make out of cold potato salad?” I asked, warily.
“We’ll see,” was all she said.
So she made off with the salad and a couple of sausages left over from our barbeque. And what did she do with that potato salad?
She baked it in a pie!
When we arrived for dinner, there was her impressive creation, warm from the oven. She had added a couple of beaten eggs, and chopped up the sausage, and she threw in some shredded gruyère. With a salad, it made a nice dinner, we called it a tarte aux pommes de terre, and it somewhat resembled a classic Spanish omelette.
In the course of dinner, Ron awarded her the Creative Adaptive Re-use Award. But try as we might, we could only finish half of it.
Then Marion issued the challenge: it was time for a cook-off. “You take half, and I’ll take half,” she announced, “and we’ll see what we can do with leftover baked potato salad pie.” We wisely decided to make side dishes, as a main course seemed unattainable at this point.
And so the battle was on. I went for a soup. I took my half home and added some sriracha sauce, and thinned it with light cream and some nice Chardonnay. I threw in some fresh tarragon. Then I hit it with the immersion blender.
To my surprise, it was quite tasty, even better than the tarte, if you could sort of forget about all of its former lives.
But once again, Marion got the creativity prize. She pureed the tarte and made it into a (savory) sorbet!
Now I will have to say that potato salad pie sorbet is an acquired taste. Still, I like to think that the frugal French would be proud of us. And our recyling game is the ultimate tribute to avoiding food waste.
So here is the favorite potato salad recipe that started it all, one that has endured chez nous for a good 30 years. Use it as a starting point, and the rest is up to you.
RECIPE: The Queen of Potato Salads
I clipped this recipe from the dearly departed Gourmet Magazine a few decades ago. Tossing the warm potatos in vinegar is the key. I have tweaked it over the years (most importantly adding a soupçon of good, grainy, moutarde de Dijon), and it is the only potato salad I ever make.
- 2 lb. (1 kilo) boiling potatoes
- several tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup chopped celery
- 3 boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion, red onion, or chopped scallions (bulbs and tops)
- 3/4 mayonnaise, mixed with salt and pepper and a generous teaspoon of grainy Dijon mustard (or more to taste)
In the COMMENTS: Looks like I have some company in my new-found mocktail habit. "A gin and tonic, hold the gin"–I'm going to steal your line, John!
Colleen, wishing you good health and a full recovery. And many thanks to all who send your good wishes about my long Covid, that was so kind. I'm doing well now, thank you (with only the occasional relapse), but for 8 months or so it was up and down and could get quite bad. And I was in great health, pre-covid–yet another reason to GET THE VACCINE!
Favorite READS: For those of you who love Martin Walker's French "Bruno Chief of Police" series as we do, he has a new book out, called The Coldest Case. And a friend recommends a new cookbook, French Comfort Food.
30 thoughts on “The French Adaptive Re-use Cook-off”
Can’t wait to try this recipe for potato salad . It sounds incredible!
Have you tried the Austrian version? It’s potato salad but not as we know it Jim!
We had a long weekend in Vienna a few years ago and this dish is the classic accompaniment to Wiener Schnitzel.
If you haven’t tried it, it’s very different from a normal potato salad but very, very good. See;
https://www.strudelandschnitzel.com/potato-salad/
Can’t wait to try this recipe for potato salad . It sounds incredible!
Have you tried the Austrian version? It’s potato salad but not as we know it Jim!
We had a long weekend in Vienna a few years ago and this dish is the classic accompaniment to Wiener Schnitzel.
If you haven’t tried it, it’s very different from a normal potato salad but very, very good. See;
https://www.strudelandschnitzel.com/potato-salad/
Can’t wait to try this recipe for potato salad . It sounds incredible!
Have you tried the Austrian version? It’s potato salad but not as we know it Jim!
We had a long weekend in Vienna a few years ago and this dish is the classic accompaniment to Wiener Schnitzel.
If you haven’t tried it, it’s very different from a normal potato salad but very, very good. See;
https://www.strudelandschnitzel.com/potato-salad/
I’ve never seen potato salad on any French restaurant menu. However, I do know they will eat anything with mayo (yech!). As for me, I’ll be happy to eat anything off of a French menu — possibly even sweetbreads — when I get back. Fingers crossed they don’t close the boarders before the first week of October. Haven’t seen my apartment since October 2019 *sob*
I’ve never seen potato salad on any French restaurant menu. However, I do know they will eat anything with mayo (yech!). As for me, I’ll be happy to eat anything off of a French menu — possibly even sweetbreads — when I get back. Fingers crossed they don’t close the boarders before the first week of October. Haven’t seen my apartment since October 2019 *sob*
I’ve never seen potato salad on any French restaurant menu. However, I do know they will eat anything with mayo (yech!). As for me, I’ll be happy to eat anything off of a French menu — possibly even sweetbreads — when I get back. Fingers crossed they don’t close the boarders before the first week of October. Haven’t seen my apartment since October 2019 *sob*
I’ll look for that new Martin Walker book. Fun. Your potato salad sounds wonderful. I like vinegar a lot and use it often but never as is done in this recipe. My father and youngest brother never liked vinegar. Fortunately, my own children do as vinaigrette on whatever is available is pretty common on the dining table–and always when they come to dinner.
Stay well, Lynn.
Chris
I’ll look for that new Martin Walker book. Fun. Your potato salad sounds wonderful. I like vinegar a lot and use it often but never as is done in this recipe. My father and youngest brother never liked vinegar. Fortunately, my own children do as vinaigrette on whatever is available is pretty common on the dining table–and always when they come to dinner.
Stay well, Lynn.
Chris
I’ll look for that new Martin Walker book. Fun. Your potato salad sounds wonderful. I like vinegar a lot and use it often but never as is done in this recipe. My father and youngest brother never liked vinegar. Fortunately, my own children do as vinaigrette on whatever is available is pretty common on the dining table–and always when they come to dinner.
Stay well, Lynn.
Chris
Another inspiring and creative post,Lynn!
Thank you!
I especially admire your recycling ability, though I have to admit that chez nous, an enthusiastic reception is not guaranteed!!( 🙂
Your potato salad recipe is sheer heaven!!
And I also agree with Martin about the Viennese style(especially accompanying Wiener Schnitzel(yum!!) Years ago on one of our trips there, I bought a charming little cookbook “Viennese Cooking For You”( dedicated to the author’s then yet to be daughter in law.) , It included potato salad, strudels, and a bunch of really inviting things to partake!! I am now immediately on a quest to find where I saved it!!
Another inspiring and creative post,Lynn!
Thank you!
I especially admire your recycling ability, though I have to admit that chez nous, an enthusiastic reception is not guaranteed!!( 🙂
Your potato salad recipe is sheer heaven!!
And I also agree with Martin about the Viennese style(especially accompanying Wiener Schnitzel(yum!!) Years ago on one of our trips there, I bought a charming little cookbook “Viennese Cooking For You”( dedicated to the author’s then yet to be daughter in law.) , It included potato salad, strudels, and a bunch of really inviting things to partake!! I am now immediately on a quest to find where I saved it!!
Another inspiring and creative post,Lynn!
Thank you!
I especially admire your recycling ability, though I have to admit that chez nous, an enthusiastic reception is not guaranteed!!( 🙂
Your potato salad recipe is sheer heaven!!
And I also agree with Martin about the Viennese style(especially accompanying Wiener Schnitzel(yum!!) Years ago on one of our trips there, I bought a charming little cookbook “Viennese Cooking For You”( dedicated to the author’s then yet to be daughter in law.) , It included potato salad, strudels, and a bunch of really inviting things to partake!! I am now immediately on a quest to find where I saved it!!
The method is similar to what I learned from my mother-in-law. She would put the cooked and cut up potatoes in a bowl and douse it with dill pickle juice, toss them around, and them let them sit before putting together the salad. I’ve made it this way for over 45 yers now, and think of her with love each time!
The method is similar to what I learned from my mother-in-law. She would put the cooked and cut up potatoes in a bowl and douse it with dill pickle juice, toss them around, and them let them sit before putting together the salad. I’ve made it this way for over 45 yers now, and think of her with love each time!
The method is similar to what I learned from my mother-in-law. She would put the cooked and cut up potatoes in a bowl and douse it with dill pickle juice, toss them around, and them let them sit before putting together the salad. I’ve made it this way for over 45 yers now, and think of her with love each time!
Thank you very much for sharing. Just put a smile on my face .
Thank you very much for sharing. Just put a smile on my face .
Thank you very much for sharing. Just put a smile on my face .
Sounds like our family. potato salad. credit to my mother-in-law, a Cajun from Lafayette, La.
Sounds like our family. potato salad. credit to my mother-in-law, a Cajun from Lafayette, La.
Sounds like our family. potato salad. credit to my mother-in-law, a Cajun from Lafayette, La.
My wife is excellent at recycling food. A left over baby spinach, pine nut, feta and pumpkin salad become a vegetable lasagne regularly.
Never a leftover is wasted.
My wife is excellent at recycling food. A left over baby spinach, pine nut, feta and pumpkin salad become a vegetable lasagne regularly.
Never a leftover is wasted.
My wife is excellent at recycling food. A left over baby spinach, pine nut, feta and pumpkin salad become a vegetable lasagne regularly.
Never a leftover is wasted.
Ha – I’d love to enter this challenge. When I walk with my neighbor she brags of all the little things she has finished up that week. Sometimes I tag along on her ideas and other times I just have to cave in and shamefully take over my left overs to her chickens. She caste an eye over what she feels is way to gourmet for her chicks.
Thanks as always!!
Ha – I’d love to enter this challenge. When I walk with my neighbor she brags of all the little things she has finished up that week. Sometimes I tag along on her ideas and other times I just have to cave in and shamefully take over my left overs to her chickens. She caste an eye over what she feels is way to gourmet for her chicks.
Thanks as always!!
Ha – I’d love to enter this challenge. When I walk with my neighbor she brags of all the little things she has finished up that week. Sometimes I tag along on her ideas and other times I just have to cave in and shamefully take over my left overs to her chickens. She caste an eye over what she feels is way to gourmet for her chicks.
Thanks as always!!
Thank you Lynn for the well wishes. Overall I’m ok, however, the lack of taste & smell is no where to be found. Hopefully one day. X
Thank you Lynn for the well wishes. Overall I’m ok, however, the lack of taste & smell is no where to be found. Hopefully one day. X
Thank you Lynn for the well wishes. Overall I’m ok, however, the lack of taste & smell is no where to be found. Hopefully one day. X