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Greek Island Potato Salad

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD
potato salad with tomato, capers


Summer is potato salad season, what with the heat, barbecues and picnics, it’s an ideal side dish. But I’ll have to admit, I avoid it when it’s full of mayonnaise, I find it too heavy for the summer. Having said that, the traditional Greek potato salad is lighter than the American type. It is vegan and typically made with an olive oil-vinegar dressing. Apart from the classic Greek potato salad, there are several variations across Greece and this one inspired by the Aegean Greek islands is more of a vegetable-potato salad. Not only do you get the goodness of potatoes, you also get plenty of vegetables too. It includes parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers and onion and a sprinkle of yummy capers. The dressing is made with Greek yogurt to add a creaminess aspect to it, but you can also only use an olive oil dressing for a vegan version.

Greek potato salad

This salad will be quite filling as it has plenty of summer vegetables providing fiber and a slightly different flavor profile. Using yogurt instead of mayonnaise also saves on calories and saturated fats. The recipe makes enough for 4-5 generous side servings, but I think it is great just as it is for lunch.

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Greek Island Potato Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
This potato salad inspired by the Greek islands includes summer vegetables along with a creamy olive oil – Greek yogurt dressing
Course: Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Servings: 4
Author: Elena Paravantes, MS, RD
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound small potatoes
  • 10 cherry tomatoes sliced in half
  • 1 medium cucumber sliced
  • 1 cup chopped parsley
  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • salt pepper

For the dressing

  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Greek strained yogurt

Instructions

  • Wash potatoes. Place in a pot with cold water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until potatoes are fairy easy to pierce. Strain in a colander. Let them cool off and then slice them (skin will come off easily). Place in a large bowl and set aside.
  • Make the dressing by mixing first the vinegar with the lemon juice, then whisk in the olive oil and at the end add the yogurt ,mixing until smooth.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, chopped parsley and onion to the potatoes and gently mix. Add the dressing and mix, making sure all the ingredients are covered with the dressing.
  • Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
  • Before serving sprinkle with the capers.
  • Add salt and pepper as needed.

SAVE FOR LATER AND PIN IT

Greek island potato salad, no eggs, no mayo #salad #potato #nomayo #healthy #mediterranean #greek

Photos by Elena Paravantes © All Rights Reserved

Elena Paravantes, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the U.S. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). She is an expert on the Mediterranean Diet. She has been active as a clinician, consultant, author and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. An expert on the Greek Mediterranean Diet, her interviews and articles have been published in many publications including CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, NPR, and Shape. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds has a Master’s Degree of Science in Health Management.

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10 Comments

  1. Hi Ellen … if I have this as a side dish what would you recommend to have as the rest of the main meal please? Thank you.

    Reply

    2. Made this tonight and it is delicious. Had a serving, but after it’s “marinated” overnight, it will be even more delicious tomorrow. Love the olivetomato site!

  4. I believe I had a salad like this in Milos but with a mustard lemon dressing. Which potatoes do you suggest? Thanks!!

    Reply