When making potato salad, I usually just go the traditional route, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, mayo, pickles, and onion (at least that is what is traditional in our family), but since it is a long weekend and it is grill season (in most areas of the country) I wanted to make a really special potato salad for you!
A couple of posts ago, I wrote about how, as much as I love grocery shopping (when I was a little kid I would dream about “accidentally” getting locked in the grocery store overnight and getting to eat all my favorite foods without having to pay for them), it can be a little overwhelming when they don’t always have exactly what I need.
Well, yesterday I realized that grocery stores can also be very overwhelming when they do have exactly what you need, plus a bunch of other things that you just really want. I was planning on making a grilled asparagus potato salad with a lemon dijon dressing, at least that is what I was thinking before I went to the store.
I’ve been wanting to grill pretty much everything these days and I thought that grilled asparagus would add a really nice flavor to this potato salad.
I grabbed my asparagus and then I just happened to notice the fresh corn on the cob sitting in the bin right next to the asparagus. Ever since I made my grilled corn crostini I’ve been lusting after grilled corn. So, I decided it would be a great idea to grab an ear of corn and throw that on the grill too.
I usually put red onion in my potato salad, but wanted something a little bit milder, but still nice and crunchy, so I grabbed a shallot. Doesn’t it kinda look like a mouse?! Or maybe I’m just crazy…
I’m a crunchaholic, so naturally I couldn’t pass up these radishes to add a little more bite and a little more crunch!
And then I saw the watercress, I love the way they grow it hydroponically and they sell it with the roots still embedded in the soil. When I was a really little kid, we lived out in the middle of nowhere with beautiful meadows and natural creeks and streams that had watercress growing wild in them. To this day, whenever I see it at the store, it reminds me of my childhood and makes me really happy. So, really, I had no choice but to buy it and add it to the potato salad.
I finally had all my ingredients that I was going to put into the salad and it was time to focus on the dressing. As much as I love a good lemon and dijon dressing, I wanted to add one more fresh flavor to it, so I grabbed a pack of dill and it was the perfect addition. I promise that all grocery store trips aren’t this scatterbrained, but it was well worth it, because this potato salad is pretty delicious and perfect for the summer!
Grilled Asparagus & Corn Potato Salad with a Creamy Lemon Dill Dijon Dressing {gf+vegan option}
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 6 – 8 Yukon Gold Potatoes, cut into bite size cubes
- 1 ear of corn
- About 3/4 bunch of asparagus, with about 1 inch trimmed off the bottoms
- 2 radishes, cut in half and sliced thinly
- 2 tablespoons diced shallot, small dice
- 1/4 cup watercress leaves, packed tightly
- salt
- pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill
- lemon wedges for squeezing over top, if desired
Dressing:
- 1 cup Vegenaise, or mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
- Juice of 1 whole lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- About 5 leaves of basil, roughly chopped
- Pinch of salt
- Small pinch of pepper
Instructions
Lemon Dill Dijon Dressing:
- In a blender, combine all dressing ingredients and blend for about 10 seconds, or until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. Set aside in the refrigerator.
Potato Salad:
- Place cubed potatoes into a large pot and cover with cold water. Place on medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil for about 25 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy. Drain potatoes and place into a large bowl.
- Peel down the top of the corn husk and remove all the corn silk. Wrap corn husk back around the corn and soak in water for about ten minutes. Turn on the grill to medium heat. Take corn out of water and shake off excess water. Place corn on heated grill and grill for about 20 minutes, or until corn kernels can easily be pierced with a fork, flipping occasionally. Let corn cool and then carefully cut the corn off the cob with a large, sharp knife.
- Place the asparagus on a large plate or sheet pan and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to make sure all asparagus are coated. Place asparagus on the grill for about 5 – 10 minutes, or until tender, flipping occasionally. Let asparagus cool and then chop into about 1 inch pieces.
- Add the grilled corn, asparagus pieces, radishes, shallots, and watercress to the large bowl with potatoes. Pour desired amount of dressing over and mix until everything is combined and coated with dressing. Throw in 1 tablespoon of chopped dill and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- If desired, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top right before serving.
- Category: Side Dish, Gluten Free, Vegan
I think this is Cheeto’s tough guy look!
So good! First potato salad my husband liked and he even stole leftovers from the fridge to take to work for lunch the next day. (And yes, this is laurel from Zion, I read all your wonderful sounding recipes, but this is the first chance I’ve had to try one. ) thanks Izzy!
Hi Laurel!! It is so great to hear from you! That really makes me so happy that you have been reading my recipes! I’ve been growing a few cherry tomatoes this summer and it always makes me think of you and your big garden that you had in Rockville with all the pretty cherry tomatoes, I don’t nearly have that many though. I’m so glad you guys liked it! Thanks so much for commenting š
I love a great potato salad and this one is awesome. Grilled asparagus and corn mixed in sounds delicious! Yum! Pinning!
Thanks for pinning, Cindy! Grilled asparagus and corn go together so nicely and really make this potato salad taste great š
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing!! And your photos are gorgeous. I feel like the dressing would go really well with salmon, too! Yummm I can’t wait to try. Pinned. Also, Cheeto looks just like my cat, Oscar! He makes guest appearances in my blog frequently, too (like in my chia pudding post- http://www.bowlofdelicious.com/2014/03/29/strawberry-chia-seed-pudding/)
Thank you so much Elizabeth!! That is so funny you said that about the salmon, because when I was making this dressing I was thinking of a dill and Dijon marinade I made for salmon once! Now I might just have to go out and buy some salmon this weekend š Thanks for pinning! Oscar is adorable! Aren’t orange tabbies the best?! I love his collar, Cheeto is pretty finicky and I don’t think he would ever wear one, but it would be so cute! Maybe I should get him one with a bell on it…
Ha! The shallot does kinda look like a mouse! I love the sound of this potato salad – with the grill flavors and then that dill dressing – it sounds awesome! And Cheeto – ha! Animals are so funny!
Thanks Ashley! I think this dressing is my new favorite, although I always say that when I try a new dressing, ha! Animals are the best! He keeps me thoroughly entertained š
All those grilled veggies look amazing! I’m always up for a potato salad, and even better when it includes asparagus and corn! Just delicious! I love your lemon-dill-dijon dressing…sounds like the perfect dressing for a nice summery salad š
Thanks Julia! I plan on living off of grilled food this summer because we just hit 105 today and I don’t want to turn the oven on anytime soon! I don’t blame you for only staying in Tucson for only one semester! I’m always up for potato salad too and I ate the entire bowl of it in two days. I bet your green goddess dressing would taste amazing on some potato salad š
I love all of the flavors you used in this salad! The grilled asparagus and corn with the dressing. All of it sounds so good together!
Thanks Sarah! It is definitely a big plus in book when I can use tons of vegetables in a dish and top it off with a nice creamy dressing! It doesn’t get much better š
This potato salad sounds delicious! I love every ingredient you added. Especially love that you added radishes. Kind of obsessed with those lately. That dressing sounds so good too!
Thanks Natalie!! I’ve been pretty obsessed with radishes lately too, they are the perfect summertime vegetable and not only add a crunchiness, but also a great flavor! Maybe I’ll have to experiment with grilling them š I knew this dressing would be right up your alley!
I looove potato salad and this looks like a good one! While I don’t actually like the grocery store (like at all, not even a little bit) there is something nice about being inspired when you’re there. Just grabbing everything that sounds delicious and pulling it all together when you get home. Sounds delicious!
Thanks Kelly! My husband hates the grocery store too, so usually he drops me off and I shop while he hangs out in Home Depot. That way I can shop in peace (except if I go on a Saturday afternoon and it is mayhem!) As much as I love being organized and going in with a list, sometimes it is nice to make a dish based on what is on sale and what is in season š
Hi Izzy
What a lovely salad! I like the idea to grill the asparagus instead of boiling them.
And the dressing is a perfect combination!
Chantal
Hi Chantal! Thank you so much! Grilling the asparagus definitely gives it a much better flavor than boiling them! Plus, it is officially grill season, so I use any excuse to use the grill rather than the stove! You will love the dressing, it is soooo good š
I’m just have this fantasy of me bringing this dish to the next family gathering and everyone ooing and ahhhing over my dish. Potato salads are never pretty and yet this one is so stunningly so! The grilled corn and asparagus look so good as is that I’d be tempted to eat both before they even made it into the salad!
Love how you use the shallot (you’re right, it does look like a mouse, don’t show your cat!)
And watercress- I’ve never used watercress in anything before but I’m eager to try!
Great recipe. Cute cat pic as always!!
Thank you so much, Laura!! I did so much “test tasting” with each ingredient before I assembled this salad, that I’m surprised anything made it to the bowl! I love watercress! It is pretty peppery and can take some getting used to, but if you like arugula you will love watercress (my husband won’t go near it). It is a great spring green and I just love how they grow it hydroponically and when you buy it, it is still alive with the roots attached and everything! I just made a potato soup with watercress that I will post soon.
Haha! I will definitely keep Cheeto away from that shallot!!
You have captured some of my favorite ingredients here, asparagus, potatoes and corn. I can’t wait to make this.
Yah! I’m so glad you love all of the ingredients! They are some of my favorite ingredients too! I hope you love it š
Isadora, I love your onion mouse!! So cute! Also, I used to have that very same dream about getting locked into the supermarket and being able to eat whatever you wanted to. We were obviously destined to be foodies.
As for the salad, I think this has to be one of the tastiest-sounding potato salads I’ve seen. Love the idea of adding the radishes in particular. š
Haha, Thanks Helen!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it looks like a mouse! Definitely destined to be foodies! I think I would still be pretty happy if something like that happened š I’m so glad you like the potato salad, I wanted to do something a little bit different and I was really happy with how it turned out. Radishes make everything better!
I totally love your salad dressing, Isadora. I’ve gotta try it. š
Thanks Olivia!! It was so good, I ate a bunch of it with a spoon š
This looks amaaaazing! I love traditional potato salad. It’s a summer staple! We make it the same in our house, and it’s always nice, but this looks like a super-fresh, lightened up change. I do the same thing when grocery shopping, I see, I think about a recipe in my head, I grab, I make hehe. Grilled corn would be a nice pop of sweetness. I love grilled everything. I just want this right now. And that dressing, girrrrrl, that is my kind of sauce! I hope you’re having a great memorial day weekend!!! Wish I was there to shop, cook, grill, and eat with you!
PS. The dream of getting locked in a store is hilarious! I think I wanted that when I was a kid too, except a department store, because I loved dress shopping. lol. Oh, children š
And is Cheeto winking? lol
Hi Al!! I really love potato salad too, it is definitely a summer staple! We are going to hit a high of 105 this week, so I will be eating lots of potato salad in the near future. They say that you should never go to the grocery store while hungry, but I guess in some cases it isn’t such a bad idea, I love how some recipes just come together sometimes! I’m kinda addicted to the grill lately, it is so nice not having to heat the kitchen up and there is something about grilled food that just tastes so good! And less clean up, which is always a plus! I’m not gonna lie, I definitely ate a good amount of the dressing with a spoon, pretending like I was just doing a few taste tests. I want to make it again and put it on everything! Wish you were here too, we would definitely be feasting on some delicious food!!
Maybe we should get jobs at grocery stores?! Sometimes I think about doing that just in hopes that they would give me a discount š Cheeto is either winking or giving me his, “mom, stop taking pictures of me” face. Either way, I think he is pretty darn cute and it makes me want to take more pictures!
This salad looks so classy and elegant, Isadora! I am obsessing over your combination of ingredients. They all look amazing together — Love the way you think! I just picked the first radishes from my veggie garden and I’m thinking they’re gonna end up in this gorgeous salad! Pinned.
Thank you so much, Sarah!! At first I didn’t know if all the ingredients would taste good together, but thankfully they all worked really well together! I guess it is hard to go wrong with vegetables š I love pickled radishes and can’t wait to see what you come up with!! I’m also jealous that you have radishes in your garden, I should have planted some of those too!
Love this recipe! Asparagus and corn have the perfect marriage…and love the addition of the crunchy radishes and watercress. And the dressing is the icing on the cake!
ps. I have grocery store dreams too.
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much! I totally agree, asparagus and corn are meant for eachother! It is so hard for me to pass up watercress when I see in the store, I’ve been throwing it in everything lately! There is a chance that I ate a bunch of the dressing with a spoon just to make absolutely sure it tasted right š Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just live in the grocery store?!