Amish Potato Salad (Gluten Free)

gluten free potato salad – amish style!

Of course it’s easy and convenient to pick up a deli tub of potato salad when heading to summer picnics, BBQs, or potlucks, but there is a trade off for that convenience!

First off all there is the matter of freshness. I find Walmart potato salad to have a strong apple cider vinegar taste, which becomes more pronounced as it sits.

Plus, the ingredients and preparation may not be safe if you are looking for a gluten free potato salad recipe. You run the risk of cross contamination where it is prepped and possible unsafe ingredients, like barley or malt from preservatives.

Making a homemade recipe not only guarantees the best potato salad taste, but like sun dried tomato pasta salad, is an ideal, make-ahead gluten-free side dish.

amish potato salad versus original old fashioned

There’s a difference between amish potato salad recipes and regular potato salad. While both old fashioned and amish-style may contain similar additions, like celery, hard boiled eggs, and relish, the difference comes in the dressing.

Both types are mayonnaise based, but gluten-free Amish potato salad recipe has a sweeter flavor than its savory classic counterpart. The amount of added sugar varies per recipe, but I find the sweetness from the pimentos, pickles and pickle juice adds adequate sweetness.

If you are aiming for a copycat Walmart recipe, add 1-2 tablespoons sugar to mayo dressing, otherwise omit the sugar for hint of sweet taste!

Ingredient Notes

This recipe makes enough for about 8 side dish servings. If preparing for a large gathering or crowd, the ingredients may be doubled.

• Potatoes – For best results use red potatoes because they hold their shape after boiling, avoiding a mushy potato salad. Yukon gold potatoes would make a good runner up, but stay away from russet potatoes because they absorb too much water during cooking.
• Mayonnaise – Hellman’s original mayo recommend and is also dairy-free for a gluten-free, dairy-free potato salad recipe!
• Pimentos – Find chopped pimentos by the pickles and condiments section. Adds a sweet, tangy layer of flavor.
• Sweet gherkin pickles – While many recipes call for sweet pickle relish, using jarred gherkins are a little sweeter, crisper, and the pickle juice flavors the dressing instead of vinegar.
• Celery seed – This is not interchangeable with celery salt, which will make your potato salad overly salty. If you cannot find celery seed, simply leave out.
• Sugar – Almost all Amish recipes contain sugar, some up to 1/2 cup! When testing the recipe I found one tablespoon was adequate for an added hint of sweetness with the pickles, but it may be left out entirely.

cooking potatoes for potato salad (Best method!)

When cooking potatoes for potato salad the number one mistake to avoid is waterlogged, overcooked chunks of potatoes. You want to cook the potatoes in a way that leaves them tender, but still holds their shape.

The trick to this is first using the right type of waxy potatoes. Red potatoes are ideal. Yukon golds will also work, but they have a softer, creamy texture. Just be sure to drain them as soon as they become tender.

Next, boil the potatoes whole, without peeling first. This is a trick my mom swears by, and her old fashioned potato salad is always perfection! Start with cold water in a large pot, enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil, and cook until fork tender, about 20-25 minutes.

Drain and then leave the potatoes to sit for several hours. In fact, she leaves them sit overnight at room temperature. Don’t place them in the refrigerator or they will steam and condense, making a watery potato salad.

Once they have cooled, use your fingernails to peel off the skins or a vegetable peeler, then chop into bite-sized pieces.