For Potato Salad With 10x The Flavor, Try Out This Mayo Swap
On the list of underrated ingredients to add to your potato salad, there's one that's an almost-invisible swap — yet, it makes a world of difference. Most potato salads utilize mayo as a creamy binder, and we're going to recommend that you switch out that Duke's or Hellmann's with kewpie mayo. This Japanese product with the cherubic mascot on the label is made with egg yolks instead of whole eggs; it contains no sugar; and it adds MSG to the mix. The result is a creamier, richer umami bomb that adds a special something to your spuds. We previously discussed how kewpie mayo was the secret ingredient in perfect egg salad; now, we challenge you to try it with 'taters.
What we love best about this mayo swap is that your favorite potato salad recipe can stay otherwise intact — you're just switching one mayo product for another, so there's no need to mess with whatever else you're doing. Dying to try our recipe for red, white, and blue potato salad? It's no less colorful with kewpie. Whether you like to add green onions, hardboiled eggs, celery, onion, or bacon to your potato salad, the kewpie promises to play nice. Of course, you could consider a traditional Japanese potato salad, which adds kewpie mayo as the creamy element to chunky mashed (not cubed!) potatoes, along with unfamiliar-but-delicious add-ins like corn, ham, and/or cucumber.
Social media goes gaga for kewpie mayo, and you just might, too
"Kewpie mayo, why is it so doggone good?" queries a Reddit post. "I was a mayo snob, always making my own. Then I found kewpie. Why did this change my life?" The ensuing comments went on to praise the eggy richness and umami deliciousness of the condiment. "It's one of those things that if you like it, it's SUPER addicting lol," read a comment on yet another Reddit post discussing the fundamental differences between kewpie mayo and "regular" American products. A Facebook commenter on a thread discussing Japanese food products noted: "It's creamier and doesn't taste like chemicals. After being out of the country for a few years your palate changes and realize that American food items have a certain fake taste to it. Kewpie is amazing and can never go back to regular store bought mayo."
If you really want the ultimate in lovingly-concocted potato salad, you can make your own kewpie-style mayo right at home. Several copycat recipes online report that dashi powder, rice vinegar, malt or cider vinegar, and MSG are key ingredients for replicating the taste of "real" kewpie mayo. The only equipment necessary for the recipe to come together is either an immersion blender or a food processor. Sure, you can buy kewpie mayo at your local Asian grocer, but, for those who like a challenge, making your own shows your guests that you're fully committed to the bit — and your potato salad will never be the same.