Try This Ingredient Swap For A Lighter, Creamier Take On Potato Salad

What do the vast majority of potato salads have in common, from regular American taters to warm German-style potato salad to a classic salad made with Spanish ingredients? No matter where you go, most variations on potato salad use mayo (or its close sibling, aioli) as the condiment that pulls all the components together. Sure, some salads also have mustard, but mayo is categorically a major player in potato salad. We're about to make a mind-blowing suggestion for a simple ingredient swap that will lighten up a stodgy potato salad and add a delightful creaminess: ricotta cheese. This Italian mainstay is smooth enough to act as a binder for your potato salad, plus its flavor is mellow enough that it's an amenable blank canvas to multiple styles and ingredients.

Many recipes incorporate an oily carrier for the cheese or at least mix in a looser ingredient to not only build flavor but also make the ricotta into more of a dressing that will really coat your potatoes. We've seen pesto floated as an option — and we love this flavorful Italian sauce in potato salad! — but you could also mix in some quality EVOO or even a scant drizzle of warm water to loosen things up. Want to splurge on the creamy, dairy-forward elements of ricotta? Go ahead and mix it up with low-fat plain yogurt for tang and silkiness. We suggest stirring up your ricotta dressing in a separate container with thinners and aromatics before folding it into your potato salad so that you get the full benefit of all the flavors you're building in each bite.

Not only is potato salad with ricotta light and delicious, but there are 10 grams of protein in a half-cup of this cheese! Those looking to max their protein might consider a potato salad incorporating chickpeas, canned tuna, or feta cheese for extra nutritional value that also packs in the flavor. On social media, commenters had some ideas about mix-ins for ricotta-based potato salad. On Reddit, discussing mayo alternatives, the subject came up thusly: "You [c]an use greek yogurt or ricotta – I love to mix feta, lemon, balsamic and some olive oil, plenty of herbs and spice (my son adds crunchy chili), mustard, pink or white radish and red onion for crunch." Meanwhile, a TikTok reel shows a healthy, speedy entrée potato salad made with canned potatoes, ricotta, pine nuts, shredded chicken, and peas.

Let your desired flavor profile guide you when experimenting with your ricotta-based potato salad. Want to keep things light? An airy dressing of whipped ricotta and olive oil, tons of fresh herbs (maybe tarragon, mint, or dill?), and some shallots make a simple side that will go perfectly with any BBQ main dish. On the other hand, you can really play up the Italian origins of the ricotta with chiffonade of basil, tiny mozzarella pearls, and roasted red peppers. If you want to keep your potato salad like a cookout classic, pile in the diced celery, onion, and pickle, along with some mustard — you'll find that the ricotta subs nicely for mayo each time, while adding a lightness that you don't get with the usual condiment.