Grilled and Smashed Potato Salad With Bacon and Grainy Mustard
Smashed and seared on the Griddle, this crispy potato salad gives a textural boost to an all-time classic dish.
·May 22, 2023
When we think of grilling, potatoes aren’t the first thing that comes to mind—but maybe they should be. This warm potato salad is all crispy edges thanks to the Griddle and Grill Press, which smash and sear so deeply it tastes almost as if a hash brown decided to be a salad. A simple cider vinaigrette seasons the potatoes and makes the most of their creamy, mild-flavored interiors, and is a welcome reprieve from the typical mayonnaise-drenched affair.
The whole thing gets punctuated with bacon bits, cornichons, scallions, and parsley, so each bite is tangy, smoky, vibrant, and herbaceous. And because the potatoes are grilled (following a quick parboil), there’s less frantic running between your kitchen and the grill. Instead, nearly everything happens in one place: the Griddle.
Grilled and Smashed Potato Salad With Bacon and Grainy Mustard
Smashed and seared on the Griddle, this crispy potato salad gives a textural boost to an all-time classic dish.
Rhoda Boone, Culinary Director
- For the potatoes:
- 2 pounds small yellow creamer potatoes, about 1 ½” in diameter
- Kosher salt
- 4 ounces bacon (3-4 slices)
- Extra virgin olive oil, for tossing
- Freshly ground black pepper
- For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard, such as Maille
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup chopped cornichons or dill pickles
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley, divided
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
Drain and pat very dry on a Sheet Pan lined with clean kitchen or paper towels. Allow to cool to room temperature. At this point, potatoes can be used right away or stored in fridge overnight.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat and preheat a Carbon Steel Half Grill Griddle on the grill for at least 5 minutes.
Cook bacon on solid side of Griddle until crispy and fat has rendered, 3–4 minutes per side. Take care to wipe up any excess bacon grease flowing to perforated side with a kitchen or paper towel to avoid flare ups.
Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and wipe up all but about a Tbsp. of bacon grease from Griddle.
Place potatoes in a large bowl and toss with a little oil. Working in batches (8–9 at a time), add potatoes to solid side of Griddle and use a Grill Press to smash them about ½” thick. It’s OK if some of them break apart and have irregular edges. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook until golden brown and crispy on bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip potatoes and move them to perforated side of Griddle. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown and crisped on other side, about 3 minutes more. Transfer back to large bowl. Repeat with remaining potatoes.
Make the dressing and assemble salad: Add vinegar, whole grain and Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, sugar, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Stream in oil while whisking until dressing is emulsified.
Crumble bacon. Add ⅔ of bacon, cornichons, 2 Tbsp. parsley, and scallions to bowl with potatoes. Drizzle dressing over top and fold to coat potatoes with dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with remaining bacon and parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.
