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Lemon Potato Salad

Lemon potato salad with bright citrus flavor and a light, creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, lemon juice, zest, olive oil, and Dijon mustard. Cubed Yukon gold potatoes are boiled until tender, cooled, tossed with herbs and green onions, then chilled for a tangy, fresh salad texture.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Yukon gold potatoes
  • 3 lb Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
Mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
Lemon juice
  • 0.25 cup lemon juice
Lemon zest
  • 2 lemons zest
Olive oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Fresh parsley
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Green onions
  • 0.25 cup green onions, sliced
Salt and pepper
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Boil and cool the potatoes
  1. Boil the cubed Yukon gold potatoes until tender, 20 minutes, until a fork slips in easily (no visible firmness). Drain and cool completely so the salad stays creamy and doesn’t turn watery.
Make the lemon dressing
  1. Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, and Dijon mustard until smooth and glossy, about 1 minute, with no mustard streaks.
Combine and season
  1. Combine the cooled potatoes with chopped parsley and sliced green onions so the herbs are evenly distributed (you should see green flecks throughout).
  2. Pour the lemon dressing over the potatoes and toss well until every cube looks lightly coated and glistening.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then toss again until the flavor is balanced.
Chill before serving
  1. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving so the potatoes absorb the tangy dressing and the texture firms up.

Notes

For the best texture, cool the potatoes fully before mixing—warm potatoes can make the dressing runny. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise-based dressing can separate. If you want a lighter option, use light mayonnaise for a similar tangy citrus potato salad.