Southern dill potato salad brings back memories of summer gatherings and family picnics. My grandmother Ethel would scold me for sneaking leftovers for breakfast the next morning, but that never stopped me. This lighter Southern version substitutes traditional mayonnaise for tangy yogurt, allowing the natural flavor of red potatoes to shine through while adding a refreshing twist with fresh dill. Perfect for those seeking a healthier alternative without sacrificing the creamy texture we all love in a good Southern potato salad.
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What Makes Dill Potato Salad a Wonderful Change From Classic Potato Salad
The science behind this salad’s success lies in the natural starch content of red potatoes. Their waxy texture holds shape when cooked, creating the perfect bite while the yogurt’s acidity tenderizes the potatoes and brightens their flavor. The combination creates a light yet satisfying side dish with significantly less fat than traditional versions.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
If great taste and lower fat and calories than traditional potato salad aren’t enough, then how about the fact that this Dill Potato Salad has only four ingredients and takes just minutes to make? Swapping plain yogurt for mayonnaise allows the flavor of the red-skinned potatoes and dill to shine.
Red Potato Salad With Dill Ingredients
For this Dill Potato Salad recipe, you’ll need:
- Red potatoes – Their waxy texture holds shape perfectly for potato salad
- Whole-fat plain yogurt – Provides creamy texture with less fat than mayonnaise
- Fresh dill – Adds bright, herbaceous flavor and visual appeal
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and properly seasons the potatoes during cooking
Ingredient Notes
Red potatoes are waxy and will hold their shape when cooking, even when cut into small pieces. Red Bliss potatoes are ideal for this recipe, but any waxy variety will do. Yukon gold potatoes are a great option.
Try to use fresh dill in this recipe. Besides having a fresher flavor, the sprigs of fresh dill are decorative and make the potato salad look more appealing.
If you like the tangy flavor of Greek yogurt you may want to use it instead of regular yogurt.
How to Make Potato Salad With Dill
To boil the red potatoes:
- Rinse and scrub the red potatoes. Since you are leaving the skin on, you must ensure they are spotless. Use a potato brush if you have one.
- Cut the potatoes into half-inch cubes.
- Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot.
- Add enough cold water to cover the potatoes by about an inch. Heavily salt the water as you would for making pasta.
- Partially cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about ten minutes.
- Drain the potatoes into a colander in the sink. Once drained, place the colander on a baking tray and pop it into the fridge to cool.
- Once the potatoes are cool, place them in a large bowl.
To finish the red potato salad with dill:
- Finely chop the fresh dill if you are using it.
- Whisk together the plain yogurt, chopped dill, and salt.
- Add the dressing to the cold potatoes and stir gently to coat.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least two hours before serving. For the best flavor, try making the potato salad the day before!
Southern Dill Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red potatoes cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups full-fat plain yogurt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill or 1 teaspoon fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the cubed potatoes in a pot, cover them with water, and boil until soft.
- Drain the potatoes and put them in the fridge to cool.
- When the potatoes have cooled, place them into a bowl with the yogurt, dill, and salt. Mix well and season with pepper and additional salt, if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Flavor Variations
- Add chopped celery or red onion for crunch
- Include dill pickles for extra tang
- Incorporate Dijon mustard for depth of flavor
- Brighten with fresh lemon juice
- Try other herbs like parsley, rosemary, or thyme
What to Serve With This Dill Potato Salad Recipe
Potato salad is a must-have side for so many main courses. It pairs well with almost anything that comes off the grill and complements fried chicken and fried fish wonderfully. Are you planning a fish boil? Then you want to whip up an extra big bowl of potato salad!
Storage Instructions
- Do not save leftovers from picnics or potlucks where the salad has been at room temperature
- Keep refrigerated in an airtight container
- Best consumed within 3-4 days of preparation
More Potato Salad Recipes
Favorite Recipes with Potatoes
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
- Lyonnaise Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
- Parsley Potatoes
- KFC Mashed Potatoes
- Potato Au Gratin
- Potato Pancakes
- Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Scalloped Potatoes without Cheese
Check out my easy side dish recipes and the best salad recipes on CopyKat!
This was a nice mild potato salad. Perfect for people who hate mustard. The redeeming quality of a potato salad when it does not contain mustard is that when my two-year-old dumped over the serving bowl it did not stain my mother in law’s table cloth.