Green Garlic and Mint Potato Salad – Recipe
Green Garlic and Mint Potato Salad
Green garlic is one of those wonderful farmer’s market ingredients. At least in my neck of the woods, you don’t often see it at grocery stores, but it is as at every market in the early summer months, where it overlaps with last year’s storage potatoes. Green garlic is simply the shoot of an immature garlic plant. The kind I like to buy looks like oversized scallions, and it can be used in similar ways. The flavor, however, is distinctly of garlic, not onion.
To prepare green garlic, you want to cut off the frizzly roots and the tough, dark green tops. Then peel off the tough outermost leaf, and you should be left with a sizable, relatively tender length of white to pale green shoot.
For this salad, the green garlic is briefly sauteed to soften. I add a couple of minced garlic cloves to the dressing though, to make sure the garlic flavor is distinct. I originally was going to do this dressing as a plain vinaigrette, but then I found that just a little bit of mayonnaise (or Vegenaise, which is quite tasty) brought out a better texture and flavor. The final addition of mint brightens things up, but you could also use fresh oregano or marjoram if they are to hand.
If you have time, make the dressing in advance and allow the flavors to meld before giving them a final adjustment and mixing with the cooled potatoes.
This recipe makes enough to bring to a big potluck, but you can easily cut it in half for a smaller gathering.
Green Garlic and Mint Potato Salad
Vegetarian, vegan option, gluten free and kosher
Makes enough to bring to a potluck (easily halved)
- 5 pounds small, waxy potatoes
- 8 stems green garlic
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 cloves minced garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Maldon (aka the world’s greatest salt) (less if using Kosher salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Handful of mint leaves
- Wash the potatoes and put them in a large pot full of cold, salted water. Bring to a boil and continue to cook until they are fully tender but not falling apart (time greatly depends on size and variety). Drain, rinse, cool, and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Meanwhile, remove the tough parts of the green garlic including the outermost leaves, just like you would with a scallion. Slice thinly. Heat a small saute pan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil and saute the green garlic just for about 1 minute, until it is slightly softened.
- Scrape the green garlic and olive oil into a small bowl. Add the remaining olive oil, minced garlic, vinegar, mayonnaise, black pepper, salt, rosemary, cayenne and black pepper. Stir well. Dip a piece of potato in and taste. Does it have enough salt? Is the garlic flavor present enough? Could it use a bit more cayenne? When you are satisfied, toss the dressing with the potatoes. This is easiest to do with your hands.
- Just before serving, thinly slice the mint and mix it into the potatoes.
Is green garlic the same as garlic scapes?
No, garlic scapes are solid stem that I believe grows up out of the middle of the scallion-y looking part. The flavor is similar but the texture is different. They would also be good in this potato salad, you’d just want to saute them a bit longer to soften.
looks yummy! Thanks for posting
Looks really good! Will definitely try this, thanks!
What a tempting potato salad! I’ll be on the look out for green garlic at the farmer’s market this weekend. I love the refreshing mint you added, too.
I enjoyed hearing you speak at BlogHer Food! That was a terrific panel and I appreciate all you shared.
Thanks, Hannah! I’m glad you enjoyed the BlogHer photography panel as well, I had great fun doing with Alice and Aran.
Would really love to try this! Do you have any Vegenaise recipe?
I haven’t made vegan mayonnaise myself, but I’ve seen it done on videos – it is pretty simple. You just need something other than egg to act as the emulsifier to keep the oil and water (lemon juice, whatever) together.