No Mayo Lemon & Dill Red Potato Salad

This recipe for lemon and dill red potato salad is light and refreshing using fresh ingredients that last for several days. And, there is no mayonnaise in this recipe making it hot weather and vegan friendly.

Several years ago my husband and I went on a white water rafting trip with several others for the weekend. It was my first time rafting on the lower Youghiogheny river, and even though I did try this activity one other time, I haven't ventured out again.

One thing I remembered from this trip, other than the scary rafting experience, was a delicious potato salad, with fresh lemon, dill, and red onions. It was so fresh and vibrant tasting.

The girl who made it did not have a specific recipe. She said she just put it all together. So after experimenting, I came up with my own.

Lemon & Dill Red Potato Salad

Most people think of classic potato salad as having a mayonnaise-based dressing. This one, however, has no mayonnaise which is great, because you don't have that worry as much about bacteria growth during the hot weather.

Types of Potatoes

Using red potatoes for a potato salad is often recommended. They are waxier than a russet potato, which is best suited for roasting and mashing.

Another option is Yukon gold potatoes, but they are not as pretty. Also, I use the petite red potatoes. You can use large ones, just chop them into bite-sized pieces.

The Dressing

For the dressing, I chose a grape seed oil. For almost all of my other recipes, I use extra virgin olive oil, but it has a strong flavor and I didn't want to take away from the fresh flavors of the lemon and dill.

I also remember that the original recipe was not made with olive oil. In fact, I'm pretty sure she said she used vegetable oil.

Grapeseed oil is very light and has somewhat of a neutral taste. It's also good for stir-frying because it has a high smoke point, which just means you can cook with it at a very high temperature before it starts to smoke, break down and turn bitter.

Make it your own by changing up the ingredients. Try other fresh herbs or veggies from the garden in this red potato salad. You can change up the dressing by using one from this round-up of Nine Fabulous Salad Dressing Recipes. 

It's is perfect for a summer picnic or side dish at your next barbecue.