Pesto Potato Salad
This Pesto Potato Salad is perfect for summer…and it doesn’t include any mayo!
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We are smack in the best time of the year for upstate New York. Summer. (Well, leaf season in Autumn gives it a run for its money…but summer really is great up here!) When we lived down South, it was the opposite. Winters weren’t too bad, but summers were just downright hot. Like really hot. Like set your alarm at 8am on Saturday morning to mow the lawn…because by 10am it’s too hot to be outside. And we weren’t the only ones who did that, either. In fact, it was pretty much a neighborhood yardwork party every Saturday morning down there!
We spend a lot of time out on the back deck during the summer here. If I’m not on the deck, then chances are you can find me laying in the hammock. And chances are I’ll have one dog laying on the ground next to me with another one not far away. I’ve mentioned our pups here from time-to-time, but they were our first children…and they’re spoiled. Granted, they are less spoiled now than before Robbie arrived, but those dogs are still pretty darned spoiled!
A while back, we discovered the whole concept of mobile dog grooming. Max gets super shaggy super fast, so we have to make sure to keep him trimmed down…especially during the summer. We tried a couple different services, but I never liked the idea of having to drop him off for an entire day to get his hair cut. So when we came across a mobile dog groomer in our area, we jumped on that one. And since I work from home, this is pretty much an ideal situation for us…and our pups!
One day last summer, I looked out of the window and noticed Max had his head stuck out of the groomer’s van. She was probably trimming his belly or tail, and he apparently just wanted to enjoy the summer air at the same time. I literally laughed for about 5 minutes…and I had to sneak out and snag a photo. This picture just screams summer to me, and it’s one of my all-time favorites of Max!
No matter where you live, though, summer means delicious summer food. Summer means picnics and parties with the neighbors. Summer means grilling burgers and hot dogs on the back porch. Summer means smoking pulled pork and brisket. Summer means pasta salad and potato salad. (I could–and have–eaten potato salad by itself as a meal before!) I still have a bunch of frozen “pesto bombs” in our freezer from last summer’s basil haul, so I decided to use some of that pesto in a potato salad. This Pesto Pasta Salad is one of my summer favorites, so I decided to channel those same pesto vibes into a potato salad. Yum!
And guess what? This Pesto Potato Salad has no mayo. Yes, you read that correctly. This Pesto Potato Salad has no mayo.
I’ve never been a fan of store-bought potato salads as I feel like they’re just a tub of mayo with a couple of potatoes hiding somewhere below. (With that said, I don’t mind mayo in potato salads…just not too much!) But this Pesto Potato Salad uses Greek yogurt instead of mayo…and it works quite well. You won’t even miss the mayo here! This potato salad is definitely a new favorite around here. Make plans to get outside this week and enjoy the warmer weather…and make a batch of this Pesto Potato Salad to bring along with you!
Pesto Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 3 pounds medium red potatoes cut into 1” pieces
- ¾ pound green beans trimmed and cut into 1” pieces
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup basil pesto homemade or store bought
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 cup peas fresh or frozen
- 1 cup ~2-3 ribs celery, diced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt
- {garnish} green onions chopped
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large steamer basket over boiling water; steam for 16-18 minutes, or until fork-tender.
- Place green beans in boiling water and cook for 4-6 minutes, or until crisp tender.
- Transfer potatoes to a large bowl; let cool. Whisk together Greek yogurt and pesto until well combined. Pour over potatoes and gently toss to cover.
- Add remaining ingredients (cooked green beans, bell pepper, peas, celery, red onion, pepper and salt); toss gently until well combined.
- Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
- {Optional} Garnish with green onions before serving.
Wow! Pesto potato sounds delicious. Perfect for summer BBQs. I love the picture of Max, so cute!
Thanks so much, Dawn! That photo of Max makes me laugh every time I look at it. 🙂
David, this photo of Max is hilarious. But wait. Mobile grooming pet service? It used to be only mobile libraries and hospitals many years back, and it’s nice to hear some changes have been happening. Perhaps one say we’ll have a mobile lavender field, and you won’t be using this excuse that you run out of lavender:) Pesto potato salad? Which doesn’t include any mayo? David, acknowledge that you’ve written down this line specially for me. Thus, this delicious salad is deemed to be dedicated to me. Thank you, my friend. Please send a container of this deliciousness (with your autograph) to me. And I’m definitely making this salad soon. And then pesto pasta salad too.
Yeah, everything is mobile these days! Who would’ve thought we could get our pups groomed on the go? It’s super convenient, and it’s nice to not have to take them in the car somewhere and leave them all day long. Now if only they had a mobile potato salad truck…haha. Thanks, Ben!!
Why have I never had a potato salad with pesto? It sounds like such a tasty combination! Glad to hear that you’re enjoying your summer!
Pesto in potato salad is like eating a bite of summer! Give it a shot, Jeff!
This salad sounds really great David.Great for summer. 🙂
This potato salad really is perfect for summer! Thanks so much, Puja!
I LOVE that picture of Max! He’s such a cutie! Dogs are better than TV in terms of entertainment :). I’m loving the sound of the potato salad. I’m not a mayo fan but I’m a huge pesto lover so this is perfect for me. I’m thinking this will happen in my kitchen very soon. Have a great day, David!
Oh, you’ve totally got that right, Kelsie! Dogs are an endless source of entertainment…unless they’re passed out on the floor or across the couch. (And even then they’re still entertaining as your recent photo of Cookie proves!) Hope you’re not melting away out there in Phoenix this week!
Hi David. Potato salad is always a favorite of mine. I quite often eat it in the morning, its good any time in my opinion. I’m afraid I’d have to sub mayo for the yogurt because Gary will not eat yogurt (he says it tastes like chalk). We just had our female dog groomed. Her hair grows to be about 6″ and over the winter she developed a really heavy undercoat which was coming out in chunks to the point that the vacuum had to come out every day!
I share your feelings about potato salad, Dorothy! It’s one of my favorite side dishes. My red potato salad is still the go-to potato salad around here, but I always like mixing it up and trying a couple of different ones each summer, too. (Stay tuned…I’ve got a really fun one coming next week!) And I think mayo would be totally fine here since Gary doesn’t like yogurt. Although I bet you could even get away with some sour cream…maybe half and half? Either way, I hope your summer is going well down there in TN! I really, really, really, really miss the South, but I most definitely don’t miss the South at this time of the year. Haha!
OOOOOH, I am super jealous that you guys are in the middle of my favourite season. Its horrid, nasty Winter here, where everybody has the sniffles and bundled up in warm clothes.
But this Potato salad is too yummy looking to wait until Summer here. We are having a little family reunion this weekend and this salad is 100% going on the menu. Seriously, I know that this is going to be a favourite.😃
Oh and your dog Max is so adorable, I also have a dog named Max, he is aWolf cross German Shepard and is 10 years old, but will always be my puppy. It is really difficult not to spoil them.🤗
Oh man, I know the horrid, nasty winter thing, too, Ashika. It gets downright bitter here during the winter months. So seeing fun summer appetizers and recipes must be torture for you right now! I hope you got a chance to try this pesto potato salad. Pesto is one of those flavors that just screams summer to me! Oh, and go give your Max a pat on the head for me, ok? 🙂 And my apologies for the delayed response here. We’ve been on vacation, and I’m just now getting caught back up!
Your summers sound amazing – sitting on the summer deck or laying in the hammock, pure bliss! Mobile dog grooming sounds like the perfect solution. I bet Max loves the extra attention. The photo of him looking out while having his haircut is too cute! Well done for getting the camera out. I like potato salads but mayo can make it a little too heavy, have not even thought about substituting it with greek yogurt, fantastic idea and a much lighter alternative.
Our summers really are amazing around here! Of course, I’ve conveniently left out the parts about having to mow the lawn, weed the garden, etc. I prefer to think about laying around in the hammock instead! I was actually hesitant to go outside and snag that photo of Max in the groomer’s truck as I was afraid he might get upset…but he was cool with it. And that photo is just too good! Oh, and Greek yogurt makes a great substitute for mayo in potato salad. It keeps it lighter, and the tangy flavor totally works. Thanks so much, Miriam! My apologies on the delayed response here, too. We just got back from our Rhine river cruise, and I’m just now getting caught up. I hope you’ve been doing well!
It was cold for the longest time here and the past few days? Nice and warm! I’m sure not as warm as some places, but warm for us. We used to take our fur baby to a groomer, but it was far too stressful for him (or was that me?) so now hubby and I do it ourselves. It is still stressful for fur baby, but not quite as much. It’s definitely a team effort to groom him I must say!
So now that the weather has warmed up, I’m looking forward to spending more time outside on the deck and grilling (or hubby grilling and me watching, lol). This pesto potato salad looks like a delicious addition to any backyard bbq. I love pesto so this one is a winner for me!
Have a wonderful weekend, David!
Yeah, I totally agree with you about the weather, Dawn! It’s starting to get downright hot here. But hot weather means favorite summer recipes, right? 🙂 So you groom your pup yourselves? That’s pretty adventurous! I’m not sure I could trust myself to not only groom our pups, but also have them looking good once it was all said and done. Kudos to you and your hubbie there, Dawn!
Fabulous! New potatoes are out here at the moment and I can certainly say that this recipe, with the Greek yogurt pesto, instead of Mayo will really bring out the best in our current crop. I’m so jealous of your sitting on the summer deck or lazing in your hammock David. I need to take a leaf out of your book and chill out, or at least find some time to chill out! Have a great weekend. 🙂
I am a huge fan of new potatoes, Neil! Red potatoes are typically my go-to for potato salads, but I’ve had some mighty tasty potato salads made with new potatoes, too. Now I’m craving some potato salad! And, yes, Greek yogurt is an excellent sub for mayo in potato salad. Sometimes I go half and half, but sometimes I just go all Greek yogurt. The tangy flavor totally works, too! I hope you found some time to chill out, my friend! 🙂
Love this! Pesto is a favorite in my home. My daughter believes it makes everything taste better, from pasta to sandwiches.
Pesto is absolutely a favorite around here, too, Celeste! It just tastes like summer! 🙂 My apologies in the delayed response…we were on vacation recently, and I’m just now getting caught back up. I hope you’ve been doing well!
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh, I shared with you I haven’t made potato salad since I left home a few weeks ago and here you go again, making a tasty concoction that I wish I could make right now. I love pesto, so pesto potato salad is a no brainer for me. I had no idea there are mobile grooming services, that makes life just a little bit easier. I wish I could see that picture of Max, soaking up the sun and getting a trim 🙂
Potato salad is pretty much a requirement for us during the summer! I have a southern-style potato salad that’s our go-to, but we like mixing it up from time to time…and this pesto version turned out quite well! Pesto and potato salad both scream summertime to me, so the combination works well! Thanks, Mary! 🙂 I hope you’re soaking up that LA sun lately!
I love that picture of Max and I certainly wish I had a mobile pet groomer for my fur babies! You are totally right about the heat down here, but it hasn’t been so bad yet this year. I’m sure the it’s coming though. I’m all about some backyard grilling and entertaining in the summer. I need to add this pesto potato salad to my menus. It sounds delicious and I love the green beans in there!
I bet you do have a mobile groomer in your area, Rachelle! They’re more common than you realize. We tried a couple of different ones before we found a lady that we really like…and our pups mostly like her, too. (I mean as much as pups can like a groomer!) And, yes, I hear ya on the green beans in this potato salad. They added a great crunch to the final version. 🙂 My apologies on the delayed response here. We’ve been on vacation, and I’m just now getting caught back up. I hope you’ve been doing well!
Oh my goodness, I love that pic of Max too! So cute. My grandma used to always get the mobile groomer to come to her house to groom her pup, so whenever I see one I think of her dog Koko!
Love the idea of using Greek yogurt in potato salad! Mayo grosses me out so I never eat potato salad at gatherings, but I might need to make this one for a party this summer.
Mobile groomers are the best! I used to take Max to a place where I’d leave him all day, but the mobile version is so much better. I’m not sure he realizes it, though! Hah! But he always runs around like a little puppy once he gets his hair cut. 🙂
So Greek yogurt is an excellent sub for mayo when it comes to potato salad! In fact, sometimes we’ve even used a bit of sour cream as a sub. Give it a shot! And the pesto version just screams summertime to me. Thanks, Nicole! My apologies on the delayed response here. We’ve been on vacation, and I’m just now getting caught back up.
As someone who has also been known to have potato salad as a meal, I am ridiculously excited about this recipe! Pesto + potatoes is such a great combo, but for whatever reason, I’ve only had it in hot dishes (like smashed potatoes). Can’t wait to try this!
Oh, I have definitely turned potato salad into a full-on meal before, Mara! In fact, that’s one of my favorite things in the summer…leftover potato salad for lunch. Mmm. We typically go with a southern style potato salad, but I like to mix it up from time to time, and pesto is great since it just screams summertime. Give it a shot! My apologies for the delayed response here. We’ve been out on vacation for a bit, and I’m just now getting caught back up! I hope you’ve been doing well, my friend.
I love all kinds of potato salads (mayo or no mayo) and I can agree to eating just this for dinner, too! Looks delicious and so perfect for summer.
Pesto is one of those flavors that just screams summer…so it makes sense to include it in a potato salad, right? Thanks so much, Bianca! (And my apologies on the delayed response. We’ve been out on vacation and I’m just now getting caught back up.)
Haha – David – I’ve lived down in the South for more than 20 years and have yet to join the 8am yard work club – you might cringe at this but I cut my grass usually around 2.30/3 – when it’s the hottest – also that’s the time there’s no dew on the grass to clog up my ratty push mower – but, one of these days am gonna move and am just gonna sit around and enjoy mayo-free, green-bean filled potato salads like this one! So loving all the nutritional components in this!
Uhhh…are you crazy, Shashi!?! You cut the grass in the middle of the afternoon?? I absolutely remember going out in the middle of the afternoon one summer in Atlanta and feeling like my shoes were melting into the pavement. Well, it turns out they were. It was so hot it started to melt my shoes. And that’s when you choose to mow?? 🙂