Salads & Side dishes

Southern potato salad lands on the plate creamy and cool, with tender potatoes that hold their shape and a dressing that clings instead of sliding off. The best versions have a little tang, a little sweetness, and enough texture from eggs, celery, and relish to keep each bite interesting. This is the kind of side dish that disappears first at a cookout, then gets asked for again before the serving bowl is washed. The balance matters here. Yukon gold potatoes stay buttery without turning chalky, and cooking them until just fork-tender keeps the salad from turning pasty after mixing. The … Read more

Charred zucchini coins with golden edges are the kind of side dish that disappear before the main course gets settled on the table. The trick is getting enough heat on the griddle to brown the slices fast, while keeping the centers tender instead of watery. When it’s done right, the zucchini picks up a little sweetness, the garlic turns fragrant, and the Parmesan melts into the hot surface in the best way. This version works because the zucchini is cut into even rounds and cooked in a single layer, which gives each piece direct contact with the griddle. That contact … Read more

Crispy smashed potato salad earns its place on the table the second those potato edges crackle under a fork. You get the best parts of two classics at once: roasted potatoes with shattering, golden corners and a cool, tangy dressing that clings to every rough surface. It’s sturdy enough for cookouts, rich enough to feel special, and textured in a way plain potato salad never quite is. The trick is giving the potatoes time to dry after boiling and again after roasting. Wet potatoes steam, and steaming kills the crunch. Smashing them after they’re tender creates more surface area, which … Read more

Red skinned potato salad hits the table with the kind of creamy, cool bite that disappears fast at cookouts and weeknight dinners alike. The red potatoes hold their shape instead of turning to mash, so every spoonful stays chunky, tender, and coated in that simple tangy dressing. It’s the kind of side dish that tastes familiar in the best way, but still feels a little fresher than the heavy versions that lean too hard on mayo alone. The trick here is in the potatoes and the chill time. Skin-on red potatoes stay waxy enough to cube cleanly after boiling, which … Read more

Red potato salad lands right in that sweet spot between creamy and sturdy. The skins stay on, so each bite has a little more texture and the potatoes hold their shape instead of collapsing into a soft mash. That matters here, because the best potato salad has defined pieces coated in dressing, not a bowl of paste. The trick is boiling the potatoes just until they’re tender at the center, then letting them cool before the dressing goes on. Warm potatoes soak up flavor, but if they’re too hot, the mayonnaise can turn loose and the salad can go greasy. … Read more

Tangy dill pickle potato salad has a way of disappearing faster than the rest of the picnic spread. The potatoes stay tender without turning mushy, the pickles bring crunch and sharpness, and the dressing clings to every bite instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl. It tastes familiar in the best way, but the pickle juice gives it a brighter, more awake finish than standard potato salad. What makes this version work is the balance. Red potatoes hold their shape after boiling, so you get chunks instead of a paste. The pickle juice goes straight into the dressing, … Read more

Blackstone smashed potatoes hit that sweet spot between crisp and creamy that keeps people hovering around the griddle for “just one more.” The edges turn shatteringly golden, the centers stay fluffy, and the garlic-butter finish gives every bite the kind of savory pull that makes this side dish disappear faster than the main course. The trick is giving the potatoes enough time to dry out after boiling, then smashing them only once they’ve cooled slightly. That little pause helps the skins set, so they hold together on the griddle instead of sticking and tearing. A mix of oil and butter … Read more

Griddle smashed potatoes hit that sweet spot between crispy edges and a tender center, with enough surface area to pick up butter, garlic, and all the salty toppings you pile on at the end. The first bite gives you a shattery crust, then you land in a soft potato middle that tastes like it spent all day working on that texture, even though it comes together fast. The trick is in the flattening and the heat. Boil the potatoes until they’re just tender, not falling apart, so they hold together when you smash them on the griddle. A mix of … Read more

Blackstone fried rice hits the sweet spot between smoky, savory, and fast enough to pull off on a weeknight without losing the texture that makes fried rice worth making in the first place. The griddle gives the rice room to spread out, toast, and pick up those browned edges that a crowded skillet just can’t deliver. You end up with separate grains, tender vegetables, and little ribbons of egg woven through every bite. The trick is starting with cold rice and a hot surface. Cold rice firms up in the refrigerator, so it fries instead of turning soft and sticky, … Read more

Baby red potatoes hold their shape beautifully in this salad, which means every forkful stays substantial instead of collapsing into a mash. The dressing is light, sharp, and herb-packed, so the potatoes taste clean and fresh instead of heavy or overly creamy. After a couple of hours in the fridge, the vinegar settles into the warm potato flavor and the whole bowl tastes even better than it does right after mixing. The trick here is simple: cook the potatoes just until tender, then let them cool enough to absorb the dressing without turning gummy. Red potatoes are the right choice … Read more