Sunday, July 15, 2012

Potato Salad

Potato salad is a standard barbecue side dish and most people have a preferred recipe for it.  Here is my "basic" recipe for when I want old fashioned potato salad.  It works as a warm or cold salad.

Potato salad, BBQ sides

I made this yesterday because I was smoking some ribs as a surprise for Alexis and her co-workers for dinner at work.  Trevor and I packed the "to-go" boxes and dropped them off at the store just in time for dinner.

I've done posts on ribs several times so I'll just give the basics for my bbq nerd friends.

Ribs:  Loin back ribs (what most people call baby backs but technically baby backs are smaller)
Smoke:  2 hickory Mojobrick Bar-B-Cubes
Rub:  my version of Wild Willy's Number Onederful and Dead End Rib Rub layered on both ribs
Foil?:   Yes, with real butter, brown sugar, hot sauce
Times/Temps:  270f because I was trying to get them done quick.  2 hr 45 min bare, 45 min foiled, 45-60 min bare.  I lost track of the time on the second "naked" stage but it was definitely at least 45 minutes and not more than an hour.
Glaze:  Blues Hog (they like sweet ribs)

Potato Salad
source:  www.nibblemethis.com

Ingredients
  • 3 pounds red bliss potatoes (b sized), quartered
  • 3 boiled eggs, diced
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup onion, diced
  • 2 Tbsp celery, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp BBQ rub
Instructions
  1. Boil the potatoes until fork tender.  Allow to cool.  
  2. Add the eggs to the potatoes in a large bowl.
  3. Mix the rest of the ingredients together for the dressing.  Pour over the potatoes and egg, toss to coat.
Chris Grove loading Big Green Egg
Setting up the Egg for smoking.  I put new coal in, the wood, and now putting the used coal back in on top.

Big Green Egg ribs, BGE ribs, how to remove rib membrane
To take the membrane off, I work a finger or two under the membrane across the middle.

Big Green Egg ribs, BGE ribs, how to remove rib membrane
Then just pull it straight up and off in one piece.  

Chris Grove putting ribs on Big Green Egg, BGE ribs, how to grill ribs
Ribs rubbed and going on.

Big Green Egg ribs, BGE ribs,
Just about ready for foiling.

Potato salad mise en place, potato salad recipe, potato salad ingredients
These silicone pinch bowls that my sister gave me rock.   One of the most used things in my kitchen.

making potato salad
Not everyone likes eggs in their potato salad.  I do.  Sue me.

dressing for potato salad recipe
Taste the dressing for seasoning before mixing into the potatoes.  It is easier to adjust at this point.

Big Green Egg ribs, BGE ribs,
Gratuitous rib shot.

Big Green Egg ribs, Grill dome ribs
Very meaty ribs.

BBQ rib dinner, BBQ rib package, barbecue rib dinner
Assembly line.

BBQ rib dinner
Ribs, potato salad, and Bush's Grillin' Beans Southern Pit Barbecue flavor.

The ladies hated their food.  Just kidding, they loved it.  

[Standard Disclaimer] I have a business relationship with Bush Beans; however, this is not a sponsored post.