If you are going to try a new potato salad, it has to be this one.
It’s rich. It’s filling. Yet at the same time, it’s light and bright. How can this happen? You may wonder…
Soft tender potatoes are combined with an exuberant poblano chile rajas, or strips, and lightly caramelized red onion mix. It’s not a creamy salad, but one that has an unexpected vinegary kick, laced with olive and sesame oils.
In my kitchen, it’s a well documented fact that poblano chiles love the company of allspice. And it is no secret that potatoes love to be showered with tarragon. Mix it all up, and I want to eat the entire serves-six-people bowl.
Of course, potato salad is as familiar and old-fashioned as apple pie, but you have never tried one like this. It brings the character of Central Mexico, where the combination of papas con (poblano) rajas has a long history at the table. But this may be the first time you see that combination in a salad form.
I dreamed it up while sitting at my desk wondering how I could bring the legendary combination of potatoes and poblano rajas to your table. Maybe it was the seesawing March forecast teasing spring, after the coldest winter in years here in Washington, DC, that put the idea of potato salad in my head…
Perfect, I thought, if it comes out as I am hoping, to bring this substantial salad to your table for Easter, or Passover, or a cookout, or any occasion you may have in mind this spring, where a big bowl of the best-ever potato salad will come in handy. And: I loved it!
Don’t think about this as a potato salad with chile peppers.
No.
We are not using a spicy chile for the heat. We are adding the grand poblano chile, which is more like a stunning vegetable with mild heat than what many people consider all chiles to be.
Not only is the poblano a large, shiny, curvy, dark green beauty – it also has the most extraordinary rich, fruity, spirited flavor.
However, the poblano chile is a bit timid in it’s raw form and calls for a little coaxing, or prep work, before it can bring out its finest flavor, color and texture. Though, not to worry, it’s very easy to master the process of charring, sweating, and peeling the chiles.
Once you prep the poblanos a couple of times, you’ll see it’s no harder than roasting a red bell pepper. And the reward is in the deepened flowery, smoky, mildly spicy flavor of your transformed poblanos.
This salad is versatile, too. I like it warm, but you can eat it any way you prefer or best suits the occasion: warm, room temperature, or cold.
And it’s filling enough to eat as a main course for a quick lunch or as a side dish for a celebration table, for sandwich night, or for a backyard BBQ.
Seriously, give it a try.
Potato and Poblano Rajas Salad
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds baby red potatoes
- 3 poblano chiles charred, sweated, peeled and cut into strips
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 1/2 cups halved and thinly sliced red onion
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
To Prepare
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Drop in the red potatoes and cook for about 20 minutes, until they are cooked through and the tip of a knife goes in without much resistance, but the potatoes are not falling apart. When ready, drain into a colander. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut into halves.
- In a large deep skillet or casserole, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once it is hot, add the sesame oil. Stir in the red onion and cook for about 12 minutes, stirring once in a while, until they have completely softened and edges have begun to slightly brown. Incorporate the poblano chile rajas (strips), stir, cook for a minute or two.
- Add the tarragon, allspice and sesame seeds and cook for a couple minutes. Pour in the white wine vinegar and rice vinegar, stir, cook for another minute and turn off the heat.
- Place the potatoes in a large bowl, pour the onion, rajas, oil and vinegar mixture on top, and gently toss. Serve warm, at room temperature (how I like them the best) or cold.
Comments
65comments inPotato and Poblano Rajas Salad
Gayle G.
May 08
This is our new go-to potato salad! My husband made the recipe about six months ago and we found the charred poblano chiles, tarragon, rice vinegar, and sesame oil and seeds give this potato dish a new flavor combination that we love! The two of us could eat the whole dish in one sitting, but we remind ourselves that it tastes even better the next day when the flavors have fully married.
Pati Jinich
May 11
Thanks so much Gayle! You know how much I love poblanos 😉
Katie
Feb 01
I just watched this episode on Prime and i just had to make this salad. My mouth was watering watching you make it. This salad is now my favorite potatoes salad! I do love your show….Thank you for all the wonderful recipes!!
Pati Jinich
Feb 04
Thanks for tuning in Katie, my pleasure!
Connie D'Andrea
Aug 01
WOW! This salad is soooo good and full of flavor! We watched Patty last night, as we do every time she’s on Create and I made this for dinner tonight and I had to try it. It is excellent!!
Thank you Patty!
Pati Jinich
Aug 02
Thank you for always tuning in, Connie!
Curt
Jun 26
Pati, I saw the episode on create tv with the Potato and Poblano Rajas Salad. I made it! Im hooked! It was pretty darn good. Thanks you.
Pati Jinich
Jul 01
Beyond happy to hear you are hooked, Curt 😉
Susan
Jun 23
I have a truly United Nations family, although I am English/Scandinavian, my three daughters are French, American Indian, and Mexican, and between them and my sons in law and my 5 grandchildren, there is not a continent or country that is not in the mix. Lebanese, Chinese, African, the list is endless. I have made it my goal to celebrate all these cultures and heritages for all of them every time we have a family gathering. Your recipes have helped me SO much to do part of that. This 4th of July we are celebrating a daughter’s birthday and a country’s and this potato salad will make it’s debut. I know they’ll love it. I just wanted to thank you for all the work you to do bring your recipes to the world.
Pati Jinich
Jun 23
Thank you so much Susan. I hope you and your family have a wonderful July 4th!
wnymoneydoctor
Mar 31
Pati I made this tonight for me and my boys. Saw this show and went on line and grabbed the recipe. Yummy! I enjoy your show!
Pati Jinich
Apr 13
I’m so glad you and your boys loved the salad!
Jackie Fritz
Mar 23
Love this dish…. tonight will be the second time I am making it along with the Chipotle agave chicken wings and the No Bake Chocolate pie…. you and your show are inspiring … thank you 🙏
Pati Jinich
Mar 25
Aww thank you so much, Jackie!
Swadem
Nov 05
Should the sesame oil be toasted? Can’t wait to make this!
Pati
Nov 08
I use regular sesame oil…and I hope you enjoy the salad!
Alejandro Munoz
Jul 01
Look delicious
I’m going to make it
Pati
Jul 03
Yay!
Marion j Rojas
Jun 08
My family loves this above all the other recipes, which they are very fond of!
Marion J Rojas
(rojasmarionj79@gmail.com)
Pati
Jun 08
That is super amazing! Thank you for sharing Marion.
mercury613
Aug 30
This recipe looks wonderful. I’m going to make it this weekend for a Labor Day BBQ, but I have a question about the sesame oil. I’m assuming you should use roasted (dark) sesame oil, as the unroasted kind does not have much flavor, but it’s always been my understanding that roasted sesame oil should never be used to sauté, and that it only should be added to dishes as a condiment. Does the cooking mellow the flavor? (2 tablespoons seems like quite a lot.) Thanks!
Pati
Sep 03
Hi! I do use it for cooking, roasted, however, I heat it up for a very little time. It does not mellow the flavor at all, and I like its strong presence, try it out!
mercury613
Sep 05
Thank you! Made this yesterday for a BBQ, and everyone loved it.
Pati
Sep 05
Delighted! I make it quite often…
Pati
Sep 05
Delighted! I make it quite often…
Noel ray-ortega
Jul 07
Do you have a time estimate for boiling the potatoes? I ALWAYS overcook them. I made this recipe today and it was delicious but my potatoes weren’t as pretty as yours.
Pati
Jul 11
About 20 minutes works for me, but I always keep an eye on them so they don’t get too mushy =)
Amy Barlow
Mar 15
Pati, God love you. You are an inspiration to this little norteamericana. I now love poblanos and have shed my fear of all things picante. My Lex, who used to live in Austin, is so happy that I have embrace la vida picante. Gracias; siempre gracias. Amy (con un abrazo para Juju, even though I know he’s too old for that stuff now)
Jim
Jan 29
I just made this for lunch today for my family and esta muy delicioso! Allspice is new to me but you were so enthusiastic about it on your show I felt confident I would like it too and I absolutely did. Thank you for the great recipes!
Pati
Jan 30
Con gusto!
Linda O'Connell
Jan 27
I love watching you cook, you make it look so easy. I am not the best cook but will try to make some of your yummy recipes. I really like Mexican food.
Pati
Jan 30
I am sure you are great in the kitchen or else you wouldn’t be looking for tasty recipes 🙂
Marilyn Albright
Jan 08
Pati,
I have made this recipe many times, and often take it to pot lucks,where it is always a big hit! I have your cookbook and have made and enjoyed lots of your tasty recipes! I learned about you on Create TV. Thanks for all you wonderful recipes and information!
Marilyn
Pati
Jan 12
Hi Marilyn, Thank you so much for getting my cookbook and for watching! Happy to hear you are enjoying the recipes!!
Kiersten Coleman
Nov 19
Is the oil you used *toasted* sesame oil?
Michael Illes
Nov 10
Esta comida es muy delicioso! Mi familia y yo preparamos el platillo y yo anade pimienta molida y jamon. El sabor es excelente! Muchos gracias por publicando la receta! 🙂
Pati
Nov 11
Suena muy rico con jamón!
Stephanie
Sep 19
Oh. My. Yes!!! I just made this for a bbq im having tomorrow and it tastes wonderful! What a great combo:-) i just adore peppers and potatoes. i hope i made enough! Although i did substitute sweet potato, white vinegar and Acv. Thank you for sharing. Instant favotite
Pati
Sep 19
Yay! I hope everyone enjoys!!
Maria Martinez
Jul 06
I love your show every Sunday I watch and love your recetas Gracias.
Pati
Jul 07
Thank you, Maria!
Mary Anne
May 17
What would be good in place of the white wine vinegar?
Pati
May 18
Any other crisp vinegar that you like… such as white distilled vinegar.
Jose Gomez
May 13
Hola Pati , Acabo de hacer este Platillo , Salió Riquísimo Muy buen complemento al Pollo a las brasas para la Cena de esta Tarde
Jose Gomez
Apr 26
Gracias Pati por la Receta ! Se ve Deliciosa La Voy a hacer este Fin De Semana
Pati
Apr 26
Espero que te guste muuuuucho, Jose.
Mary Stoltz
Apr 22
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Must make this dish this weekend. Thank you so much Pati for opening my eyes to trying chiles but especially the poblano! I have to admit I am a bit of a spice wimp but trying to develop a stronger tolerance and I just LOVE the poblano. NEVER would have tried cooking with it without your show and guidance. Thank you!
Pati
Apr 22
Delighted to hear! It is one of my favorite ingredients, by far.
lou
Apr 12
utterly fantastic! I had leftover boiled organic gold potatoes, so I used them. fyi, I char the pepper under the broiler on foil; then wrap the pepper in the same foil to sweat. GRINGO ALERT! wow, good thing I only used one pepper–SPICY! as pati says, the heat can vary….. was out of rice vin., so I used cider. same with sesame, used veg. oil.
using tarragon, allspice, and frying the onions–GENIUS. and the colors, so pretty and pastel for spring.
Michelle
Apr 10
Looks wonderful and I live rajas. Pati, would you ever put a bit of meat in this? I was thinking of a potato salad my mom makes with little pieces of bacon. Might be tasty.
Michelle
Apr 10
Oops, I meant love not live!
Mari
Mar 29
Hola Pati, it looks delicious I will have to make it soon!
I love your show thank you for your encouragement.
Mari from Exeter CA
Pati
Mar 29
Thank you, Mari!
Frank
Mar 29
What a wonderful discovery we made today, quite by accident. Living in Scottsdale, AZ, we have come to LOVE Mexican cooking. Exactly what was that item assembled in a tall tapered glass with layers and layers of what looked like corn, peppers, cream, and more. It was wrapped in a napkin and eaten with a long spoon. I WANT IT! And everything else, tambien.
Pati
Mar 29
Nice!
Gerald
Mar 28
Luce deliciosa. Voy a prepararla. Que tenga un buen fin de semana.
Pati
Mar 28
Igualmente, Gerald!
Elaine
Mar 28
I love cooking with poblanos. I char several on the wood grill outside, sweat them, peel them and then freeze them individually so I have them when I need them; the smoked flavor in them is really wonderful.
Pati
Mar 28
Elaine, I love them, too! Freezing them is a great idea – I do this as well.
Liz
Mar 28
Thank you Pati for the lovely recipe. Have a Wonderful Weekend!
Pati
Mar 28
I hope you do too, Liz!
Tamara Belt
Mar 28
This looks amazing! I’m ready for summer. Will try soon. Thanks for sharing this creative take on the basic potato salad.
Pati
Mar 28
Yay! Thank you!!
Arthur in the Garden!
Mar 28
Yummy!
Pati
Mar 28
; )