Valhalla Potato Salad

Recipe by Damon Lee Fowler, featuring

Salt Table Halle & Savannh Blend

Hot German potato salad is always a crowd-pleaser, so why wouldn’t it please the Gods in the great hall of Valhalla? The Salt Table’s Halle & Savannh Blend is fashioned with Germany’s Halle salt, is the perfect mate with this classic salad’s traditional sweet-sour bacon vinaigrette.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 medium waxy potatoes, about 2½-2¾-pounds
  • 3 strips extra-thick-cut bacon, diced small
  • 1 medium yellow onion, trimmed, split lengthwise, peeled, and diced
  • 1 large rib celery, diced
  • ¼ cup diced dill or sweet cucumber pickle
  • ½ cup cider vinegar
  • About 1 rounded teaspoon sugar
  • The Salt Table Wagner Blend

How to make it:

  1. Scrub the potatoes and put them in a large, heavy-bottomed pot with enough water to cover them by an inch. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Adjust the heat to a steady simmer and cook until the potatoes are just tender and can be easily pierced with a sharp knife. Drain, cover, and let them stand a few minutes. Uncover and let them cool enough to handle, then peel and slice them ¼-inch thick. Cut large slices in half.
  2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s browned and its fat is rendered, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add the celery and pickle. Deglaze the pan with ½ cup water, stirring and scraping to loosen any cooking residue, and let it boil until it is reduced by half. Stir in the vinegar and sugar. Bring it to a simmer and season well with Halle & Savannh Blend. Turn off the heat.
  3. Add the potatoes to the pan and gently toss to coat them with the hot vinaigrette. Taste and adjust the Wagner Blend and sugar as needed. Can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature.

 

Suggested Seasonings

All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend

Marinated Beef Salad with Potato Salad, Tomatoes, and Roquefort

Recipe by Damon Lee Fowler, featuring

Salt Table’s All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend & Leek and Chive, and Onion Seasoning Blend

All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend is ideal for marinades and vinaigrettes, providing all the flavorings the marinade will need with a simple twist of the mill. It’s especially cooling way of using up the leftover roast, but in Savannah’s changeable climate, it can be a welcome supper dish at any time of the year. Try it also with roasted pork tenderloins or leg of lamb.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

For the Vinaigrette and Marinated Roast Beef:

  • 1 medium clove garlic, peeled
  • Salt
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon or to taste Salt Table All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh, or 1/2 teaspoon dried, thyme leaves
  • 1 pound lean roast beef, cooked to taste but preferably rare to medium rare, cut in 3/4-inch cubes

For the Potato Salad:

  • 1 pound small red-skinned new potatoes
  • Dry white wine or vermouth
  • Red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon or to taste Salt Table Leek, Chive, and Onion Seasoning Blend
  • Whole black pepper in a mill
  • 1 teaspoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Extra virgin olive oil

For the Finished Salad:

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, pulled apart, washed, and spun dry
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
  • 12-16 ripe cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons nonpareil capers, drained
  • 4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 2-4 ounces Roquefort, gorgonzola, or other blue cheese, roughly crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

HOW TO MAKE IT:

  1. Make the vinaigrette: chop the garlic fine and sprinkle with salt. Rub it to paste with a flat side of the knife. Scrape it into a mixing bowl. Whisk in vinegar and mustard. Slowly whisk in oil, a few drops at a time, until emulsified. Whisk in 1 teaspoon Good Grinder Blend and thyme. Set aside 10-15 minutes, then taste and adjust the seasonings. Put the beef in a glass or ceramic bowl. Drizzle vinaigrette over it, toss, then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until needed.
  2. Make potato salad: Put 1 inch water in pot fitted with steamer insert and bring to rolling boil over medium high heat. Scrub potatoes under cold running water, slice 1/4-inch thick, and put in steamer insert. Cover and steam until just tender. Transfer to mixing bowl and while still hot sprinkle lightly with wine. Toss and let sit a few minutes. Sprinkle lightly with vinegar and season with Leek, Chive, and Onion Seasoning Blend. Toss and let cool. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss, taste, and adjust the vinegar, oil, and seasoning blend. Set aside until completely cooled.
  3. Line a platter with whole lettuce leaves. Tear the remaining leaves into bite-size pieces. Drizzle lightly with vinaigrette, toss and spread over the whole lettuce leaves. Add the scallions to the marinated beef, toss, and spread it over the center of the platter.
  4. Arrange the potato salad around the beef in several mounds. Toss the tomatoes with a spoonful of vinaigrette and arrange them between the potatoes. Scatter the capers over the beef, potato salad, and tomatoes. Arrange the wedges of egg around the beef and drizzle them with vinaigrette. Sprinkle Roquefort cheese over the salad to taste and finish with a sprinkling of parsley. Serve at once, passing the remaining vinaigrette separately.

 

Suggested Seasonings

All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend

Leek, Chive & Onion Seasoning and Dip Blend