Avocado Potato Salad

Avocado Potato Salad

If you’re after something fresh, vibrant and truly satisfying, Avocado Potato Salad might just become your new go-to. It’s where two crowd favourites, potato salad and guacamole, meet in a bowl, and it’s glorious. The creamy avocado dressing gives the salad a luscious texture without feeling heavy, while fresh herbs and lime keep things light and zesty. Perfect alongside grilled mains, it’s versatile enough to shine on its own too. Whether you’re planning a barbecue or just want something exciting for a weekday lunch, this is the kind of side that refuses to play second fiddle.

Table of Contents

Ingredient Breakdown

  • Baby potatoes: Naturally sweet and waxy, they hold their shape perfectly after boiling.
  • Echalion shallot: A milder, slightly sweet allium that won’t overpower the dressing.
  • Red chilli: Optional, but it adds a gentle heat that balances the creamy avocado.
  • Avocado: The heart of the dressing. Rich, creamy and full of good fats.
  • Fresh coriander: Delivers citrusy, earthy notes that cut through the richness.
  • Flat-leaf parsley: Adds a fresh, clean lift to balance the bold flavours.
  • Garlic: Just a touch gives the dressing backbone without dominating it.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil: Adds depth and silkiness to the dressing.
  • Lime juice: Brightens every bite and keeps the avocado from oxidising.
  • Sherry vinegar: Adds gentle acidity and a bit of complexity.
  • Honey: Rounds off the acidity and helps everything meld.

Choosing the Right Potato

Not all potatoes are equal when it comes to salad. For this Avocado Potato Salad, waxy baby potatoes offer the best texture. They hold their shape after boiling, making them ideal for absorbing flavour without falling apart. Their subtle sweetness also balances the bold avocado and lime dressing beautifully. Floury varieties like Maris Piper or King Edward tend to break down too much and turn the salad mushy.

If you can’t find baby potatoes, opt for Charlotte or Jersey Royals. Both have a firm, creamy flesh that works well. Try to cut your potatoes into evenly sized chunks to ensure they cook at the same rate. When boiling, generously salt the water to season them from the inside out. It’s a simple step that makes a real difference. Once tender, leave them to cool slightly so they don’t absorb too much dressing all at once. Texture is key here, and the right spud will make all the difference.

Making the Avocado Dressing Just Right

The heart of Avocado Potato Salad lies in its dressing: creamy, zingy, and herb-flecked. Striking the right balance here is key. Avocado brings richness and body, but it can quickly become too dense if not cut with enough acid and oil. Lime juice, sherry vinegar and olive oil are your balancing trio. Together, they loosen the texture and brighten the flavour

You want something spoonable, not stiff like guacamole, but not so runny that it slides off the potatoes. Mashing with a fork gives you a chunkier, rustic texture, perfect for a casual spread. If you’re after something silkier, blitz everything in a blender for a velvety finish. Taste as you go, and don’t skip the salt. It enhances the avocado’s natural sweetness and pulls all the flavours together. You can also add a splash of water if needed to adjust the consistency without overpowering the flavour.

Avocado Potato Salad: Ideal Pairings

While Avocado Potato Salad stands well on its own, it truly shines when paired with the right dishes. Its cooling, creamy nature makes it a perfect foil to bold, spicy, grilled mains. Try it alongside lamb koftas, grilled lemon poussin or sticky barbecue ribs. It cuts through richness with ease, resetting your palate after every bite. 

But it’s also brilliant with lighter fare. Think grilled fish, roasted aubergine or even a herby quinoa salad. The herbaceous elements in the dressing complement Mediterranean-style meals, while the avocado links naturally with Latin flavours. If you’re building a picnic spread, it adds colour and substance without feeling heavy. For weekday lunches, tuck it into a wrap with roasted vegetables or spoon it over toast for a satisfying twist on avocado toast. It’s as flexible as it is flavourful, which is why it earns its place on any table.

Customising Avocado Potato Salad

The beauty of Avocado Potato Salad is its versatility. While the base recipe leans fresh and zingy, you can easily tweak it to suit your mood or what’s in the fridge. Swap coriander for dill or mint if you prefer, or add a handful of chopped spinach or rocket for a peppery edge. Not a fan of chilli? Leave it out, or use a milder variety like jalapeño for warmth without the sting. 

You could also try swapping lime juice for lemon or a splash of apple cider vinegar. For extra richness, crumble in some feta or grilled halloumi. Want something smoky? Add a touch of paprika to the dressing or toss in some charred sweetcorn

The core components, potatoes, avocado, herbs, are adaptable, and the creamy dressing ties everything together. Whether you’re making it for a party or lunch-for-one, you can tweak the flavour profile to suit your cravings without compromising its charm.

More Avocado Recipes

If you’re looking for more avocado based recipes after making this Avocado Potato Salad, then here are some for you to try:

  • Salmon with Mango & Avocado Salsa: Oven-roasted salmon fillets served with a bright, zingy mango and avocado salsa, packed with flavour. Easy to make and comes together in just 15 minutes!
  • Grilled Chicken and Mango Guacamole Lettuce Cups: Tender grilled chicken tossed in homemade mango guacamole served in crunchy lettuce cups.
  • Pea-sto Avocado Toast: A twist on the classic that combines the creaminess of avocado with the vibrant freshness of peas and herbs. 
  • Mango & Avocado Salsa: If you’re looking for a quick, vibrant, and flavour-packed dish to elevate your meal, this is the answer. This salsa strikes the perfect balance of savoury, sweet, sour, and spicy, making it a versatile addition to almost any dish. 

If you’d like to see how I make all these recipes and more, head on over to my Instagram!

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Avocado Potato Salad

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The perfect summertime side

Potato salad meets guacamole. It’s the perfect summery side to your all your BBQ favourites. It consists of new potatoes tossed in a bright, zingy ‘dressing’ made with avocado, lots of fresh herbs, lime, garlic and honey. Looking for something to pair it with? How about my Spicy BBQ Ribs, Grilled Garlic and Lemon Poussin or Lamb Koftas?

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 as a side 1x
  • Category: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

For the potato salad:

  • 750 g baby potatoes, quartered
  • 1 echalion shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 chilli, finely chopped (optional)

For the zingy avocado ‘dressing’:

  • 10 g fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • 10 g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 4 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsps lime juice
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 2 tsps honey

Instructions

  1. Place the potatoes in a saucepan. Cover with cold water, season generously with sea salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Taste the water – it should be sea-level salty (don’t worry, very little of the salt will actually be absorbed by the potatoes). Cook until tender to the tip of a knife, 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. While the potatoes are cooking, make the ‘dressing’. For a chunkier, guacamole-style dressing, mash all of the ingredients together with a fork. For a smooth dressing, place all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and set aside.
  3. Drain the cooked potatoes then let cool for 30 minutes – this is a great time to get the rest of your prep done (i.e. finally chopping the shallot and chilli).
  4. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the dressing, shallots and chilli and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve and enjoy! Note: it’ll be just as delicious the next day!

Notes

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Hi! I’m Zena. A recipe developer with a love for big, bold flavours and vibrant, colourful dishes. Expect lots of easy, delicious recipes, influenced by global flavours and techniques. Happy cooking!

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