Best Pesto Potato Salad, a flavorful creamy summer salad with Air Fryer roasted potatoes tossed in basil pesto dressing. An easy, quick summer side dish with your barbeques and grills.
Video Recipe for Potato Salad and Pesto included in the recipe card
Fresh Basil Pesto Salad with potatoes is incredibly flavorful and so easy to make salad especially during summers when we get fresh basil in abundance. Serve it at your parties, take for picnics.
It is Gluten-free and Vegan Friendly and one of the best summer potato salad recipe. Roasted potatoes add so much of flavour to this simple summer salad.
- About the Recipe
- Why to use Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes for Pesto Potato Salad
- Why we love Pesto Potato Salad
- Ingredients to make Best Pesto Potato Salad
- How to make Pesto Potato Salad
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftover Salad
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recipes using Basil Pesto from the blog
- Recipe Card
- Pesto Potato Salad
About the Recipe
Roasted Potatoes tossed in fresh creamy basil pesto, one of the best potato salad to make for summer. It is hearty, packs a ton of flavour and has no mayo or cream.
Most of us love potatoes. These are budget friendly, easy and quick to make and are versatile. You can make endless dishes when it comes to potatoes. And this summer salad is just another perfect recipe to make with this tuber.
Why to use Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes for Pesto Potato Salad
Roasting potatoes deepens the flavour and takes the taste of the salad to another level. You can skip roasting potatoes but I advice not to do so!!
Why we love Pesto Potato Salad
- It is quick and easy to make.
- It is Gluten-free, Egg -free and Vegan Friendly.(Check the notes section in recipe card and FAQs section).
- It can also be made nut free for those who suffer for nut allergies.
- You can prepare the poatoes and pesto separately and then assemble at the time of serving.
- Budget friendly Salad
- The recipe is customizable and can be made for just for the two of you or for a large batch.
Ingredients to make Best Pesto Potato Salad
Potatoes- I have used baby potatoes(white) in the recipe. You can use big potatoes or your regular potatoes. Cut into 1" inch cubes. Yakon Gold, Red poatoes or multi colored baby potatoes can be used for the salad. Avoid potatoes which have high water content and crumble easily after boiling like russet poatoes.
Basil Pesto- I love using fresh basil pesto whenever fresh basil is available to me. But you can always use store bought pesto jar for the recipe. Other pestos like Peas Pesto, Spinach or Kale Pesto will also work fine in the recipe. Details for pesto and it's ingredients are in recipe card.
Click here for --> Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe in detail
Red Onions- I like to add thinly sliced red onions to the salad. These add nice crunch and sweet taste to salad.
Salt and Olive Oil-while roasting potatoes in air fryer or oven. We are not adding any extra seasoning as the poatoes will be coated in pesto sauce.
I also like add chilli flakes for a spicy kick.
Others- You can also other veggies like boiled peas, beans, chopped colored peppers, broccoli or any of your choice that go along with potatoes.
How to make Pesto Potato Salad
Roast Potatoes- To make the salad we need to roast the potatoes.
- Wash potatoes very nicely, clearing all the dirt and dust sticking to it.
- Keep the poatoes on colander till the water drains out completely. You can wipe it dry with a kitchen towel or paper tissue.
- If poatoes are of very small size, use it whole. You can also halve slightly big baby poatoes.
- Toss poatoes in oil, salt and chilli flakes(optional). You can also add mixed herbs.
- Air Fry/bake in oven.
Prepare Pesto- Check my detailed recipe to make Fresh Basil Pesto. In summers we get lot of fresh basil, now in India as well. You can make fresh pesto bursting with fresh basil flavours. Vegans can use Plant based Parmesan cheese/ Vegetarian Parmesan cheese which doesn't have rennet.
Assemble Salad- Cool the roasted poatoes completely and then mix pesto. If we mix pesto with hot/warm potatoes, it turns dark in color. Also, before mixing you can add sliced onions/ chopped celery, cherry tomatoes or any other vegetable.
Serving Suggestions
Pesto Potato Salad can be served with your favourite pizza , grilled meats or fish and other roasted vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower. Check here Grilled Veggies with Creamy Cilantro Dip .
Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables(Italian Style) Recipe
It also goes with any of your favourite pasta (Instant Pot Spinach Pasta), (Chickpeas Pasta Salad) , Noodles like (Vegetable Chowmein, Spring Onion and Garlic Noodles).
This sAlad also You can also pair it with fried rice or pulao like this Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao, Burnt Garlic and Mushroom Fried Rice or Mexican Fried Rice .
Storing Leftover Salad
Leftover salad stays good for about 1-2 days when refrigerated in an air tight container. Though, from second day the salad will lose some of it's flavour and crispness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can use boiled poatoes in the salad. You can boil poatoes in your Instant Pot (any electric pressure cooker) or Indian style pressure cooker. You can also boil poatoes in a pan. Drain water completely, let the poatoes cool completely and use in the recipe.
This salad tastes best when made fresh. If you plan to make ahead, you can roast potatoes and prepare pesto seperately. Mix a couple of hrs, before serving. Cover and refrigerate. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
For Vegan Pesto Potato Salad, use vegan pesto in the recipe. When making fresh pesto at home, you can skip adding Parmesan cheese and add nutritional yeast for umami flavour.
Recipes using Basil Pesto from the blog
We love fresh basil flavour and I love to use it in my cooking in so many ways. Few of my favourite recipes with fresh basil from my blog
Basil Lemonade/Shikanjavi, Basil Melon Aguas Fresca, Basil Lemon Dressing/basil Lemon Vinaigrette, Tomato Rice with Basil ,Basil Chilli Paneer(gravy), Basil Pesto Bread, Basil Pesto Paneer Tikka , Star Bread for Christmas and many more to come.
More potato recipes from the blog
Curries and Dry Subzi- Aloo Matar, Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Aloo Methi, Potato and Swiss Chard fry, Tilwale Aloo, Bhandare wale Aloo, Rassewale Aloo Tamatar(lighter and less spicy version).
Snacks and Appetizers- Cajun Potatoes, Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes,Crispy Honey Chilli Potatoes, Aloo Poha Cutlets, Smashed Potato Chaat, Moong Dal Stuffed Aloo Tikki, Crispy Honey Chilli Potatoes
Indian Breads- Aloo Paratha, Aloo Kulcha, Aloo Kachori
Recipe Card
Pesto Potato Salad
Equipment
- Air Fryer/Oven
- Mixing Bowl
- Grinder to make Basil Pesto
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 15-20 Baby Potatoes
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil/any flavourless oil
- Salt as required
- Red Chilli Flakes (as required) optional
- 1 medium Onion optional
Basil Pesto
- 1 Cup Fresh Basil
- 2 tbsp Walnuts
- 2 tbsp Cashew Nuts
- 2 tbsp Parmesean Cheese
- 2-3 Garlic Cloves
- ¼ cup EVOO/Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice optional
Instructions
- Thinly slice or chop onions.1 medium Onion
- You can soak in cold water for a couple of minutes, this takes out the bitterness from the onions.
- Drain and keep on a colander to compeltely remove water.
Prepare Potatoes
- Wash baby potatoes very nicely, clean off all the dust and dirt.15-20 Baby Potatoes
- You can leave the poatoes in a bowl of water so that if any dirt is sticking will soften and washes out.
- Leave poatoes on colander draining all the extra water. You can pat dry on kitceh cloth or paper tissue.
- In a mixing bowl, take poatoes, add salt and chili flakes.1 tbsp Olive Oil/any flavourless oil, Salt as required, Red Chilli Flakes (as required)
- Coat the poatoes nicely in oil and salt. You can cut slightly big baby poatoes in half.
- Transfer the poatoes in air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 mins. at 200°C or 400°F.
- When done take out the bowl back in mixing bowl and cool completely.
Prepare Pesto
- In a grinder jar take clean and dry fresh basil and rest of the ingredients, except lemon juice.1 Cup Fresh Basil, 2 tbsp Walnuts, 2 tbsp Cashew Nuts, 2 tbsp Parmesean Cheese, 2-3 Garlic Cloves, ¼ cup EVOO/Olive Oil
- Grind to a smooth paste or a slight coarse paste.
- Add lemon juice mix nicely.1 tsp Lemon Juice
- Transfer to a glass jar/bottle with an air tight lid/cap. Add 2-3 tbsp oil at the surface , close the lid and refrigerate.
Assemble Salad
- When poatoes completely cool down, add pesto and onions.
- Mix nicely coating all the poatoes with pesto.
- You can some walnut or cashew bits.
- Serve immediately or cover with the lid or cling flim and refrigerate till the time of serving.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- You can squeeze some lemon juice before serving.
Bake Potatoes in Oven
- Preheat your oven to 200°C or 400°F.
- Lightly brush/spray oil on a baking tray or sheet pan. You can also line with a parchment paper.
- Transfer potatoes with oil and chilli flakes on the tray.
- Bake in preheated oven at 200°C or 400°F for 25-30 mins. Please note: it takes more time to bake in oven than in air fryer.
Video
Notes
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