June 27, 2016

Caprese Pesto Potato Salad

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Fresh and fun, this caprese pesto potato salad is perfect for summer BBQs and picnics! Filled with yukon potatoes, a simple kale pesto and fresh basil, there’s no mayo in sight. Gluten free and vegetarian.

A white bowl filled with Caprese Pesto Potato Salad with a serving spoon to the side.

Note: This recipe is NOT dairy free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy free recipes and remains popular with long time readers. You can try using substitutions to make it dairy free, however I have not tested this myself and can’t say how it will turn out. Or, you can try this dairy free potato salad instead!

Summer is in full swing and I realized that I have yet to share a recipe for caprese something or other. So, today we talk this caprese pesto potato salad!

Perfect for picnics, perfect for BBQs, perfect to make just for yourself to enjoy at home.

But the real reason I am smitten with this potato salad? Because we’re using my new love – yukon gold potatoes.

I don’t know what rock I was living under for most of my life, but I really only started using these yellow beauties in my kitchen within the last two years.

Creamy, yet crispy when roasted, they are utter perfection.

So when we combine them with classic caprese components and a delightful pesto sauce?

Well, this, this, is how I do potato salad!

A glass bowl filled with Pesto Potato Salad components.

Tips & Tricks For This Pesto Potato Salad

  1. I find that yukon potatoes tend to stick a bit more than other potatoes when baking. You want all the chunks to be lightly coated in oil before popping them in the oven. So, if you need to drizzle on a little more than the 2 ½ tablespoons of olive oil listed to get the pieces all coated, do it.
  2. You could also absolutely just boil the potatoes instead of roasting them in the oven. However, I really love the extra flavor the roasting adds. Plus, if you do end up eating the salad right away, you get a touch of crispness from the potatoes.
  3. If your cherry tomatoes are on the huge side, go ahead and quarter them instead of just halving. This way they are more evenly distributed throughout the salad.
  4. I realize this last point is a little silly, but the vibrant green color from the pesto fades after about 24 hours. The potato salad will still taste great after that point, but the color isn’t as “oh my gosh” pretty. And since I’m a sucker for pretty food, I felt like I should mention this for anyone else out there who might be like me.

A white bowl filled with Italian Potato Salad with a serving spoon in the dish.

Additional Side Dishes You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Fresh and fun, this caprese pesto potato salad is perfect for summer BBQs and picnics! Filled with yukon potatoes, kale pesto and no mayo in sight!

Caprese Pesto Potato Salad

Yield: about 6 to 8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Fresh and fun, this caprese pesto potato salad is perfect for summer BBQs and picnics! Filled with yukon potatoes, a simple kale pesto and fresh basil, there’s no mayo in sight. Gluten free and vegetarian.

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

  • 2 ½ pounds yukon potatoes, cut into ¾ inch chunks
  • 2 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

For the pesto:

  • 2 cups lightly packed baby kale
  • ½ cup lightly packed baby spinach
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
  • pinch of pepper
  • ⅓ cup olive oil

For the salad:

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 (8 ounce) package mozzarella balls, patted dry and halved
  • ½ cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped

Instructions

For the potatoes:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  2. Add the potatoes to a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread in an even layer.
  3. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until tender and starting to brown. Let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.

For the pesto:

  1. Add the kale, spinach, sunflower seeds, garlic, salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
  2. With the food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Process until smooth. If you need to thin out the pesto, add in additional olive oil a little at a time.

For the salad:

  1. Add the cooled potatoes, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and basil to a large bowl. Pour in the pesto and toss gently to combine. Taste and season with salt / pepper as needed (I usually add at least one good pinch of salt - but this will depend on how much salt you added to your pesto!).
  2. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 486mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.

© Ashley / Cook Nourish Bliss
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Side Dish
Fourth of July, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nut Free, Recipes (ALL), Seasonal, Side Dish, Soy Free, Vegetarian
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