Do you know this Arkansas tater-salad recipe?

[VictorLouis]

There's a local BBQ joint here, and the 'Ole Boy ain't giving up this recipe. I am only guessing it's from his side of the family, and I know he's from AR. Hopefully, it's a more regional-thing. It simply blows the socks off of any mustard-ish, or mayo-based recipes. I usually don't like cold potato salad, period. But this is like crack to me, and I hope one of you fellow gun-foodies may know the gist of it.

I can feel and taste that there is celery, with just hint of bite left in it. The red flakes I am pretty sure are red bell pepper. IF there is any onion, it has been minced very fine, and likely sweated-down, so that there is no crunch left There appears to be some paprika. I don't know if that is the only thing responsible for the pinkish hue, or if there is something else. IF there is any mustard or mayo in here, I simply can't tell. I don't sense any essence of either one in the mix.

Thanks for the help on this petty little quest!

 

[6518John]

I would bet it is close to this one. Our housekeeper growing up made it—she was from a wide spot through the cotton fields they called Sunshine in Mississippi. I have only had it at African American Church “dinner on the grounds.” But I understand it is popular over in Memphis at a local chain of Barbecue joints.

Smoked Paprika Potato Salad Recipe | The Neelys | Food Network

If this isn’t it or close, PM me and I will nose around some more. I can pin it down I bet, have a bunch of restaurant folks that are friends and clients.

PS. It may be sour cream based too—I have had this one that is very close to the one above. Arkansas farms may not have had mayo but they generally had a cow, so you had sour cream.

Paprika Sour Cream Red Potato Salad - This Silly Girl's Kitchen

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Yes indeed, probably has Sour Cream.
Pickle?
Onion?
Egg?
Celery?
The spices can be tougher to determine.

 

[6518John]

Yes indeed, probably has Sour Cream.

. It may be mayo based but with Duke’s with has a completely different flavor than regular mayo and is very rich and creamy. A lot of southern recipes use Duke’s.

 

[Faulkner]

That looks and sounds like the famous potato salad from a long time establishment in Little Rock called Cordell's Deli. Cordell's closed in 2005 after 65 years and, among other dishes, was renown regionally for their potato salad and chicken salad. My personal menu favorite was their Po-boy sandwich.

I remember seeing the recipe a few years ago and did some searching and found it on a link from the local paper, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Hopefully this is what you're looking for.


**************************
1 cup water

½ cup butter OR margarine

¼ cup white vinegar

2 eggs

½ cup granulated sugar

4½ teaspoons cornstarch

¾ cup mayonnaise

¾ cup whipping cream, whipped

6 pounds red salad potatoes, cooked, peeled and sliced

½ cup chopped onion

¼ cup sliced green onions

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled, sliced, for garnish

Leaf lettuce and paprika, optional

In the top of a double boiler over boiling water, place water, butter and vinegar and heat.

In a large bowl, beat eggs; add sugar and cornstarch and mix well. Add to butter mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and a cooking thermometer registers 160 degrees, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

Stir in mayonnaise, then fold in whipped cream.

In a separate large bowl, toss potatoes, onion, green onions, salt and black pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and mix gently; chill. Garnish with hard-cooked eggs. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl and sprinkle with paprika, if desired.

Makes 18 servings.

 

[lawandorder]

And another suspect in the line up. Look on this web site for Southern Potato Salad.
Grilledcheesesocial.com

 

[Ogandydancer]

From Mrs. Ogandy's kitchen
Potatoes cubed
Mustard
Mayo (hellmans)
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Bell pepper finely chopped
sweet pickle relish
finely chopped red onion
celery salt or seed whichever you have handy
mix well and serve room temp.

 

[ddixie884]

They all sound good to me, but then I like Potato salad........

 

[pawngal]

Obviously we have many different "likes" in potato salad. First look at the OP's pictures, my thoughts, What! that ain't no tater salad. No hard boiled eggs, no pickle relish (or chopped pickles), onions? If I saw that on a buffet I would definitely pass. To each his own, no offence meant.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ask Ron White.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Here in town we got the Whole Hog Cafe.
A chain, based where?
Little Rock, that’s where.
Looks like they use Sour Cream, Ranch Dressing and Mayo.
The first time I had it, I was thinking maybe Yogurt.
To me , Arkansas Style means some kind of Cream, no mustard.
3 1/2 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon parsley, dried
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ranch dressing mix
1 cup bacon, crumbled
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/3 cup chives, finely chopped
2 cups sour cream
2 cups mayonnaise
Splash of vinegar

 

[6518John]

^^^^^Ate lunch there today! We try to make it once a week.

PS. Sims is pretty dang good too.

 

[rond]

Sour cream also

 

[DeathGrip]

You might want to look into German Potato Salad. My wife used to make it along with her Cucumber Salad. Always requested and never leftovers.

I don't like cold potatoes so I am only telling you this by observation. I have no clue what she put in her potato salad. She's passed 6 years ago.

Good luck.

 

[VictorLouis]

Sorry, I've been a busy-beaver. Thanks so much for the leads! I have some work to do now, LOL..

 

[CH4]

I don’t know about Arkansas potatoe salad, but my ex, who spent time in Georgia, would put a little Catalina salad dressing in her potato salad. I don’t care for the warm German potato salad with vinegar.

 

[Retired W4]

^^^^^Ate lunch there today! We try to make it once a week.

PS. Sims is pretty dang good too.

I ate at Sims on Broadway many times during my 5 years in Little Rock. Every thing they serve is killer.

 

[soFlaNative]

2 1/2 years and VicLouie never chimed back
Glad for this thread from the dead is back because I'm going to maybe try the recipes from John's post #2. Close up pics from the OP look like paprika and the smoked variety is this household's crack.

 

[BKLooney]

Y’all are making me hungry!

 

[VictorLouis]

Chiming in, and still have to go see him to get my fix from time to time.