Puerto Rican ensalada de papa con manzana is a Puerto Rican potato salad with apples recipe that is easy to make and the perfect surprise at your next get together!
What is potato salad?
Potato salad is a potato dish that is typically mayonnaise based, but you can make a vegan version, or an olive oil version (check out my Shrimp potato salad without mayonnaise).
Traditionally, potato salad includes larger bite sized potatoes that are pre-boiled, then the potato salad has chopped boiled eggs, onions, celery, and mayonnaise and is topped with paprika. This is the classic potato salad recipe.
For this simple Puerto Rican potato salad recipe, we are twisting it by adding in chopped apples, which offers the potato salad a sweet bite every so often, without taking away from the beauty of the potato salad.
Should potato salad be served warm or cold?
Potato salad has dairy in it, so it should be refrigerated as soon as it is made. If you'd like to make a warm potato salad, check out this recipe by What's Gaby Cooking!
If you're taking this ensalada de papa with you to a potluck or get together, place it into a closed lid container and place it in a cooler with ice. As long as it is cold, it will keep the potato salad from going bad.
Can potato salad be heated?
Potato salad can be heated in the microwave for a few seconds, but remember that there is mayonnaise in it, so to keep the potato salad from being rancid, do not heat the potato salad twice. Serve yourself the portion desired and microwave for 15-30 seconds for a warm potato salad.
Can you freeze potato salad?
No, you should not freeze potato salad. Potato salad has eggs, mayonnaise, and soft potatoes in it. If you freeze it, the texture/taste will not be the same. Do not freeze leftover potato salad.
Potato salad will last in the fridge, covered for up to 3-4 days.
How To Make Potato Salad
To make potato salad (ensalada de papa), you need to peel the potatoes (if desired), boil the potatoes in a large pot with salted cold water. If you're wondering, how long to boil potatoes for potato salad, it's once the potatoes are fork tender about 15-18 minutes after the potatoes have started boiling.
You want to add your potatoes to cold water, so the potatoes cook evenly. If you add the potatoes to boiling water, it will cook unevenly.
For this Puerto Rican ensalada de papa, I personally like to add some vinegar over the potatoes while it is still hot.
Next, you add in your chopped vegetables like your raw onions and peppers, apples, seasonings and the mayonnaise (or miracle whip) once the potatoes have cooled a bit to keep them from breaking apart.
Finally, you need to refrigerate the potato salad for at least half an hour to allow the flavors to infuse together before serving.
My aunt Gloria introduced me to this this Puerto Rican potato salad when I was super young. I've been addicted to potato salad with apples (ensalada de papa) ever since! Tell me in the comments below, have you ever had potato salad with apples in them before?
What is potato salad good with?
Wondering what side dishes or meat dishes go well with potato salad? Here are some amazing recipes to serve with Puerto Rican potato salad!
Recipe
Puerto Rican Potato Salad with Apples
Ingredients
- salted water for boiling
- 2 pounds of peeled potatoes chopped into 2 inch chunks
- 1 tablespoon of white vinegar
- 6 hard boiled eggs chopped
- 3 small apples peeled, cored and chopped into half inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons red onions finely chopped
- ½ green bell pepper chopped
- 1 carrot finely chopped or shredded
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- ½ cup of mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
- paprika to garnish
- cilantro chopped, to garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, add in cold water and salt to taste. Add in potatoes and bring to a boil. Once boiling lower heat to medium high. (Keep it boiling, but not high enough that it boils over.)
- Once potatoes have cooked to become fork tender (about 15 minutes after water begins to boil), drain potatoes.
- Add potatoes to a bowl, and while it's still hot, drizzle vinegar over it. Let potatoes cool a few minutes before gently adding in remaining ingredients. Gently, toss together ingredients to coat it all.
- Garnish with paprika and cilantro, refrigerate for at least half an hour before serving.
nellie gelb says
yes, my dad used to make it this way.
Linda says
I remember eating it my version since I don't like the taste of onion and pepper. I was working the officer's mess onboard the USS Samuel Gompers while in the Navy and made it for the officers. They liked it alot and asked for seconds. The cook got jealous and said his salad was better than mine so we served his as seconds and the officer's instantly noticed the difference. Too bad it was too late to make another batch. They had to get back to work. I still remember how they raved about it. I diced the red delicious apple though so it was tiny cubes. Still can taste it lol
Melissa says
Excellent recipe!! So tasty. I used the vegan Hellman's ... Sooo good.
Latina Mom Meals says
Hellman's is the bomb!!!! I need to give the vegan one a try. Thank you for visiting.
Marie-Antoinette Messina Kankasa says
Great
Peggy says
Love them since my dad introduced it to us.While we were young. Now this Tday i will make it a tradition on my table!
Neyssa says
Yes! It's a must make for Thanksgiving. Thank you for visiting!
Jorge Clar says
I love this recipe, but I omit the celery. The apple provides enough crunchiness and sweetness to take this salad into the stratosphere. The vinegar is super important, and I add a splash of good olive oil while mixing the ingredients. Thank you!
Neyssa says
Thank you Jorge for the tips. True, apples provide a great crunch, and the vinegar is super important!
ODB says
what if you have GERD and acid reflux issues can u leave out vinegar is there a subtitute for it
Neyssa says
You can leave it out. No need to substitute it.
Reni says
for GERD I use 1 talbespoon of baking soda and about 6 ounces of water with ice,its an acquired taste drink it right after your meal or when you feel the GERD starting.
Jacqueline Cruz De León’ says
Delicious even when I didn’t have apples 🍎 but instead I lithely sprinkled 2 tsp. White sugar.
monica meneses says
Hi my family just tried it for New Years Day lunch but my friend adds olives with the juice from the jar instead of vinegar very good enjoyed it alot not with this virus all of my kids are learning how to cook thank you for all the good recipes we enjoy them
Joselle says
Question.. what kind of apples do you use? Green or red?
Neyssa says
I like to use red delicious apples. But honestly, you can use your favorite or what's on hand.
Sausha says
I used white vinegar and a little apple cider vinegar which i really liked. The salad was so much better on day 3! When i make it again, i will make it a couple days in advance. Also going to add cilantro all throughout instead of just a garnish next time. Thanks for the great recipe!
Nan says
Thank you for the delicious recipes!
Ken says
Absolutely. My Italian mother always added chunks of apple in her potato salad! She tasted it that way at a party years ago and has done so ever since!
Smiley face says
Ran across this recipe
And wanted to make it
I just made it and it was
The bomb I will be making
This again thanks for sharing
Amber says
I like to use green apples. I’ve been making potato salad like this since my best friend(she’s Puerto Rican and Dominican) introduced it to me when we were teenagers.
It’s always a big hit at summertime parties.