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    Home » Tasty Recipes

    March 28, 2019 Puerto Rican Recipes

    Puerto Rican Potato Salad

    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!

    Potato Salad with a wooden spoon

    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.

    Potato Salad with paprika garnished over it

    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.

    Potato salad with apples in the background

    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?

    Potato Salad in a blue and orange bowl

    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!

    • Spanish Rice with Vienna Sausages
    • Cilantro Rice and Corn
    • Pernil (Pulled Pork)
    • Barbacoa Tacos 

    📖 Recipe

    Puerto Rican potato salad in a blue bowl with cilantro as garnish

    Puerto Rican Potato Salad with Apples

    This ensalada de papa (potato salad recipe) is amazing with the slightest crunch and sweetness that apples have to offer!
    4.64 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Keyword: potato salad
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Resting Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories:
    Author: Neyssa

    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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. nellie gelb says

      March 30, 2019 at 4:57 am

      yes, my dad used to make it this way.

      Reply
    2. Linda says

      May 16, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      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

      Reply
    3. Melissa says

      September 01, 2019 at 6:58 pm

      Excellent recipe!! So tasty. I used the vegan Hellman's ... Sooo good.

      Reply
      • Latina Mom Meals says

        September 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm

        Hellman's is the bomb!!!! I need to give the vegan one a try. Thank you for visiting.

        Reply
    4. Marie-Antoinette Messina Kankasa says

      September 15, 2019 at 10:23 am

      Great

      Reply
    5. Peggy says

      November 27, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Neyssa says

        November 30, 2019 at 1:38 pm

        Yes! It's a must make for Thanksgiving. Thank you for visiting!

        Reply
    6. Jorge Clar says

      November 30, 2019 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Neyssa says

        November 30, 2019 at 5:41 pm

        Thank you Jorge for the tips. True, apples provide a great crunch, and the vinegar is super important!

        Reply
    7. ODB says

      December 24, 2020 at 10:08 am

      what if you have GERD and acid reflux issues can u leave out vinegar is there a subtitute for it

      Reply
      • Neyssa says

        February 04, 2021 at 1:21 pm

        You can leave it out. No need to substitute it.

        Reply
    8. Jacqueline Cruz De León’ says

      December 25, 2020 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious even when I didn’t have apples 🍎 but instead I lithely sprinkled 2 tsp. White sugar.

      Reply
    9. monica meneses says

      January 04, 2021 at 7:00 am

      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

      Reply
    10. Smiley face says

      December 30, 2022 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
    11. Amber says

      August 12, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      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.

      Reply

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