RomanianEasy · Cold
A hearty Romanian-inspired potato salad with bright lemony sourness, cooling yogurt tang, and fresh dill freshness. A hard squeeze of lemon and a spoon of yogurt stirred in at the end make this the kind of cold salad Andrei's grandmother would have fed to whoever knocked on Sunday.
15 min
30 min
30 min
1h 15m
Method
Scrub the potatoes clean and cut into even-sized chunks, about 3-4 cm. Place in a large pot and cover with cold salted water.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes until fork-tender but not falling apart.
Drain the potatoes and spread on a clean kitchen towel or baking sheet. Let them steam dry and cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, olive-oil, salt, and black-pepper. Whisk vigorously until smooth and slightly aerated.
Add the slightly cooled potatoes to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently with a wooden spoon, being careful not to break the potato pieces.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir and add a final sprinkle of fresh dill on top. Serve cold or at room temperature alongside crusty bread.
Nutri-Score
Good balance
A–E · lower is better · score 1
Calories
296
per serving
Protein
10g
Carbs
49g
Fat
8g
Sat. fat
2g
Fiber
7g
Sugar
4g
Sodium
1656mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Very low impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.3
per serving
Water
0.6m³
Land
16Pt
Runoff
0.05g P
potato drives 37% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
StockpotTechniques
Safety & Storage
Storage
Refrigerate the finished salad promptly. Due to the dairy content from yogurt, this dish should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The salad is best consumed within 3-4 days when properly refrigerated.
Cross Contamination
Ensure all utensils, bowls, and cutting boards used for raw garlic and fresh herbs are cleaned before combining with dairy ingredients.
High Risk Population
This dish contains dairy. Individuals with milk allergies or lactose intolerance should avoid consumption.
Handling
Allow boiled potatoes to cool slightly before mixing with yogurt dressing to prevent the dressing from curdling due to excessive heat.
When adding the extra spoon of yogurt at the end, ensure it is fresh and hasn't been contaminated by tasting spoons or fingers.
Pro Tips
Technique
Let the potatoes cool for about 10 minutes after draining — if they are too hot when you add the dressing, the yogurt will seize up and you lose that beautiful creamy tang. They should be warm, not steaming.
Substitution
No fresh dill? You can use dried dill in a pinch, but use half the amount since the fresh herb has that bright green brightness that makes this salad sing — it is the soul of the dish.
Make Ahead
This salad actually gets better after resting in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, so do not worry about serving it immediately. The lemon and yogurt have time to seep into the potatoes and marry all the flavors together.
From the chef
This salad is built on the Romanian habit of souring everything properly. Boiled potatoes cool just enough to hold their shape, then get tossed in a dressing of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil while they are still slightly warm so they soak it in. Dill and parsley go in last, chopped rough, along with sliced scallions for a little bite. The lemon does the heavy lifting — do not be shy with it. A final spoonful of yogurt stirred in at the end gives an extra layer of tang. Serve it cold alongside anything braised or roasted and it earns its place on the table.
Source: generated · June 10, 2026