Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (2024)

ByElena Elliott

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These sweet, slightly spicy Turkish-style potatoes are the perfect side dish. You can enjoy them warm or cold. So easy to prepare and full of flavor. This potato recipe is a keeper for sure.

The post has extra tips to make sure the recipe comes out amazing on your first try. If you're in a rush, use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end! 👩‍🍳🔝
Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (1)

Turkish potato recipes

Why do we love this recipe?

Well, if the photo above hasn’t convinced you yet to give this simple recipe a go, here are a couple more reasons to love it:

  • Easy to prepare. Absolutely beginner friendly. Watch the video below to see how it is done.
  • Budget-friendly. Potatoes are cheap and filling. T
  • Can be enjoyed as a main dish, side dish or a part of a mezze spread.

These delicious Turkish potatoes are from Rebecca’s Seal recipe book Istanbul. This book is beautiful and filled with delicious Turkish recipes, including many popular Turkish street food. If you like Turkish cuisine as much as I do, make sure to check it out.

Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (2)

Ingredients

  • Potatoes. I used regular white-washed potatoes to make this recipe. I think pretty much any potato variety will work. You can try and use Russet Potatoes, Yukon Gold, King Edward, or baby potatoes.
  • Onion. Just a brown onion is perfect, but red onion or white will do too.
  • Good quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Tomato paste. You can look for Turkish tomato paste in Middle Eastern grocery stores, but just regular tomato paste is fine too.
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, which we call coriander in Australia. It is completely up to you, which herb you want to use.
  • Mild chilli flakes, use Aleppo pepper if you can find it. It has a slightly salty flavour. You can leave them out if cooking for young kids.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice.
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Find the full ingredients list in a recipe card below.

How to make it

Start by washing and parboiling the potatoes. The cooking time will depend on the size of the potatoes. You want them to be quite firm, slightly undercooked. Once the potatoes are cooked, let them cool a little and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

While the potatoes are cooking, cut the onion, chop the parsley and set aside. Now we have all the ingredients ready to go, let’s cook.

  1. Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan.
  2. Add the onions and gently cook them over medium heat until onions are soft, but not too caramelised.
  3. Add the potatoes to the cooked onions and cook them together for 15 minutes on low-medium heat. The potatoes should become golden, but not burnt.
  4. At this stage add the tomato paste, mix to combine and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Cook for a little bit longer if you want the potatoes to have crispy skin.
Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (4)

5. Add chilli flakes, salt and pepper, and sprinkle with some lemon juice.

6. Serve with chopped fresh parsley leaves! Soo good!!

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How to serve

You can enjoy it as a warm potato salad straight from the pan, served with some plain yoghurt, sour cream or hummus.

Serve it as part of a mezze. They taste delicious cold or at room temperature.

These potatoes also make an excellent side dish. They will go very well with

  • MIDDLE EASTERN CHICKEN SHAWARMA
  • EASY GARLIC CHICKEN THIGHS
  • BAKED LEMON BUTTER BLUE GRENADIER
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Storage

These delicious potatoes can be easily enjoyed over a couple of days. Just store them in an airtight container in a fridge for 2-3 days.

You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost naturally in the fridge overnight, warm them up in a pan and enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just fry potatoes without parboiling them?

While you can cook these potatoes in a pan without parboiling them first, for this recipe I would strongly recommend you use pre-cooked potatoes. It reduces the cooking time dramatically. If you want to use raw potatoes, cut them into very small pieces.

Do I need to peel the potatoes?

No, you don’t need to peel the potatoes before cooking. Make sure to wash them properly, using a vegetable brush, like this one.

More potato recipes to try

  • Carrot potato soup recipe
  • 5 ingredient crock pot potato soup
  • Oven roasted green beans and potatoes
Have you tried this recipe? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could leave a star rating and share your thoughts in a comment. Your feedback means a lot to me, and it can also help others who are interested in trying it out. Thank you! 🌟👩‍🍳

RECIPE

Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (7)

Turkish Potato Recipe – Tavada Patates Salatasi

Elena Elliott

These Turkish-style potatoes are slightly sweet and slightly spicy. Filled with Mediterranean flavours, this simple recipe will make the perfect addition to any Holiday season meal.

5 from 20 votes

Print Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Turkish

Servings 4 serves

Ingredients

  • 700 g Potatoes. I used 4 medium-large potatoes to make this recipe.
  • 1 large brown onion. Feel free to use white or red onion if this is what you have on hand.
  • 6-8 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon of mild red chilli flakes
  • 1/2 cup of chopped parsley or cilantro coriander leaves.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon.

Instructions

  • Start by washing the potatoes. Place them in a pot and cook until the potatoes are cooked but still firm. Use a sharp knife to check if the potatoes are cooked (when the knife easily pierces the potatoes). Once they are cooked, drain them and set them aside to cool a little before cutting them into bite-sized pieces.

  • While the potatoes are cooking, peel and slice the onions and wash and chop the parsley or cilantro.

  • Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan and add the sliced onions to the hot oil.

  • Cook the onions stiring frequently until the onions are soft, but not caramelised. It will take approximately 10 minutes.

  • Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil along with potatoes and cook them together for 15 minutes, until potatoes are fully cooked and the skin starts to crispen up. Season with some salt and pepper.

  • Finally add the tomato paste, mix and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

  • Stir in chilli flakes, herbs and a sprinkle of lemon juice.

  • Serve and enjoy.

Video

Notes

Can I just fry potatoes without boiling them?

While you can cook potatoes on a stove without parboiling them first, for this recipe I would strongly recommend you use pre-cooked potatoes. It reduces the cooking time dramatically. If you want to use row potatoes, cut them into very small pieces.

Do I need to peel the potatoes?

No, you don’t need to peel the potatoes before cooking. Make sure to wash them properly though, using a vegetable brush

Keyword TAVADA PATATES SALATASI, turkish potato recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Turkish Potato Recipe - Tavada Patates Salatasi (2024)

FAQs

How to make potato salad not mushy? ›

Potato Salad Tips
  1. Don't overcook the potatoes. In order to avoid a mushy potato salad, regularly check the potatoes while they are cooking. ...
  2. Be sure to add some crunch. Celery and onion are the classic additions to creamy potato salad. ...
  3. Give it time to chill. ...
  4. Adjust seasonings to taste.
May 27, 2023

What's the best potato for potato salad? ›

Waxy: These thin-skinned potatoes have the least amount of starch and retain their shape well when boiled, making them our favorite for potato salad. Thin skins also mean that peeling is optional if you're short on time or like a more rustic salad.

How to keep potato salad from getting watery? ›

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients. Steaming the potatoes instead of boiling them is a good way to ensure that excess moisture isn't trapped inside.

How to soften potatoes in potato salad? ›

Dice unpeeled potatoes into uniformly-sized pieces. Place in cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer until tender. Peeled potatoes. Place whole, skin-on potatoes in a pot of cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer until tender.

How do I make potatoes softer? ›

Steam the potatoes instead of boiling

You're only waiting for a small amount of water to boil, not a whole pot. So the next time you're prepping potatoes for another dish or just softening them on their own, try steaming them instead of boiling.

Why are my potatoes soft and not crispy? ›

Roasted potatoes can become soggy if the water content in the potato isn't fully cooked. Different potatoes have different water content percentages. Also, be mindful of the oil. Potatoes can react like sponges; too much oil can make your potatoes appear to be soggy.

What type of potatoes are used by Mcdonald's? ›

Our World Famous Fries® are made from quality potatoes, including Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet and the Shepody. The suppliers we work with first peel, cut and blanche the potatoes. They then dry, partially fry and quickly freeze the fries for our restaurants.

Should you rinse potatoes in cold water after boiling for potato salad? ›

Rinsing potatoes helps remove excess starch, so it is recommended to rinse the potatoes before cooking. To ensure even more starch is out of the way, it's recommended that they even be quickly rinsed after boiling. We recommend using hot water for rinsing after boiling and cold water prior to boiling.

How long should you boil potatoes for mashed potatoes? ›

Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer, and cover. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until you can easily poke through the potatoes with a fork.

Is it better to steam or boil potatoes for potato salad? ›

Consider Steaming vs.

The best way to avoid watery potato salad is to prevent the potatoes from getting waterlogged in the first place. That's why we like to grab the steamer basket and keep the potatoes out of the boiling water. When they're cooked, season them with a light sprinkle of salt.

Why does my potato salad taste bland? ›

If it's a potato salad, be sure to let the potatoes cool (the starch cells close up) before adding any dressing or salad mixture. Warm potatoes will soak up the liquids. Taste an hour after mixing and see if the spices need tweaking. Mashed potatoes do the same thing if you add in the garlic or cheddar cheese too soon.

What if I put too much vinegar in my potato salad? ›

As Wiggly Wisdom shares, a vinegary potato salad can easily be salvaged with a bit of lemon zest. Just take a fine grater or zester to the rind, measure out about a half teaspoon of zest per two cups of potato salad, and mix it in. Orange and lime also work if you don't have any lemon on hand.

What not to do when making potato salad? ›

Not Getting The Cook Time Right

If you overcook them, the result is a mushy, grainy mess. And if you undercook them, you end up with crunchy (not in a good way) potatoes. It's a delicate balance to achieve soft, tender potatoes for that just-right potato salad texture.

What goes bad first in potato salad? ›

But the truth is, mayonnaise isn't your main concern when it comes to spoilage. The actual culprit is the potatoes. Yes, it's true! The humble, reliable potato is a hotbed for bacterial growth if improperly stored after cooking.

Why is my potato salad so wet? ›

If potato salad is made while the potatoes are warm, they will continue to release the water, making the salad watery. Good luck with your next batch.

How do you fix a soggy salad? ›

To bring back the crunch in a salad after it has gotten soggy from too much dressing, grab the bag of greens and add some more to achieve the right ratio of lettuce to dressing, per HuffPost.

Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad? ›

Always cut up the potatoes into a dice before boiling them. If you boil the potatoes whole, the exterior of the potato will get too soft and crumbly before the interior has a chance to cook through. Best potatoes for potato salad? Russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes (new potatoes) are all excellent for potato salad.

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