Crispy Potato Salad with Smoked Salmon

I guarantee you’ve never tasted a potato salad like this before. The sauce alone, a super herby, rich furikake ranch, is worth making the dish for. Then add the fact that it’s made with tater tots (they’ll never not get me), smoked tinned salmon, and loaded with dill pickles for crunch and acidity. It’s a perfectly balanced crispy potato salad that will no doubt steal the show.

What You’ll Need For Crispy Potato Salad

• Tater Tots – Yes, we’re using tater tots because if you’ve ever made smashed potatoes, you know the process is LOOONG. We don’t need to complicate this dish any more than necessary. Plus… it tastes better with tater tots.
• Tinned Smoked Salmon – This might take a hot minute to find, but trust me, it’s worth the search. The smoked salmon adds an extra layer of flavor that, when combined with the furikake ranch, ties the whole dish together. Both Fishwife and Wildfish Cannery make great options.
  • Substitute: If by any chance you can not find it, you can substitute out for smoked mackerel. Can’t find that either? Add in regular tinned salmon, but note, the flavor will be different.
• Dill Pickles – The kind found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. My favorite are Grillo’s Pickles, but there are plenty of other brands that deliver that crisp texture and garlicky dill flavor.

Furikake Ranch

• Sour Cream – Full fat sour cream. This is not the place I would go fat free or light sour cream.
• Mayo – Regular or light mayo both work.
• Buttermilk
• Furikake – If you have a favorite, use that, if not choose a basic furikake (ie. not one that has bonito or wasabi in it). Look for one that consists of nori (dried seaweed), sesame seeds, sugar, and salt if possible.
• Garlic Powder
• Chives – Fresh only! You’ll need a bit extra to garnish the dish with.
• Dill – Fresh only! You’ll need a bit extra to garnish the dish with.

Tools Needed

• Large Sheet Tray – Because we’re smashing the tater tots, you’ll need a very large tray. I used a 1/2 baker’s sheet tray, which fit all of the smashed tots in a single layer.

How To Make Crispy Potato SalaD

1. Cook The Tater Tots (1st Cook)- The tater tots will be cooked twice to achieve the super crunchy texture we’re looking for. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the tater tots to a large, lightly greased sheet pan and cook for 20 minutes, until lightly golden brown and easily released from the tray. Toss halfway through to ensure even cooking.

2. Make the Ranch- While the tater tots are cooking, combine the sour cream, mayo, buttermilk, furikake, garlic powder, and herbs. Add a small pinch of salt to taste, depending on how salty your furikake is. Warning: the pickles add a decent amount of sodium to the finished potato salad, so don’t go too heavy on the salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.

3. Second Cook the Tots — Remove the tater tots from the oven and increase the heat to 425°F. Using the bottom of a greased glass or mug, press each tater tot down until flattened, but not so much that they fall apart. (This is easiest with a clear glass so you can see how far they’re spreading.) Redistribute the tots evenly across the sheet pan and cook for another 15–20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5–7 minutes.

4. Dress – When you’re ready to serve, combine the pickles, smoked salmon, tater tots and desired amount of furikake ranch. Toss and serve topped with extra herbs and a sprinkle more of furikake.

Recipe Video

How to Serve Crispy Potato Salad

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what you serve this crispy potato salad with because this potato salad is going to steal the show. But if you must, think outdoor grilling favorites: burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken. If you’re looking for something that especially complements the flavors, try pairing it with Banh Mi Shrimp & Salmon Burgers or Grilled Chicken Gyros.

If you’re on side-duty for an outdoor gathering, my Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, Grinder Pasta Salad, and Southwest Pasta Salad are other show-stopping sides guaranteed to wow the crowd.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing/Reheating

This crispy potato salad is best served immediately after being dressed. Unfortunately, the longer it sits, the more the dressing soaks into the potatoes, causing the tater tots to lose their crunch. Is it still delicious? Absolutely. But once the tater tots become soggy, there’s really no bringing them back.