Italian Potato Salad with Roasted Red Peppers and Tomatoes

Italian potato salad with roasted red peppers and tomatoes. This beautiful salad made with garden fresh ingredients is bursting with color and flavor. It’s the perfect side dish for the summer alongside grilleds meat or fish or hearty enough to serve as a main dish for a light lunch.

I’m not a fan of creamy, mayonnaise laden potato salads that are common here in North America. During my most recent trip to Sicily, my dear cousin served this refreshing salad for dinner. Salad for dinner, you may ask?

Ok so it wasn’t only salad, she served it with semolina bread, provola cheese and in case we were still hungry, a few slices of prosciutto and mortadella. But I was fine with just the salad and a couple of slices of bread!

Here’s why we love this salad

• This is a no mayo potato salad.
• You can vary the ingredients according to your taste or what you have on hand. See variations and substitution ideas further below.
• We Sicilians always add celery leaves along with the stem for extra flavor.
• Roasting your own peppers is easier than you think. Follow my step by step instructions in this recipe post instead of purchasing a jar of roasted peppers. You can also easily freeze them for future use.
• Along with fresh crusty bread, it’s the perfect meal salad or Italian side dish.
• You’ll notice there is no vinegar added to this salad. That is because I enjoy dipping my bread in the juices that pool at the bottom of the salad bowl!
• Italian potato salad can be prepared ahead. In fact it is best prepared an hour or two in advance in order to let the flavors mingle.

What types of potatoes are best for potato salad?

When it comes to making potato salad you want a potato that is less starchy that will hold it’s shape when tossed in a salad. Best choices include new potatoes; fingerling; red; Yukon Gold and yellow potatoes.

Avoid Russet potatoes which have a high starch content therefore are best reserved for mashing.

Ingredient list

• Potatoes
• Roasted red peppers: follow my step by step instructions for easy homemade roasted peppers.
• Tomatoes: any variety will do, including cherry tomatoes.
• Celery: don’t forget to add the celery leaves!
• Red onion
• Herbs: dry oregano and fresh basil
• Black olives
• Olive oil
• Salt, to taste

The following are step by step instructions with images to guide you through this recipe. Please scroll to the end of this post for the detailed printable recipe card.

Step by Step Instructions

Boil the potatoes

• Place potatoes in a pot and cover by an inch with cold water, add a pinch of salt and let come to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about 25-30 minutes.
• Drain the water and peel (if you didn’t already peel them before cooking) while still warm.
• Let cool before cutting into 1-inch cubes.

Roast the red peppers

• Roast the red peppers as described in this recipe post either under the broiler, on a gas stove top or grill.
• Cut the roasted peppers into strips

Prepare the remaining ingredients

• Wash the celery and chop into small pieces.
• Slice the tomatoes.
• Cut the onion into thin slivers.

Assemble the salad

• Place the cubed potatoes, red pepper strips, tomatoes, celery, and red onion in a large salad bowl.

• Pour in olive oil, oregano and salt, to taste.
• Toss ingredients together and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Lastly, gently toss in the olives and torn fresh basil leaves.
• Serve at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

Check out more delicious salad recipes!

• Italian Rice Salad
• Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad with Celery
• Kale Salad with Apples, Walnuts, Cranberries and Feta
• Italian Green Bean Salad
• Grilled Tuna and White Bean Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto
• Sicilian Style Fennel and Orange Salad