If you’re making potato salad and don’t have mayonnaise on hand or simply prefer a slightly lower-fat dressing there’s a great alternative: yogurt. This dairy product is a fairly popular alternative to mayonnaise — some chefs tout it as a healthier alternative but this swap isn’t a matter of swapping out an inferior imitation to save a few calories. With a similar texture and relatively neutral flavor it’s not all that different from mayonnaise though it does have a slightly tangier flavor — some chefs prefer this over yogurt because it arguably has a brighter summerier flavor than mayonnaise making it particularly well-suited for this type of side dish in warm weather.
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HEALTHY Potato Salad Without Mayo
Specifically you’ll probably want to use Greek yogurt. Because it’s strained it’s a lot thicker than other yogurts so it’ll stick to your potato chunks better (though it might cost you a little more). While you can try using non-Greek yogurt depending on how thin it is you run the risk of it settling at the bottom of your potato salad. Whatever you do just make sure it’s plain yogurt: it’s highly unlikely your guests will appreciate a potato salad with sweet strawberry or mango flavors mixed together.
Although they look somewhat similar the properties of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise are quite different. Mayonnaise is very fatty — about ¾ fat compared to Greek yogurt which varies but usually doesn’t exceed 10% fat. Yogurt will instead add a hefty dose of protein — these two differences are why it’s often seen as a healthier alternative. Although they both have fairly neutral flavors mayonnaise will likely have more of an eggy note — check the ingredients list too as some mayos (such as Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise) have a stronger flavor due to additional ingredients. Greek yogurt on the other hand will be more down-to-earth sour or tangy with a creaminess and no added salt.
Those relatively neutral flavors mean they pair well with other spices and flavors you might use in a potato salad dressing whether it's lemon mustard green onions or fresh herbs. Because of mayonnaise's oily profile some recipes call for adding more tangy ingredients like capers or herbs to cut through the heavy dressing. If you're using Greek yogurt you don't have to skip these extras (after all they add a fair bit of flavor too) but be aware that you're working with a brighter tangier base so it's best to start with less and add more as you see fit.
