This creamy vegan potato salad doesn't use any vegan mayo! Instead, it gets its richness from quick and easy dilly cashew cream.

I originally made this vegan potato salad seven years ago for a good friend's birthday picnic potluck. It was the first real dish I made after having my kid, so I was extra excited for a chance to get cooking!
We had lots of dill left from a soup that my pops made when he visited, along with a few other veggies from the same visit. Sometimes a fridge cleanout makes the best recipe. This is one of those times.
Choosing your potatoes
You can make this potato salad recipe with any potatoes you like, as long as you end up with four cups of diced potatoes. What may change is the preparation.
If you use red, yellow, or white potatoes, you don't have to peel them. These potatoes have a thin skin that won't interfere with the creamy texture of this dish.
For russet or Idaho potatoes, you do need to peel. Russets have a thicker skin, and this potato salad is all about texture.
Cooking your potatoes
Like with potato choice, you have options here! The Instant Pot is my preferred method for cooking diced potatoes, but you can boil these on the stove instead, if you don't have a pressure cooker.
To prepare your potatoes, wash them well, then dice them into 1" pieces.
In the Instant Pot, combine the potatoes with ½ cup of water. Cook at high pressure for five minutes, then do a 10-minute natural release.
On the stovetop, combine the potatoes with enough water to cover in a medium saucepan. Bring them to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes. You want them fork-tender.
Drain the cooked potatoes, and toss them with the chopped green onion, minced celery, and diced carrots.
Making the dilly cashew cream
I adapted the dressing recipe for this vegan potato salad from my garlic cashew cream sauce. There are just a couple of small changes.
Instead of lemon juice, this sauce gets its acidity from yellow mustard. Don't you love yellow mustard in a potato salad? Me, too!
Throw the soaked cashews (raw or roasted is fine), fresh water, garlic, and mustard into your blender. Then, puree until completely smooth.
After blending, you'll stir in fresh or dried dill.
I recommend that you start soaking the cashews before you begin preparing the potatoes and other veggies. That way, you will be ready to make the sauce while the potatoes are cooking. This sauce is best if it can sit for a few minutes, so the flavors have a chance to meld.
When the potatoes finish cooking, toss them together with the carrots, celery, and green onions. Fold in the dilly cashew cream, and serve!
What goes with potato salad?
Really, what doesn't go with this vegan potato salad? It's a great side dish for lunch, dinner, picnics, and potlucks.
Here are some ideas for what to pair with it:
- a veggie burger with all the fixin's
- grilled veggie sausage or veggie dogs
- baked tofu or nutritional yeast tofu and a side of roasted vegetables
- my easy baked quinoa lentil meatloaf
- a taco salad -- double salad power!
- Buffalo cauliflower
In my estimation, anything that would pair well with a baked potato or mashed potatoes goes well with potato salad, too.
Creamy vegan potato salad with dill
Ingredients
For the potato salad
- 4 cups diced, cooked potato - see notes about choosing and cooking them
- 1 cup diced carrot - see note
- 1 celery stalk - minced
- ¼ cup chopped green onion - green and white parts
For the dilly cashew cream (see note)
- 1 cup cashews - soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
- ½ cup water
- 2-4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- ¼ cup of fresh dill - chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- extra salt and black pepper - to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together the potato, carrots, celery, and green onions. Set this aside.
Make the dilly cashew cream.
- In your blender or food processor, combine the remaining ingredients -- except the dill and the extra salt and pepper -- and blend until smooth. Stir in the dill, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Toss the cashew cream with the veggies, and chill the salad until you're ready to serve.
Assemble the potato salad.
Notes
- Choosing your potatoes: Use whatever sort is your favorite or what's in the pantry. If your potatoes have a thin skin, there's no need to peel. Thicker-skinned potatoes, like russets, do need peeling though.
- Cooking your potatoes: You can either boil your diced potatoes on the stovetop for 10-15 minutes, until they're fork-tender, or cook them in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes at high pressure with a 10-minute natural release.
- Carrot pro tip: Don't feel like dicing up carrots? Grab a bag of shredded carrots instead to save on prep time!
- About the cashew cream: No cashews? No problem! You can omit the cashews, water, and lemon juice and mix ¾ cup vegan mayo with the yellow mustard and dill to make a dilly mayo instead.
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
Yummy! This salad looks so delicious, Becky! I absolutely love dill and potatoes together, so I think I need to give it a try soon!
Lucie
Dill pesto is such an amazing idea! My mum is going to love this :) totally skipping the celery though, I've never been a fan.
Becky Striepe
I usually skip it too. My son does not care for it!
The Vegan 8
Looks incredible! Mmmmm love dill and potatoes so much! Looks perfect!
Cadry
Sounds great! Potato salad is always a crowd pleaser at potlucks and gatherings.
Jenn
I love dill!! Especially on potatoes and especially with lemon. This sounds delicious!!
Richa
Dill and thyme are the only surviving herbs right now in my balcony garden.. thriving i must say and i know what to do with all that dill now!
Becky Striepe
Ooh that's good to know! I would like to grow some herbs this spring/summer and really need to focus on ones that are hard to kill. :D
kittee
Wow, this sounds right up my alley! Super yum city.
xo
kittee
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Kittee!
Mary
Yum! I was just planning my summer herb garden and thinking of ways to use dill that DH might like - he hates it unless it's flavoring pickles, but I bet he loves it with potatoes - can't wait to try.
Becky Striepe
Awesome! Let me know how he likes it!