8 Flavorful Tips To Elevate Sweet Potato Salad

I absolutely love sweet potato salad. Sorry to be so frank, but it's one of my favorite types of deli salads. Everything from the sweetness of the potatoes to their vibrant orange color and creamy texture makes them perfect for light salad dishes that feel comforting, sophisticated, and irresistible.

When I first started my career as a chef over a decade ago, my first job was working behind the counter at a local seafood restaurant called the Crab Cooker. We served an array of pre-made cold salads, from blue crab and paprika mayo to dill pickle chicken salad to our legendary potato salad. You might be wondering, "Why does a seafood restaurant have potato salad?" Well, we incorporated our house-made smoked albacore into it, and it was the biggest hit. Every holiday season, when we swapped the classic russet potatoes for orange sweet potatoes, almost every customer would buy a pint to take home. The smoky flavor of the albacore mixed with the naturally sweet flavor of the potatoes was absolutely divine.

That experience taught me how a simple ingredient swap can transform a familiar dish completely. Sweet potatoes bring natural sugars, a beautiful color, and a creamy texture that can elevate any salad from ordinary to extraordinary. Here are eight tips, tricks, and techniques I've learned over the years to make a delicious sweet potato salad.

One of the best ways to level up any dish is to incorporate an umami-boosting ingredient to give it a savory, salty punch — and a sweet potato salad is no exception. Sweet potatoes naturally contain glutamic acid, which is the compound that triggers the umami taste, allowing them to pair perfectly with sweet-savory flavor profiles and other umami-rich ingredients. Now, you might be asking yourself, what even is umami? Well, umami is one of the five basic tastes, often described as meaty or savory, and can add depth and complexity to foods. There are loads of ingredients that trigger the umami reaction, and some you might already have in your pantry.

Miso paste is an umami-packed ingredient that would be an excellent addition to a sweet potato salad dressing. Try whisking it together with some olive oil, lemon juice, grated ginger, and a drizzle of maple syrup or a sprinkle of sugar for a fresh and tangy dressing. The rich saltiness of the miso complements the natural sweetness of the salad perfectly, plus the grated ginger would supply a bright kick. Another easy umami-boosting ingredient you can incorporate into your salad is soy sauce. Add a splash alongside some minced scallion and cilantro for an Asian-inspired sweet potato salad.

The easiest way to level up the flavor of your sweet potato salad is to incorporate fresh herbs. If you've got some fresh herbs in the fridge that look like they are about to spoil, don't throw them away. Toss them into your sweet potato salad to add some extra flavor.

If you're making a bold Mexican or Southwest-style sweet potato salad, you can try adding chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley. Both will provide a clean, peppery flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. Minced dill is another great addition — it pairs beautifully with a lime and yogurt dressing. Going for a classic mayonnaise sweet potato salad instead? Try tossing in chopped chives to give it a mild onion flavor.

Hearty herbs like chopped sage, rosemary, or even marjoram also pair wonderfully with sweet potatoes, but it's best not to add them fresh, as they can be tough to chew. You can try infusing them into olive oil or butter while cooking, then straining out the solids to leave behind the rich, aromatic flavor without the spiky texture.

Another way to elevate your sweet potato salad is to add a creamy element. One of the most classic ingredients in potato salads is mayonnaise. The rich flavor balances the natural sweetness and soft texture of cooked sweet potatoes perfectly. You can either use store-bought mayonnaise or take it a step further and whip up your own at home. Incorporate fresh flavors like garlic, lemon juice, or Dijon mustard for an extra layer of complexity and depth.

Beyond mayonnaise, you can add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to give your salad a mild tang and a luxurious texture. The slightly acidic flavor can help offset the sweetness of the potatoes and make it a tad more savory. For a lighter, less sharp version, you can also add a spoonful of crème fraîche. Prefer something cheesy? Then this is a perfect time to dig into your cheese drawer in the fridge and crumble in some goat cheese or feta, or shave in some pecorino romano for a savory kick.

The creamy element doesn't have to be dairy-based. You can totally add in a mashed avocado, a drizzle of tahini, or even cashew cream for a plant-based alternative. Mashed avocado can provide a lovely fatty richness. Meanwhile, cashew cream can give your dish a light, nutty flavor.

If you're big on fiery, hot flavor, then you should totally spike your sweet potato salad with a touch of heat. Sweet potatoes' naturally mild, earthy sweetness mixes well with spicy flavors. Incorporating a bit of heat not only wakes up the dish but also adds a complexity that will keep you wanting more.

You can try putting in freshly chopped chilis or hot peppers such as jalapeños, serranos, Thai bird's eye chilis, or even a habanero to give it a bright, sharp heat. If you want to keep things simple, you can sprinkle in crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or Korean red chili powder, known as gochugaru. For a bolder twist, add a drop of your favorite hot sauce or chili oil. This would also be the perfect time to drizzle hot honey over your salad to create sweet-heat tension. You can even toss in a tablespoon of harissa or Calabrian chili paste, as well.

Cooked sweet potatoes are extremely soft and creamy, so incorporating a crunchy, textural contrast is a great way to take this meal up a notch. The textural variety gives your palate something to interact with, and this helps make the dish feel more balanced.

If you want to give a sweet potato salad a crunchy topping, you can't go wrong with roasted nuts. Toss in some roasted pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios. Be sure to give them a rough chop so that you have some varying textures. The nutty, buttery flavor pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the potatoes. If you want something a bit more savory, you can add in some fried shallots, crispy pancetta, or even roasted chickpeas for a salty bite. You can also add seeds like pumpkin, hemp, or sunflower seeds. These are super nutritious and have a subtle nutty flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the potatoes without dominating your salad.

A simple way to elevate a sweet potato salad is just by including some fresh produce. The trick is selecting ones that pair well with sweet potatoes' earthiness while adding a contrasting flavor and textural element. Bell peppers would be an excellent option. The red, orange, and yellow varieties would provide the salad with a pleasant sweetness and satisfying crunchy bite. Plus, their vibrant colors add a playful visual appeal next to the sweet potatoes' bright orange hue. Celery or fennel are also tasty options, providing crispy contrast and a subtle herbal note that will stop the salad from becoming overly sugary.

You can also add miniature sliced radishes. Their delectable peppery sharpness will cut through a rich, indulgent dressing, while their robust texture means they will remain intact even when mixed a few hours ahead of time. Cubed Persian cucumber would be great in a dill-packed yogurt or mayonnaise-based sweet potato salad, providing a refreshing coolness. Pro tip: Be sure to remove seeds and scoop out the center to prevent excess moisture from diluting your salad too much.

If you want to keep it simple, you can add a handful of sliced cherry tomatoes and arugula. The combination of the two veggies will give it a nice acidity and peppery brightness to balance out the sweetness of the dish. Make sure to add these elements just before serving to maintain their firm texture.

The finishing touches can be the difference between a good potato salad and an unforgettable one. To prevent your dish from falling flat, it's crucial to incorporate a final layer of richness and brightness. For richness, consider adding a healthy fat. A drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil brings a smooth earthiness, while a tablespoon of tahini or sesame paste will give it a buttery richness. 

When incorporating rich final elements, follow up right away with an ingredient that's bright and acidic. Brightness should always come from sharp ingredients that wake up all the other flavors. You can squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime juice just before serving to prevent the salad from tasting heavy or one-dimensional. If you don't have any fresh citrus on hand, you can add a splash of apple cider or rice wine vinegar. These vinegars are great at enhancing the natural sweetness of elements within the salad while adding tangy complexity.

Last but not least, another way to elevate your sweet potato salad is to change the building blocks. Oftentimes, when people are making sweet potato salad, they lean toward using traditional orange sweet potatoes — however, you could be limiting your culinary possibilities.

Experiment beyond the common varieties by incorporating other types of sweet potatoes. You can try heading to the Asian grocery and grabbing a bag of purple Okinawan sweet potatoes. These potatoes are known for their striking color and slightly buttery, nutty flavor. You can also use Japanese white sweet potatoes for their drier, less sweet profile, which works beautifully with bold seasonings. You could even mix different varieties into one salad, creating visual drama and complex flavor layers that will surprise and delight whoever you're serving. Just make sure not to substitute sweet potatoes for yams. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams have a much more starchy, less sugary flavor and a drier texture that can make your salad taste bland and feel chalky.