I love potatoes and anything that is made with potatoes, from Russian potato salad to tortilla Española to Belgian pommes frites to campfire potatoes. Now that we have a fireplace – the second best thing you can have in the winter, a clothes dryer is first! – we roast them quite often.
Potatoes may not be as sophisticated as artichokes but they comfort like the comforter we bought last week at Ikea. Oh, by the way: We moved again! (in Mallorca!) We moved from our apartment in the old town of Palma to a cute Mallorquine townhouse in a beautiful village in the mountains (Serra De Tramountana), only twenty minutes away from Palma and ten degrees colder.

One of my favorites ways to cook and eat potatoes is to simply boil them with eggs until the potatoes are tender and the eggs are hard boiled. Then I remove the skins and shells, put them on a plate, drizzle them with olive oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, mush them together and eat. (Moroccan Jews make this dish on the day of the Sedder- Passover to keep full for many hours, so we could bear reading the Hagada and until it was time to eat). It’s plain and simple but satisfying.
Another way, which I discovered and adopted last summer at a restaurant called Port Saeed, which is owned by Eval Shani, one of Israel’s top chefs. He just made a potato and and a jungle of herb salad. His salad reminded me how much I love the combination of potatoes and a good (slightly bitter, fruity and peppery) olive oil. Both the potatoes and olive oil are slightly sweet and earthy so they are perfect together.
Just like most potato salads, this one tastes better the next day. You can make it with one or as many herbs as you like. For a delicious, packed with protein, non-vegan version– add chopped anchovies or sardines, if you do, be gentle with the salt.
Potato Salad with Herbs Serves 4 as a side
It’s better to use small or medium waxy potatoes (with smooth skin) because they are moist, creamy and have a mildly sweet flavor. I normally make 2 -3 potatoes per person, depending on their size.   

• 10 medium waxy potatoes
• Handful parsley
• Handful cilantro
• 2 scallions (green part only)
• Any herbs you like such as dill, chive, parsley, cilantro, scallion, basil, oregano
• Half lemon
• 1 teaspoon mayo or veganaise
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 fresh chili pepper – optional
• Sea salt

1. Rinse and gently scrub the potatoes. Put them in a saucepan, cover with water and boil until very tender, about 15 – 20 minutes.
2. Drain the potatoes in a colander and transfer them into a bowl large enough for tossing.
3. Soak the herbs in water (preferably filtered) for a a couple of minutes to remove any dirt, then drain and dry them in a salad spinner, or with a kitchen towel. Roughly chop them and add them to the salad bowl. Squeeze the lemon over the potatoes, add the olive oil, chili pepper and salt and toss. The potatoes should get smashed while being tossed as this help them to absorb the flavors.
4. Taste and add salt or lemon juice if needed.

You may also add: toasted nuts, thinly sliced red onion, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise or  small pieces of preserved lemon.