Chelsea’s famous kumara & bacon salad
This recipe is from the salad section in 2017’s bestselling cookbook in NZ, Scrumptious. Seriously, you have to make it. Technically it’s not quite famous at the time I write this – but I know it will be! It’s a salad like no other, a guaranteed hit whether you’re serving it up at home or taking it to a picnic, BBQ or a pot-luck dinner. The textures and flavours are sensational. This is equally good served as a warm or chilled salad.
Prep time – 15 minutes
Cook time – 20 minutes
Serves 6
Ingredients
Oil, for frying
1kg kumara (purple, or a mixture of orange and purple)
250g bacon, chopped (free-range is best)
¾ cup chopped walnuts
½ a red onion, finely sliced
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
¾ cup cooked peas, cooled
¼ cup good-quality mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream (or use extra mayo)
¼ cup finely chopped parsley, plus extra to serve
¼ tsp white pepper
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
Squeeze of lemon juice
Method
Peel the kumara and chop into 4cm pieces. Add to a large pot of salted water, bring to a simmer and cook until tender – about 10-15 minutes. Drain and allow to cool to warm.
While the kumara is cooking, add some oil and the bacon to a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry for about 15 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels and discard the extra oil.
Add the warm kumara to a large bowl with the bacon, walnuts, red onion, mayonnaise, sour cream (or extra mayo), parsley, Parmesan, peas, peppers and salt. Squeeze in the lemon juice and toss gently to combine. Serve garnished with extra parsley, or refrigerate until needed. It’s nice warm or chilled and will last a couple of days in the fridge.
(Tip – I sometimes like to add half an avo if I have one handy, just before serving).
This always delicious…. Making it again for a summer BBQ
Thanks so much for such a delicious recipe! I normally make it in the summer but I would like to make it this week with roast chicken for a dinner party. Is it possible to make it ahead of time and then reheat it in the oven or will I need to leave out the dressing and walnuts to reheat it nicely?
Yesterday I made five different salads for a bbq for 16 people. I over catered as usual! Plenty of leftovers except for the kumara and bacon and walnut salad. Most popular by far.
Hi! I’m making this for xmas lunch, but I forgot to buy white pepper! Is this bound to affect the overall flavour?
Was thinking of adding roasted chickpeas instead of walnuts for a bit of crunch.
Looks so tasty but I don’t eat pork, what would you suggest in place of the bacon?
I’d like to try some chopped chicken tenders in it as well.
Could you make this with sweet potato?
Sure!
Sweet potato is kumara ?
Wonderful lunch or dinner. My sons even tried it on his flat mates. So easy to prepare. Added crunchy celery one day. You can play around with it so much.
Could I replace the onions and peas ( I’m on low FODMAP) for celery and baby spinach?
Very very Delicious..thanks Chelsea
I roasted the kumaras first, served with lightly sugared walnuts, and added a bit of wholegrain mustard to the sourcream / mayo mix.
Still tasty the next day too,
Like a yummer variation of potato salad :)
Thanks for all your amazing recipies Chelsea!!!! This is the most devine salad and i’ve made it so many times …… and will continue doing so! you are such an inspiration…
If this isn’t famous it really should be it’s so yum..?
My daughter made this for Xmas lunch, she has your book, I absolutely loved it and just had to take the rest home. I am going to make this while at the mother in laws for New Years.
My cousin made this for christmas and it was amazing! I’m making it for New Years, and I know it’ll be a hit. You’re a genius, Chelsea!
Does it have to have purple Kumara? Looking at the photo it doesn’t seem purple plus purple Kumara seems harder to find. Would the red skinned Kumara be alright?
Totally fine.
Can this salad be made ahead of time and frozen?
Does it have to have purple Kumara? Looking at the photo it doesn’t look purple and purple seems harder to find.
Thanks for sharing this salad Chelsea, it’s so nice. I’m thinking of adding sliced fresh pears and or apple next time. Won’t make it too sweet??
Could you swap out kumara for potato?
Had this tonight for the first time, it was absolutely yummy. Will be making it while we are camping over xmas. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Chelsea! My boyfriend LOVED this meal, and went back for thirds :D
Thanks for sharing this great recipe, I’m vegetarian so swap the bacon for Haloumi and without fail it’s also always the first salad to be demolished for every occasion I have made it for with everyone wanting seconds and the recipe!
I had this lastnight at a bbq omg its the yummiest salafs ever..i will definetly make this.thanks.
Made this last week when we kicked off the BBQ season with friends. It was the absolute show stealer! I love this feeling of reward you get when everyone loves your food! I know you must get it on a daily basis but for someone who’s not super confident in cooking for groups yet (me), it was a big achievement! Thanks for helping me making our first BBQ awesome :-)
We absolutely love this salad. I roast the kumara rather than boil, gives it a nice flavour.
This is the yummiest salad ever! Have made it a few times now, always a winner at BBQs.
My sister Inlaw made this last nite it was gorgeous!!
Made this on the weekend with a few adaptions.. I added a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard to the mayo/sour cream, I also quickly fried my onion in the bacon fat and then I toasted the walnuts in the same fat and added a drizzle of maple syrup to them to caramelize a little bit. Was delicious!
Hi do you have a suggestion of what to replace the walnuts with that’s not a nut but that will still provide the crunch? We have a nut allergy. Thanks
Croutons?
Hi, I am thinking about having this with your roast lamb, do you think I could use pine nuts instead of walnuts, and crumble feta on top or would that be no good? And then should i not do the mint topping for the lamb?
You don’t need feta if you’re serving it with the lamb :) Pine nuts fine.
I’m super keen to make this salad but have a vege friend coming for dinner – would it work using some feta instead of bacon to give it the salty flavour without the meat? (I thought I could also do bacon separately for the meat eaters!)
Sure thing!
I tried the recipe yesterday and it’s really great.. I used mix vegetables (peas,corn and carrots) instead of just peas and seems to work well.. highly recommend this recipe! Thank you!!!
No doubt it will be famous!!!! Even my little one loves it..
Just made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I did slightly larger servings and had as main with a garden side salad. Highly recommend, it’s a keeper in my house.
I had this last night at a friends house it was delicious and I could tell this even after many drinks!! Yummy
We have had this recipe a couple of times now. It is so yummy.
This looks delish! Will try it out for Christmas day but my Mum hates peas – could I sub fresh chopped asparagus? Thanks!
Looks Fantastic thanks for sharing! I’m vegetarian and was thinking of replacing the bacon with Halloumi – do you think that would work?
Hi chelsea, what brand of mayo do you use. I find they all taste so different.
Hey Chelsea, ‘among this now and your recipe mentions adding peppers in but they’re not in the ingredient list. Great to know what peppers and how many :) thanks as always for your generous sharing of delicious recipes! And merry-nearly-Christmas! :)
Hi again! I have heaps of new potatoes does this recipe work them … probably much nicer with kumera though right? Thanks
Hi there, is this recipe gluten free??
I add Dijon mustard too, extra yummy.
Looks fantastic! Can I ask what Mayo you normally use? Thanks x
I normally make my own! There’s a recipe on this website. Or just one that’s not too full of nasty preservatives and thickeners and things.
I love roasted kumara – could I roast them instead of boiling them, and what type of mayo do you use – I like the traditional eta mayo or farlic aioli – but are you talking about the ones like best foods mayo?
Yes indeed! I normally make my own, but just look for the one that’s got the fewest ingredients – it’s just meant to be egg, oil, maybe some lemon or vinegar :)
Omg sounds sooooo delicious. But because I am worried about the flavour not being quite perfect, can you disclose what mayo you use? Or just if its a thick American style mayo or a sweeter ‘kiwi’ style mayo? :) Thank you so much!
Thicker the better – or make your own! Recipe is on this website :)
Would this be okay with cashew nuts instead?
I’m allergic to mayo…. could l use 1/2 sour cream and 1.2 natural yoghurt?
Yes indeed!
Thank you for sharing. Definitely on my Santa list for Xmas.
Thanks for the recipe.
Any suggestions for replacing the parmesan (due to dairy allergy)
You can just leave it out!
You can google dairy free “parmesan” using cashews and nutritional yeast. Haven’t personally got round to trying it but it’s on the list!
I love the idea of having the walnut texture in the salad but we can’t eat walnuts. Have you got any other recommendations??
Pecans would be nice!
Could you possibly get away without using peas? Maybe adding spinach?
I am definitely not a fan of peas, nor is my Fiance but I love Kumara and Bacon!
Sure thing, and some wilted spinach or even chopped steamed green beans would be a nice touch!