TWO-POTATO SALAD WITH CREOLE MUSTARD, BACON, AND ARUGULA

Two-Potato Salad with Creole Mustard, Bacon, and Arugula image

Provided by Pat Neely

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 strips thick-sliced smoked bacon
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 scallions, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and minced
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Creole mustard (see note)
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces arugula

Steps:

Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp and browned. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.
Place the sweet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes in two separate saucepans. Cover the potatoes with water (by 2 inches), add 1/2 teaspoon salt to each pot, and bring the pots to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat, and simmer the potatoes until they are just cooked through and tender. The sweet potatoes will cook in about 15 minutes, and the Yukon Gold potatoes should be finished in about 12 minutes. Drain the potatoes, and allow them to cool.
Combine the potatoes, scallions, celery, and serrano chiles in a large bowl. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, tarragon, salt, and pepper, and combine. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt or pepper, as desired. Toss the potato salad with the arugula, and serve on a large platter, garnished with the crumbled bacon.