Arugula and Potato Salad

I picked up a bunch of red potatoes at the farmer's market thinking I'd make a potato salad, but not your typical potato salad. I wanted to do something a little more creative with them. So I found this fantastic recipe for a Farmer's Salad in my Crazy Sexy Kitchen cookbook by Chad Sarno and Chris Carr, which I am going to call Arugula and Potato Salad because it is really two salads in one. Take warm potatoes and coat them in a aioli made with lemon zest and capers and top it with zesty arugula in a dijon vinaigrette and you have a masterpiece. It's a great summer entree or accompaniment to a great meal. Please note that I have altered the recipe from the original.

Arugula and Potato Salad
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp Basic Aioli plus another 3 Tbsp Vegenaise
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest
• 2 Tbsp capers, strained
• 1 Tbsp minced chives or green onion
• 1 1/2 Tbsp tarragon, coarsely chopped
• Approx. 12 new red potatoes
• 2 cups arugula
• 2 Tbsp Dijon Vinaigrette
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions
Boil water in stockpot. Add potatoes and cook approximately 20 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a fork, but still maintain their shape. Drain and let cool about 20 minutes. Cut the potatoes in halves or quarters.

Mix the Basic Aioli recipe in a bowl with more lemon zest, capers, chives, and tarragon. Toss the aioli mixture with the potatoes and set aside.

In another bowl, combine the watercress and Dijon Vinaigrette. Toss gently.

Place a portion of the potato salad in the center of the plate and top with a handful of the arugula. Top with bell pepper slices. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and serve.