What is the common ingredient in Southern and homestyle potato salad?

Mayo is a common ingredient in both Southern and homestyle potato salad because it serves as the primary dressing, contributing to the creamy texture that is characteristic of these salads. The use of mayonnaise helps to bind the ingredients together, providing richness and flavor. Additionally, Mayo can be mixed with other seasonings and ingredients, such as diced onions, celery, and pickles, which are often found in these styles of potato salad. This makes it versatile and allows variations depending on regional preferences while still maintaining a base that is familiar in Southern and homestyle variations.

Other ingredients such as bacon, stone ground mustard, and green peppers may add complementary flavors and textures, but they are not as universally essential to the foundational recipe of potato salad as mayonnaise is. Each of those ingredients can be used to enhance a particular recipe, but mayonnaise is the consistent key component that defines the dish.