Steps

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into about 6 pieces each. If they are small, you can cut them into 4 pieces.
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2. Place the cut potatoes in a pot and add enough water to cover them.
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3. Add 2 tsp of sugar and start boiling from cold water. Once it boils, simmer for 7-8 minutes until tender. (Key Tip!) Boiling with sugar helps create a moist texture and adds a subtle sweetness that enhances the richness.
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4. Thinly slice the onion and soak it in water for about 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water thoroughly.
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5. Thinly slice the cucumber, knead it with a pinch of salt, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then squeeze out the excess water thoroughly.
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6. Cut the ham into about 1-2 cm cubes.
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7. Once a skewer can easily pierce the potatoes, drain the water. Do not transfer the potatoes to a colander; leave them in the pot.
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8. With the potatoes still in the pot, place it over heat and shake the pot to evaporate any excess moisture, creating a 'floury potato' texture.
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9. While still hot, roughly mash the potatoes with a wooden spoon or similar tool. Aim for a coarse mash rather than over-mashing. (Key Tip!) Avoid over-mashing to retain the fluffy texture of the Baron potatoes.
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10. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tsp of vinegar to the mashed potatoes and mix briefly.
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11. Mix the squeezed onion into the hot potatoes. Stir gently to avoid releasing too much starch. (Key Tip!) The residual heat will mellow the onion's sharpness and improve its texture. Let this cool slightly.
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12. In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise sauce ingredients: 3-4 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vinegar, and 1/2 tsp mustard paste if desired. Mix well. (Key Tip!) Adding egg yolk and vinegar increases richness and tightens the overall flavor.
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13. Once the mashed potatoes have cooled slightly, add the prepared mayonnaise sauce and mix gently. (Key Tip!) Mixing while the potatoes are too hot can cause the egg yolk to cook and the mayonnaise to separate. Wait for them to cool down before mixing.
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14. Add the squeezed cucumber and chopped ham, and mix briefly.
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15. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt to taste. Add more mayonnaise to taste if desired.
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16. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with coarsely ground pepper to taste, if desired.
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