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    Home » Salads

    German Potato Salad

    Published: May 14, 2019 · Modified: Jun 8, 2023 by Tammy Circeo · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If it weren't for my German mother-in-law, I'm not sure I would have been terribly drawn to German cuisine. But her schnitzel, red cabbage, Plum Cake, Terrassen, and this German Potato Salad got me hooked!

    Bowl of German Potato Salad with small plate, napkins, and forks

    This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click them and purchase something, I get a little commission. Thank you for your support.


    Of course, she doesn't have recipes, really. Just ways of doing things. So while I'm content doing that as well, it's not easy to share with you … or to pass down to MY kids ... if there's no recipe! Over time, I've made notes, tweaked them, made more notes, and tweaked them again to arrive at something that is as close to her potato salad as I can get without her in my kitchen to make it herself!

    As many variations as there are of American Potato Salad is as many as there are of German Potato Salad! I've ordered it in restaurants and had it at the Munchen Haus in Leavenworth, WA, on our way to the lake … and nothing has been like Mom C's. And they are all still good and authentic! So if this one doesn't live up to your memories of German Potato Salad, remember that everybody's German mother-in-law has their own recipe!

    Small red potatoes in a large pot being filled with water

    I usually start the potatoes first because they take the longest to cook, then I put the bacon in the oven, and the eggs in the digital pressure cooker.

    Peeled boiled eggs

    If you don't have a digital pressure cooker, boil eggs the way you normally would. However … making boiled eggs is almost a reason to buy one! Once the pot is up to pressure, it takes five minutes, quick-release of the pressure, and into cold water. That is all good and fine, but the best part is how the eggs peel! They almost shed the shell by themselves!

    Large bowl with all the ingredients for German Potato Salad

    Once the potatoes, eggs, and bacon are cooked, it's just a matter of stirring everything together. There's no harm in cooling the potatoes a bit before chopping, but you can put them in the bowl hot and use a knife to cut through them making rough, bite-sized pieces. Don't cut them too small because they will continue breaking down a bit while you are mixing everything.

    The "dressing" is pickle juice or red wine vinegar and bacon grease. Yes, the grease left from cooking the bacon! It's a necessary part of the flavor of German Potato Salad so don't leave it out. Just pour each of these over the ingredients, adjusting for your tastes. Salt and pepper generously, and stir to combine.

    Mixed German Potato Salad

    This is delicious year round, but we are sure to make it for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day picnics! Bon Appétit!

    More recipes you might like:

    • Potato Sausage Soup
    • Flavorful Pickled Jalapenos
    • Pan Fried Mustard Chicken
    • Oven Roasted Potatoes
    • Terrassen - a German Jam-filled Cookie

    Recipe

    A bowl of German Potato Salad with two pickles on top as garnish beside a place and napkin with forks on it.

    German Potato Salad

    Tammy Circeo
    This is as close to my German mother-in-law's instructions as possible. There's no written recipe and I learned to make it by watching her. I finally decided to attempt calculating the quantities of the ingredients and I think I've come pretty close to a great copy of hers.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine German

    Ingredients
      

    • 10 medium red potatoes about the size of a child's fist
    • 6 eggs boiled and chopped
    • 1 cup dill pickles chopped
    • ¾ cup scallions diced
    • 1 pound bacon cooked and chopped
    • ½ cup pickle juice or red wine vinegar
    • ¼ cup reserved bacon grease
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, and generously salt it. Cover, place over high heat and allow to come to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
    • While the potatoes are cooking, boil the eggs and cook the bacon.
    • When potatoes are cooked through, pour the water off and put the potatoes in a large bowl. Cut them into approximate bite size pieces in the bowl. As you mix other things in, they will break down even more so don't cut them too small to start.
    • Add the eggs, pickles, scallions, and bacon to the bowl and stir to combine. Pour the pickle juice or red wine vinegar over the ingredients along with the bacon grease and stir. Season generously with salt and pepper.

    Notes

    There are many versions of German Potato Salad just like there are many versions of the mayonnaise-based potato salad that is on most picnic tables in America. This particular version is what I've watched my mother-in-law make for many years and that we all enjoy. 
    This is a "loose" recipe! You should feel free to make it your own! However, it should be a bit tangy from the pickles and juice (or vinegar) and it MUST have bacon and its grease. It is a German recipe, after all, and they are big fans of pork! 
    Keyword German potato salad, potato salad
    Yum

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    I have always loved nurturing and feeding people. My cooking style is influenced by my Southern parents, time living in Europe, and the foods available in the Pacific Northwest, where I lived for over 20 years. I cook from scratch and strongly support local farms and producers, believing that food plays a pivotal role in our quality of life.

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