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Authentic German Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat) Recipe

Authentic German Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat) Recipe


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4.9 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Sizzling German potato salad brings hearty comfort straight from Bavaria’s kitchen. Tangy bacon, zesty vinegar, and fresh herbs create a mouthwatering side dish you’ll crave at every gathering.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs (900g) waxy potatoes (Yukon Gold or red potatoes)
  • 6 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 small onion, finely diced

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil

Seasoning and Garnish:

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly cleanse potatoes, maintaining their skins for traditional authenticity. Submerge in a generously sized pot filled with cold, salted water. Bring liquid to a vigorous boil, simmering for approximately 15-20 minutes until potatoes yield easily to a fork’s gentle piercing.
  2. Drain potatoes and allow minimal cooling. Slice or dice into uniform bite-sized segments, preserving their warm temperature.
  3. Activate a large skillet over medium heat. Render bacon until achieving a crisp, golden-brown texture. Extract bacon pieces with a perforated utensil, preserving the rendered fat within the pan.
  4. Introduce diced onions into the residual bacon drippings. Sauté until they become soft, translucent, and develop a delicate caramelized edge.
  5. Reduce skillet’s thermal intensity. Incorporate vinegar, water, mustard, sugar, seasoning elements, and ground pepper. Allow mixture to gently simmer, simultaneously lifting any caramelized remnants from the pan’s surface.
  6. Tenderly combine warm potatoes with the aromatic liquid dressing, ensuring complete flavor absorption. Integrate crispy bacon fragments and freshly chopped parsley.
  7. Rest the salad momentarily, permitting ingredients to harmonize. Serve at a comfortably warm temperature or ambient room climate.

Notes

  • Use waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes for the best texture and authentic German potato salad experience.
  • Keep potato skins on during boiling for added nutrients and rustic appearance, peeling them after cooking if preferred.
  • Cook bacon until perfectly crispy to provide delightful crunch and smoky flavor throughout the salad.
  • Adjust vinegar amount based on personal taste preference, balancing tanginess with sweetness of sugar.
  • Allow salad to rest for 10-15 minutes to let potatoes absorb dressing, enhancing overall flavor profile.
  • For vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked paprika or crispy caramelized onions to maintain depth of flavor.
  • Use fresh herbs like chives or dill as alternative to parsley for subtle variation in taste.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: German

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 155 kcal
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg