This easy German Potato Salad skips the eggs and heavy mayo, giving you a bold and flavorful twist on a classic. Instead of being bland and boring, it turns simple potatoes into a tangy, herb-infused side dish. Whether you're bringing it to a potluck, packing it for a picnic, or serving it at a special dinner, this delicious salad is sure to stand out!
German Potato Salad is one of those dishes that feels both comforting and packed with flavor in every bite. First, the tender, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes absorb a tangy, herb-infused dressing, creating a perfect balance of richness and freshness. Unlike traditional potato salads that are heavy with mayo, this version is creamy yet light, offering a delicious mix of textures and tastes.
I love adding finely chopped onions for a bit of sharpness, while a touch of mustard helps bring out the rich, bold flavors. Moreover, fresh herbs like parsley or dill not only add a pop of color but also provide a refreshing lift to the salad. This hearty side dish pairs beautifully with sausages, grilled meats, or even a simple roast. Whether served warm or chilled, German Potato Salad is always a crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect addition to any meal.
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⭐Why You'll Love this German Potato Salad
- Simplicity: This recipe uses simple, everyday ingredients, which makes it easy to prepare. Moreover, it doesn't sacrifice any flavor or quality, ensuring a delicious result every time.
- Creamy Homemade Mayonnaise: This homemade mayonnaise, made with milk, oil, garlic, mustard, salt, and vinegar, adds a creamy and rich texture to the salad. As a result, it enhances the overall flavor, making the dish even better.
- Versatility and Customization: This potato salad is a versatile dish that goes great with many main courses. You can also customize it with extra ingredients or herbs to suit your taste.
- Perfect for Gatherings: This potato salad is a classic side dish that’s perfect for gatherings, barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. Whether you're hosting or attending, it’s always a hit and quickly becomes a favorite at social events.
🧾German Potato Salad Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this German Potato Salad Recipe:
- Potatoes: I love using Maris Piper potatoes because they're creamy and soak up the dressing really well. You could also go with red potatoes or Yukon Gold.
- Onion and Pickled Cucumbers: I love adding these veggies to the salad for a nice crunch, extra flavor, and a pop of color. They go great with the potatoes and creamy dressing, making the salad more exciting and delicious! If pickled cucumbers are unavailable, use fresh cucumber slices or diced celery for a crisp texture.
- Parsley and Dill: I like using fresh parsley and dill to add a burst of freshness, color, and a mild herbal flavor to the salad.
- Milk: I use milk instead of egg to make mayonnaise in this recipe. When mixed with oil, milk creates a creamy base for the mayo.
- Sunflower Oil: I love using sunflower oil for my mayonnaise. It adds richness and helps make the mayo smooth and creamy.
- Garlic Clove and Mustard: I enjoy adding garlic and mustard to give the mayonnaise extra flavor.
- Salt: For seasoning the mayonnaise.
- Vinegar: I prefer using vinegar to give the mayonnaise a tangy kick. If you like, you can swap vinegar for lemon juice.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make German Potato Salad
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Simmer the potatoes until fork-tender, drain, let them cool, remove the skins, and cut them into small cubes.
2. Thinly slice the onion and let it marinate in a mixture of sugar, salt, vinegar, and boiled water for 10–15 minutes.
3. Transfer the boiled potatoes to a large bowl and add diced pickled cucumbers.
4. Drain the marinated onions and mix them into the potatoes along with diced parsley and dill.
5. Blend milk, sunflower oil, and a garlic clove with hand blender for 30 seconds, then add mustard, salt, and vinegar, blending until creamy.
6. Mix the homemade mayonnaise into the potato salad, adjusting the amount to taste.
7. Carefully stir all the ingredients together until well combined.
8. Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour to let the flavors develop before serving.
📖Variations
- Egg Potato Salad: Creamy and mustard-based, including ingredients like sweet pickles, celery, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Warm German Potato Salad: Warm potatoes dressed in a bacon vinaigrette with mustard, onions, and fresh herbs.
- French Potato Salad: Dressed with a light vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, olive oil, and fresh herbs like tarragon or chives.
🍽 What to serve with Potato Salad
I love serving this potato salad with pork chops and BBQ chicken thighs. It's also fantastic with pizza!
Planning a picnic or outdoor gathering? This salad is a must! Pair it with picnic favorites like fried chicken, tuna croquettes, arayes, and tuna salad. It's guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Boiling Technique: Boil the potatoes in water until they're just tender. Be careful not to overcook them, as it can make the potatoes mushy and change the salad's texture.
Taste and Adjust: Before serving, give the salad a taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Sometimes the flavors mellow out as the salad chills.
Garnish Just Before Serving: Right before serving, sprinkle on some extra herbs as a garnish to keep them fresh and add a burst of vibrant color.
Storage: Store leftover potato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume homemade potato salad within 3-5 days for optimal freshness.
🥗More Salad Recipes to Try!
If you're loving this German Potato Salad, you'll also adore these tasty salad recipes:
- Pasta Salad
- Lentil Salad
- Waldorf Salad
- Avocado Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad
- Tomato Burrata Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad
🍛More Appetizer Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite appetizer recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
German Potato Salad
Ingredients
For Salad:
- 600 g Potatoes
- 1 Onion
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Vinegar
- 150 ml Boiled Water
- 5-6 Pickled Cucumbers
- Parsley
- Dill
For Mayonnaise:
- 50 ml Milk
- 100 ml Sunflower Oil
- 1 Garlic Clove
- ½ teaspoon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vinegar
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in water until they are fork-tender. Drain and let them cool.
- Peel and dice the potatoes.
- In a large bowl, place the boiled potatoes.
- Cut the onion into thin slices and place in a small bowl.
- Add sugar, salt, vinegar, and boiled water and let it marinate for 10-15 minutes.
- Chop the pickled cucumbers into small pieces and add to the boiled potatoes.
- Strain the onion slices and add to the boiled potatoes.
- Chop the parsley and add to the boiled potatoes.
- Chop the dill and add to the boiled potatoes.
- In a beaker, add milk, sunflower oil, and garlic clove and blend for 30 seconds.
- Add mustard, salt, and vinegar and blend until a creamy mayonnaise consistency is achieved.
- Add the prepared mayonnaise to the boiled potato. Adjust the amount according to your preference.
- Gently mix the ingredients.
- Refrigerate the potato salad for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
Super recipe I am making it today thanks!