Potato Salad from Southern Germany

This Schwäbisher Kartoffelsalat
​(Swabian potato  salAd ) is known for its tangy and light flavor. 

It all started when my butcher shop in Santa Cruz sold delicious German hot dogs. They are almost as good as the ones I get at my favorite butcher in Germany. I needed a potato salad to go with these hot dogs. As you know, potato salad comes in many forms, and everyone has their favorite. I prefer a version without mayonnaise. As in the US, Germany has different potato salad recipes. There’s the heavy one with mayo and those made with vinegar and oil. This particular German potato salad is made with beef or other broth that is seasoned with vinegar and mustard. The potatoes are soaked in the broth and vinegar mixture, allowing them to absorb the flavor. You’ll find this salad in the southern part of Germany, in the states of Schwabia and Bavaria. I was born and raised in the northern part of Germany, and I don’t recall my family ever eating this kind of potato salad, but I learned to love it later in life. 

I’ve been obsessed with finding a recipe I like. It has taken me far too long to come up with this recipe. I had some help from a new cookbook I bought for myself and all my friends who like German cooking. The book is called Classic German Baking by Luisa Weiss. She published a German baking book a few years ago. I have also watched more than a few YouTube videos of German cooks making potato salad. I have my favorites, and they entertain me quite often.

Here are a few things I learned while making the salad. First, you’ll need waxy potatoes. I used Yukon Golds. Don’t worry if the sliced potatoes fall apart a bit. That adds more flavor! However, you don’t want mashed potatoes. I ordered some German pickles on Amazon and used them in this salad and my Herring recipe. They are sweeter and have more flavor.  As for the broth, I used beef broth, but you can also use vegetable or chicken broth. 
When combining the potatoes and broth, make sure they’re both hot. This helps the flavors meld together and the potatoes absorb the broth. Don’t worry if some of the potato slices break apart. The salad develops its flavor after sitting at room temperature for an hour or longer. It’s fine the next day, although you need to refrigerate leftovers. You can easily double this recipe. Some restaurants in Germany make huge amounts of this salad. 

Print Recipe

Ingredients:
This recipe makes 4 servings.
2 pounds Yukon potatoes
1 medium yellow onion, minced ( 1cup)
1 1/8  cup beef  broth 
1 TBS sunflower oil
3 TBS  champagne vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp.  sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
⅓  cup diced diced pickles 
3 TBS chopped parsley 

Directions:
Start by giving the potatoes a good rinse and placing them in a big pot. Fill the pot with water and add a tablespoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once it’s boiling, turn down the heat and cover the pot partially. Let the potatoes simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes. Keep an eye on them and check if they’re done by poking them with a sharp knife. If they’re soft, they’re ready! Do not overcook them, or they will get mushy. Peel the potatoes while they are still hot. 
Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onions. Cook the onions over medium-low heat until glassy, but you do not want to brown the onions. This will take between 5 to 8 minutes. Whisk the mustard into the onions and continue to whisk for about a minute. Add broth, vinegar, salt, sugar, and pepper, and boil. Put the hot mixture over the hot potatoes. Gently combine them with a large spoon. Some of the potatoes will fall apart, and that’s OK. You will also have quite a bit of liquid left in the salad.  Add salt, pepper, and sugar if needed. Add the pickles and the parsley. Cover the bowl and let the salad sit for an hour or longer at room temperature. Most of the liquid will have been absorbed by the potatoes. Any leftovers can be refrigerated, and the salad is just as good the next day.
  
​Guten Appetit!
Recipe by Sunnycovechef and many German Cooks

This delicious breaded porkchop, or Schnitzel as we call it in Germany, goes perfectly with the potato salad. Here is the link to the recipe.