German Potato Salad Recipe

This hot German potato salad recipe has been a favorite of mine for a long time. The combination of flavors - sweet, sour and tangy - is unique and delicious.

german potato salad recipe




Even though I modified the original recipe to make it a somewhat healthier choice, anything with "bacon fat" as one of the ingredients can't really be called a healthy meal! This is not a recipe you want to eat every day. Save it for an occasional treat.



Check that you have these staples at home

  • in the cupboard

    • vegetable oil
    • whole wheat flour
    • sugar
    • salt
    • celery seed
    • pepper
    • cider vinegar

  • in the basement or other cool spot

    • potatoes

  • in the fridge or freezer

    • bacon
    • onions

Get out your equipment

  • Essential

    • a large saucepan
    • a skillet
    • a cutting board and sharp knife
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • a wooden spoon or other cooking spoon

  • Nice to have but not necessary

    • a strainer for draining the potatoes
    • a spatter screen
    • tongs for lifting the bacon
    • a second skillet (if not, you'll need to clean your skillet after cooking the bacon)





    The recipe

    4 medium potatoes

    3 slices bacon

    1 Tbsp/15 mL vegetable oil

    1/2 cup/125 mL chopped onion

    1 Tbsp/15 mL whole wheat flour

    1 Tbsp/15 mL sugar

    1 tsp/5 mL salt

    1/2 tsp/2 mL celery seed

    dash pepper

    1/2 cup/125 mL water

    1/4 cup/60 mL cider vinegar

    Boil the potatoes until they are tender but not mushy.
    Drain them and set them aside until they are just cool enough to handle.

    Fry the bacon until crisp.
    Put it on a paper towel to drain.
    Save a bit of the bacon fat.

    In a separate skillet, heat the oil and 1 Tbsp/15 of the bacon fat.
    Add the onion.
    Cook and stir until the onion is tender.

    Add the flour, sugar, salt, celery seed and pepper.
    Cook over low heat for a minute, stirring.

    Stir in the water and cider vinegar.
    Heat to boiling, stirring.

    Turn the heat to low.

    Cook, stirring gently to coat the potatoes, until everything is hot.



    Substitutions

    • Use any flour (white, spelt, etc.) in place of the whole wheat flour.

    • Use your favourite vinegar in place of the cider vinegar. How about white wine vinegar?

    Ideas for making this German potato salad recipe your own

    • Try adding a variety of spices. How about some parsley or rosemary? Or a pinch of dry mustard?

    • Use red or purple potatoes for an interesting-looking dish.

    • Feeling extra adventurous? What about adding some sliced gherkin pickles? Or dill pickles?

    Tips

    • This recipe is easily doubled.

    • Always store potatoes in a dark place. Exposure to light causes them to turn green. If you are buying just enough potatoes to use in the next few days, you can store them in any dark place in your home. If you buy lots of potatoes and store them for a while, keep them in a cool dark place like a basement, attic, or insulated garage. You can even keep them in an unheated spare bedroom or entryway. Don't let them freeze, and don't store them in sealed plastic bags or containers. Perforated plastic bags work well.




    Menu suggestion

    Serve this dish with

    • sausages

    • a green salad

    • corn on the cob




    If you enjoy this German potato salad recipe, you may also like these other potato recipes: