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Last updated on August 11, 2022
How to Make the Best Cold German Potato Salad – Simple Grandma’s Recipe
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German people love eating potatoes. Potato dishes come in so many different ways. Warm or cold. In this post, I want to share a cold German potato salad recipe from a German grandma. It is super easy to make. Just mix everything together 🙂
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How I learned about the best cold German potato salad recipe
When I visited my parents-in-law in the summer, we had a barbeque in their garden. I love German barbeque. The steak. The sausage. The cheese. The beer. The smell of the grill.
Having a barbeque usually lasts for hours, from late afternoon until the evening. People chat with each other and enjoy their time together. I tend to overeat every time because of the delicious food.
This time, I discovered a new side dish on the table. A potato salad. To my surprise, it was cold. I tried it and…oh my god, it was so good!
The potato salad was made by my mother-in-law. And, of course, I had to ask her for a recipe. She doesn’t really use any recipe for food. She has all of them in her head. I was surprised by how easy it is to make this delicious potato salad. That is why I need to share this recipe with you guys today 🙂
There are many different versions of potato salads in Germany. For example, they can be cold or warm. They can be with potato skin or without. Some potato salads have bacon in them, and some are vegetarian.
So, there is no one form of authentic German potato salad. Different recipes are used in different regions of Germany. Even different households make their own version of potato salad.
The German potato salad recipe I share with you guys today is from my mother-in-law. My German husband and his siblings grew up with this potato salad. My kids also love it, and it is super easy to make.
German potato salad is an excellent side dish for barbeque. You can also eat it with burgers, fish, sausage, and steak. Even eating the salad alone tastes excellent.
Some tips on making the German potato salad
The potato
The best is to use waxy potatoes for this recipe. In German, it is called “festkochende Kartoffeln“. You can find them in supermarkets. The reason is that waxy potatoes do not easily fall apart after boiling.
When boiling the potatoes, make sure you do not overcook them. Try to use potatoes of a similar size. If not possible, cut them to a similar size. This can ensure that they are ready at the same time when you cook them.
Use a fork to check if the potatoes are done by poking them. Take them out of the pot once they are fully cooked. They will become mushy if you let them sit in hot water for too long. You want to make a potato salad but not mashed potatoes.
Bonus tip: This dish is a great way to finish up your leftover potatoes.
The best thing about this German potato salad is that you can make it beforehand and put it in the fridge. You can store the potato salad in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I usually make a bigger portion and eat it in the following days.
Other tips
You should let the potato salad in your fridge for at least 1 hour before eating it. The potato salad will taste much better as the potatoes have time to absorb the flavors.
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