I was inspired to make hot German potato salad for the first time after visiting a German restaurant in the small town of Muenster, Texas. It's not too far a drive from my grandma's house, so my family (specifically my father and his best friend) have been frequenting it every year around Thanksgiving for practically my whole life.
Of course, being a picky eater growing up I always opted out. Mind you, I used to hate traditional German foods like sauerkraut and mustard. Now I could eat them at every meal.
Isn't it ironically funny how your taste buds drastically change over the years? Half the foods I used to abhor as a child are now my absolute favorites. Like onions, blue cheese, and sauerkraut.
And I sort of like mushrooms now. Well, at least when they're cut into small pieces and mixed into a recipe for maximum flavor like my beef stroganoff soup. I'm not at the point where I can chomp into a huge raw mushroom yet. ;)
Hot German Potato Salad with Bacon
I originally wanted to share this hot German potato salad recipe with y'all last year (when I first made it); unfortunately, I forgot to write down the measurements. Whoopsies!I was SO excited to chow down on a non-mayo potato salad with plenty of vinegary tang + onion and bacon, bacon, bacon that I didn't keep track of anything. It was all a little of this + a dash of that, take a taste and adjust, take a few more bites just to be sure.
Then I tried recreating it a few weeks ago and it wasn't quite right. It needed more sauce and an extra punch of vinegar and mustard. Did it taste good? Sure.
But, I wanted a version that was SUPER YUMMY before I shared it with you. I'm considerate like that. Also, it would put my German heritage to shame if I touted a recipe that was lackluster in the vinegar and mustard department.
What Is Hot German Potato Salad (a.k.a. Warm German Potato Salad)?
As the name implies, it's a hot or warm potato salad, which is a little different than the typical "cold" mayonnaise or mustard-based potato salads that are popular in the summer months here in the United States.How does German potato salad taste? Like salt and vinegar chips in potato salad form, but more savory (with a hint of sweetness) and a little softer on the vinegar tang with crunchy bits of onion, celery, and crispy + salty bacon.
In other words, glorious!
This is an excellent side dish to make when you need a break from traditional cold potato salad and want tons of flavor packed into each bite. Or, you have an abundance of potatoes on hand that need using up. (In that case, make a batch of my spicy zuppa toscana soup while you're at it.)
And even though it's a warm dish, this potato salad is great all year long. In fall and winter, fix a batch on your stove to keep the kitchen & your belly warm, then in spring and summer months, make a batch ahead of time and keep it warm in a crock-pot while the rest of the meal is grilling away outside. Or just fix it right before dinner for an easy side dish.
What Goes With Hot German Potato Salad?
And as someone who LOVES all the following savory ingredients (vinegar, mustard, onion, garlic, bacon), this is the best potato salad to serve with grilled or pan-fried brats, kielbasa (smoked) sausage, or, heck, practically any type of sausage.Pile on the sauerkraut and extra caramelized onions & sweet peppers, then serve with plenty of good mustard and your favorite beer (perhaps an Oktoberfest variety), hard cider, or even an apple cider sangria.
If you're looking for some recommendations, I enjoy Paulaner Oktoberfest (lighter than many of the other Oktoberfest I've tried) and Crispin Hard Apple Cider (very dry & refreshing + way less sweet).
All of the above is comfort food heaven for me so it would make my heart all warm & toasty if you served my potato salad with a similar meal! Please let me know if you do. :)
But...this potato salad would actually go well with quite a few things, so I'll make a list below for easy reading (skimmers probably skipped the previous paragraphs).
Adapted from Food.com's Hot German Potato Salad and The Good Hearted Woman's Hot German Potato Salad
All of the above is comfort food heaven for me so it would make my heart all warm & toasty if you served my potato salad with a similar meal! Please let me know if you do. :)
But...this potato salad would actually go well with quite a few things, so I'll make a list below for easy reading (skimmers probably skipped the previous paragraphs).
What to Serve With Hot German Potato Salad:
- boiled brats
- kielbasa sausage (pan-fried, roasted, or grilled)
- smoked or slow-cooked brisket
- crock-pot BBQ ribs (smoked would be even better!)
- baked chicken, grilled, pan-fried or roasted chicken or slow-cooked whole chicken
- pan-seared or grilled fish fillets (like salmon or mahi-mahi)
- slow cooker pork shoulder (shredded & mixed with BBQ sauce so it's pulled pork)
- stove-top or slow cooker pot roast
- sauteed or caramelized onions + sweet peppers
- pan-fried or roasted cabbage
- coleslaw (vinegar or mayo-based)
- sauerkraut (make sure it's the real stuff - no vinegar in the ingredients)
- good-quality mustard
Yield: 4-6 servings
Hot German Potato Salad
Prep time: 10 MCook time: 25 MTotal time: 35 M
A simple recipe for Hot German potato salad that is tangy, savory, and slightly sweet. It's loaded with crunchy bacon & sauteed onion and tossed in an addicting apple cider vinegar, mustard & bacon fat dressing. Fix this side dish when you need some hearty comfort food to keep your belly warm. (gluten-free, grain-free & dairy-free)
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs of Yukon gold or red potatoes, chopped into chunks (about 4 1/2 cups)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of sea salt, divided
- 6 strips of thick-cut bacon
- 1 1/2 cups of thinly sliced red onion
- 2 stalks of celery, halved & thinly sliced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of real maple syrup (or your favorite sweetener)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of good quality mustard (like spicy brown, Dusseldorf, or stone-ground)
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of thinly sliced green onion or fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions:
- Place the chopped potatoes in a large pot then pour in enough water so they are covered by 1 inch. Add 1 tablespoon of salt, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are just fork-tender, but not mushy, about 10-15 minutes. Drain the water and cover with a lid to keep warm.
- While the potatoes are cooking, add the bacon to a large skillet set to medium heat and cook until browned & crispy. Remove the bacon and set on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add the red onion and celery to the same skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the veggies are translucent and starting to brown. Meanwhile, crumble the bacon strips into small chunks and set aside.
- When the onions are done, stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Combine the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and water in a small bowl and stir to combine. Pour this dressing mixture into the skillet and bring to a simmer. At this point, if the potatoes are done, turn off the heat. If they're still cooking, reduce the heat to low to keep the sauce warm (we don't want it reducing much).
- Add the hot cooked potatoes to the skillet and gently toss until they're all coated in the bacon fat & apple cider vinegar dressing. Taste a potato and add more salt & pepper, if needed. Fold in the crumbled bacon, transfer to a serving dish, and garnish with green onion or parsley. Serve immediately while still warm or at room temperature with your favorite main course.
Notes:
HEAT: Make sure the potatoes and sauce are both hot (or at least very warm) when you combine them. This helps the potatoes to absorb the sauce.
ONION: If you don't have red onion on hand, yellow or sweet onion works great.
SLOW COOKER: If you want to keep the potatoes warm but aren't serving them right away (like a holiday meal where it's self serve) transfer them from the skillet into a small crock-pot and place on the "warm" setting with the lid on until you're ready to eat. I would only do this a few hours ahead of time at most.
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