Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (2024)

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Creating an authenticGerman mustard potato saladis easier than you think! Made withred potatoes, olive oil, white wine vinegar,and of course,mustard, this potato salad makes anideal side dishwhen you don't want a mayo-based potato salad. Seasoned with salt and pepper, and ready to go inunder 30-minuteswhen served warm, this recipe with mustard is aWHOLE LOTTA YUM!

Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (1)

Mustard Potato Salad Recipe

Summertime is the perfect time for salads of all varieties. Not only are they quick and easy to create, but they are also super versatile.

In our home though, German potato salad with mustard is more than just another salad to serve with burgers or brats. For our family, German potato salad is a connection to my husband's heritage and his father is from Germany. In fact, every time we see him, he makes a variation of this classic German potato salad for us to all enjoy.

And now, using my own German mustard potato salad recipe, I can recreate that same dish for our family.

A perfect summertime dish, mustard potato salad can be served either warm or cold. With just a few ingredients, you can easily whip this up in no time!

We love to serve German mustard potato salad alongside air fryer brats or oven-baked brats and sauerkraut for a complete German-style meal.

Why you'll love this German Potato Salad Recipe

  • One word - summertime! German potato salad is always a great dish for any summer evening whether you are cooking at home or attending a BBQ.
  • Super versaitile, you can make your salad ahead of time and serve it cold or create it when you need it because this dish works just as well served warm.
  • Our mustard potato salad recipe is the perfect potato salad option for those trying to follow paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan lifestyles!
  • The mix of vinegar and mustard create a potato salad that is not overly creamy like traditional mayo-based salads.

If you are looking for even more perfect for summer side salads then look no further than our bacon curry coleslaw, Mexican street corn salad, broccoli cauliflower salad, and roasted beet salad!

On Keto? Grab our FREE keto foods list here OR Snag our Keto Binder HERE

Mustard Based Potato Salad ingredients

Your vegan mustard potato salad recipe needs just a few ingredients and a few minutes of your time. However, you will be rewarded with this different twist to a classic American dish.

Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (2)
  • red potatoes - cut into 1" chunks
  • sea salt
  • olive oil
  • white wine vinegar
  • stone-ground mustard
  • chives - chopped

Mustard Potato Salad variations

  • Red Potatoes - Yukon gold potatoes or colored potatoes will also work well in this salad.
  • Stone-ground mustard - While stone-ground is our preferred mustard for this salad, you can also use dijon.
  • Chives - Fresh dill can also be used, or a 50/50 dill/chives blend.
  • White Wine Vinegar - Feel free to experiment with other types of vinegar.

How to make Mustard Potato Salad

Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (3)

One of the best parts of this summertime recipe - no oven! The only appliances you will be needing today to make your potato salad are your stove and your refrigerator.

1. Prep

Make the mustard dressing by combining the oil, vinegar, and mustard in a medium-sized bowl.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Chop your potatoes into 1" chunks aiming to be as uniform as possible (this helps with even cooking of your potatoes).

2. Cook

Once your water has come to a boil, add the potatoes and the salt.

Bring the water back to a boil and cook for 8 minutes, or until your potatoes are fork-tender.

Drain the potatoes.

3. Assemble

After draining your potatoes, immediately toss them with vinegar, oil, and mustard mixture you made earlier.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Let the salad cool for a few minutes then mix in the chives.

Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for several hours.

Enjoy! Serves 4.

Mustard Potato Salad Recipe tips

  • Be sure to cut your potatoes as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking.
  • You can serve your vegetarian German potato salad either warm or cold.
  • Be sure to add the dressing immediately to the warm potatoes, you want the dressing to soak into the spuds.
  • Because this dish does not contain mayo, you are good leaving this out at a BBQ or event.
Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (4)

How to serve German Mustard Potato Salad

We love to keep things authentic and serve our German potato salad with another classic German staple - brats! Whether we are going for crockpot brats and sauerkraut, beer brats on the stove, or making brats and peppers in the oven, pairing them with this potato salad with mustard is always a great combination!

Mustard Based Potato Salad FAQs

Do You Need To Chill Potato Salad?

No, not this one at least. German potato salad is meant to be served warm. However, you can serve it cold, and the extra time in the fridge allows the flavors to blend. If you are serving your mustard potato salad cold, we recommend allowing it to chill for 2+ hours.

Can This Potato Salad Recipe Be Doubled?

Absolutey! It's super simple to double or even tripple this recipe to feed a crowd - just make sure your pot for boiling the potatoes is large enough (or use more than one).

Should German potato salad be served warm or cold?

The beautiful thing about German potato salad is that it's super versatile. Traditionally, it's served warm, which is a wonderful change if you're used to the chilled American-style potato salad. The warmth really brings out those hearty flavors, especially the tangy vinaigrette and crispy bacon bits – yum! But hey, if you've got leftovers or you prefer it cold, go for it! It tastes fantastic chilled from the fridge too.

What if I add too much mustard to my potato salad?

If you find your potato salad is a little too tangy from using a powerful mustard, you've got a few options. You could add more potatoes if you have them on hand. They'll soak up some of that extra mustardy kick. No extra spuds? Try adding a bit more vinegar, oil, or both. It can help to balance out the flavors. A bit of sugar or sweetener could also help mellow out the mustard. But remember, go easy – you don't want to swing too far the other way and end up with a sweet salad! Trial and error is key, so have a taste as you go until you're happy with the balance.

More Salad Recipes

Looking for more salad recipes?

  • Roasted Beet Salad
  • Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Bacon Curry Coleslaw

Please leave a review if you make our recipe! We love feedback from readers, plus it helps others too.

Come connect with us on Instagram! Be sure to tag us (wholelotta.yum) when you make a recipe. You can also find us on Facebook, and Pinterest.

Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (5)

German Potato Salad Recipe with Mustard

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

A warm German mustard potato salad recipe that's mayo free and refreshing. Perfect for a BBQ or with brats and kraut. The potato salad is also vegan, diary free, gluten free, and sugar free.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb red potatoes, cut into 1" chunks
  • 1 Tbsp+ sea salt
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoon stone ground mustard
  • 4 tablespoon chives, chopped

Instructions

  1. Make the mustard dressing by combining the oil, vinegar, and mustard in a medium-sized bowl.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  3. Chop your potatoes into 1" chunks aiming to be as uniform as possible (this helps with even cooking of your potatoes).
  4. Once your water has come to a boil, add the potatoes and the salt.
  5. Bring the water back to a boil and cook 8 minutes, or until your potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Drain the potatoes and immediately toss with the vinegar, oil, and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Let the salad cool for a few minutes then mix in the chives. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for several hours. Garnish with more fresh chives or fresh parsley. Enjoy! Serves 4.

Notes

Be sure to cut your potatoes as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking.

You can serve your vegetarian German potato salad either warm or cold.

Be sure to add the dressing immediately to the warm potatoes, you want the dressing to soak into the spuds.

Because this dish does not contain mayo, you are good leaving this out at a BBQ or event.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 347Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 0mgSodium 174mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 5gSugar 4gProtein 7g

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Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (6)
Old Fashioned German Potato Salad Recipe - Whole Lotta Yum (2024)

FAQs

How to keep potatoes from falling apart when making potato salad? ›

The key is to allow the potatoes to dry and become cold before you make the salad. If you cut hot, boiled potatoes, they tend to crumble. If you wait until they had time to dry (may I suggest laying them out on a plate or casserole dish during this time) and cold, they cut nicer.

What is the history of German potato salad? ›

Potato salad is widely believed to have originated in Germany, spreading largely throughout Europe, North America, and later Asia. American potato salad most likely originated from recipes brought to the U.S. by way of German and other European immigrants during the nineteenth century.

What is German salad made of? ›

For German potato salad, sliced potatoes are tossed with bacon, sautéed onions, fresh herbs, and a mustardy white wine dressing. It's a nice change-up from the classic mayonnaise-based version, and you can serve it warm or chilled.

Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad? ›

Always cut up the potatoes into a dice before boiling them. If you boil the potatoes whole, the exterior of the potato will get too soft and crumbly before the interior has a chance to cook through. Best potatoes for potato salad? Russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes (new potatoes) are all excellent for potato salad.

Should I wait for potatoes to cool before making potato salad? ›

When using vinaigrette, don't let the potatoes cool before dressing them. And when making a mayonnaise-based potato salad, stay away from dressing warm potatoes. The hot potatoes will cause the mayonnaise to melt and become oily.

What is the difference between regular potato salad and German potato salad? ›

There are two main differences between American and German Potato salads. American potato salad is usually tossed in a mayonnaise-based dressing and served cold. German potato salad is tossed in a vinegar-based dressing and is traditionally served warm (but you can totally serve it cold too! It's still delicious!).

Which is the most famous potato dish in Germany? ›

1. Bratkartoffeln (Fried Potatoes): Bratkartoffeln are a common side dish in Germany. Sliced or diced potatoes are usually pan-fried with onions, bacon, and various seasonings until they are crispy and golden brown.

How do Germans eat potatoes? ›

Here are some general guidelines:
  • Boiled potatoes: Boiled potatoes are a common side dish in Germany. ...
  • Mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes are often served as a side dish with meat and gravy or with sausages. ...
  • Roast potatoes: Roast potatoes are a popular side dish in Germany, particularly during the colder months.
Feb 13, 2023

Who makes canned German potato salad? ›

Read's brand canned German potato salad.

Can I freeze German potato salad? ›

A: Without mayonnaise, a vinaigrette flavored potato salad such as the traditional German potato salad can be placed in the freezer.

What is Amish potato salad made of? ›

Judging by the ingredients listed online, the potato salad contains fairly standard ingredients: potatoes, mayo, hard-boiled eggs, celery, mustard, onions, pickle relish, and red bell peppers, among others, so you might be asking: What makes this potato salad Amish? The answer lies with one ingredient: sugar.

How to make potato salad Martha Stewart? ›

Directions
  1. Put potatoes in a large pot of salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain; let cool.
  2. Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and dill; season with salt and pepper. Peel potatoes; cut into 1-inch chunks. Fold into mayonnaise mixture.
Feb 25, 2021

What is in Walmart potato salad? ›

POTATOES, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT), MUSTARD (WATER, VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, SPICES, ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR], XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR), DILL PICKLE CUBES (CUCUMBER VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, NATURAL ...

How do you stop new potatoes from breaking up when boiling? ›

Start in cold water.

If you plop potatoes into hot water, the outsides could overcook before the cores. For more even cooking, start with evenly sized, small potatoes. Put them in a big pot, cover with an inch of cold water, then crank the heat to bring to a simmer.

What causes potato salad to separate? ›

Overcooking the potatoes: If the potatoes are boiled for too long, they can become mushy and fall apart when mixed with the other ingredients, causing the salad to become overly soft and wet.

How do you boil potatoes without them falling apart? ›

Reduce the heat to medium-low or low. Cover the pot with a lid. For how long to boil potatoes, you should place them in gently boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes for small red potatoes, new potatoes, or cubed large russet potatoes, and 20 to 25 minutes for quartered potatoes.

Should I rinse my potatoes after boiling for potato salad? ›

Excess starch can make potatoes gummy or gluey.

Rinsing potatoes with cold water prior to boiling helps remove excess starch. Rinsing with hot water immediately after boiling can remove even more starch. Cutting potatoes before boiling does remove excess starch.

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