German Potato Salad Without Bacon

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Today, I’ve brought you a unique twist on the traditional German potato salad that will leave you craving more. I’ve experimented with various ingredients and found a perfect balance of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and a light, tangy dressing to create a vegan version of the classic potato salad that will leave you wanting more. I assure you that this version will be the talk of the town at your next vegan potluck cookout!

Contents

If you want to complement this salad with other vegan dishes, I recommend trying the creamy coleslaw, German cabbage salad, or Kidney Beans salad. These recipes complement the tanginess of the vegetarian German potato salad perfectly and will provide a diverse range of flavors for your taste buds to relish. Adding low-fat homemade mayonnaise to the salad will give it a smooth and creamy texture that will delight all your senses.

So, let’s start with this easy vegan German potato salad that will steal the show at any gathering or make for a light and scrumptious lunch. If you love pasta in your salad, here is my tested recipe for Greek pasta salad, and if you want it all alone, here is another Greek avocado salad with feta.

What is Vegan German Salad Made of?

The classic German salad comprised either creamy dressing made up of mayo, Greek yogurt, or milk; or simple ones made with oil and vinegar. While most German potato salads include Pasta and some bacon. To vegetarian needs it also includes potato, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits. You can also add cheese and eggs as per preference.

German potato salad Vs. American potato salad?

The major difference between American and German potato salad is the temperature at which they are served. American potato salad is served cold, and German potato salad is generally served warm. Another main difference is that the American Potato Salad has a creamy dressing made out of mayo, while the German salad has a tangy vinaigrette and olive oil-based dressing.

Why Would You Like Vegan German Potato Salad?

This vegan German potato salad is comparatively lower in calories than all the traditional German potato salads. You can enjoy the same delicious taste without the added fat.
While traditional German potato salads are often high in salt, tihs version is low in sodium.
This is a vegan-friendly option.
This salad can be your best companion for every season, and an excellent choice for any meal. It can also be customized with various ingredients, such as herbs and spices, to make it a unique dish.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For Salad

3 pounds of red potatoes
1 yellow onion
1 large red onion
3 large pickled cucumbers
¼ cup of fresh parsley
Chives and dill for garnishing

For Salad Dressing

¾ cup of apple cider vinegar
50 ml milk
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Sugar
¼ cup of Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper according to taste

Tools You’ll Need

German Potato Salad ingredients assembled to mixing

Ingredients Notes

White potatoes: Although red potatoes are preferred for this recipe due to better taste, you can use white potatoes. Those who love potato recipes, check out my favorite Deviled egg potato salad and Air-fryer baked potatoes.
Onions: You can use any of your yellow, red, or green onions for this recipe. Make sure they are all finely chopped, peeled, and diced. Soak them for an hour and add sugar, salt, and vinegar into the water, which helps remove the bitterness of the onions.
Picked Cucumbers: Cut pickled cucumbers into thin slices. And if you want to make keto salad from cucumbers, check out our Chinese smashed cucumber salad.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is recommended for this recipe. However, if you don’t have it, you can replace it with white or champagne vinegar.
Olive Oil: I recommend using olive oil or canola oil instead of vegetable oil.
Salt and Pepper: Using powdered pepper and salt is up to your taste; you can adjust these spices later to fix the taste.
Garnish: Use parsley or chives for garnishing; a friend of mine used to add dill, which tastes good.
Lemon: (Optional) To give it a bit tangy flavor, garnish half lemon juice.
Mustard:(Optional) You can use Dijon mustard; whatever you prefer will taste the same.
Shallot: (Optional) You can substitute shallot with green onions.

Tips to Make Vegan German Potato Salad

When making a German potato salad, check the type of potatoes you use. Use firm boiling potatoes to make the salad thick and perfect for eating.
I recommend boiling the potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes; beyond that time, the potatoes will become extra soft and get a form of dough while mixing.
If you want to give your recipe a different tart flavor, add half a tsp of Dijon mustard, water, and vinegar.
You can cut the potatoes into ¼ inches of slices without dicing. You can also go for round baby potatoes to enhance the look of your salad.
Go for cider vinegar instead of red or white, as it tastes better for this recipe.
Add some mayo on top of the salad to add a creamy look and a perfect texture to your salad.
Slice the potatoes before boiling them to save your time for peeling and cooling.

How To Make Vegan German Potato Salad?

Here is a step-by-step guide for you to make the best German potato salad without bacon;

Step 1: Boil the potatoes

cutting the boiled potatoes for preparing salad

Take a medium-sized pot and fill it with water, turn on the flame, and place the pot on the flame. Peel the potatoes and cut them into round, half, or square shape. Add the potatoes to water and boil for 10-12 minutes; depending on their size, use a fork to check if they are tender or not. Drain the potatoes, save them in a bowl, run them under cool running water, and put them aside for a few minutes.

Step 2: Prep the Produce:

German Potato Salad Without Bacon -3 (1)

While the potatoes are boiling, you can prepare the remaining ingredients. Take onions and chop them finely.

Add them to a bowl full of water with some salt and sugar.

Chop the shallots, dill, and pickled cucumber finely as well.

Step 3: Prepare the Potato Dressing

Add oil, milk, apple cider vinegar, pepper, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl using an hand mixer. (I prefer using Cuisinart hand Mixer).

Mix them all well so that all the ingredients turn into a creamy texture.

Step 4: Assemble the Ingredients

Take a large serving bowl and combine all the ingredients, including the potatoes, shallots, cucumber, and dill, and add the toppings. Squeeze a lemon on top of the ingredients to make it more tempting.

Step 5: Add Mayo (Optional)

It is optional to add mayo to the salad before the garnishing to make the salad creamy and more delicious to eat.

How To Store German Potato Salad?

I highly recommend consuming this salad as soon as it’s ready, because this salad stays fresh for a few hours of preparation, making it the perfect companion for parties and picnics. However, if you have leftover German potato salad, store it in an airtight container and properly cover it to preserve its freshness. This salad can be refrigerated for 5 to 6 days without losing flavor.

You can even prepare this salad ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it. However, make sure not to add any seasonings or mayo until you are ready to serve.

How To Freeze?

A traditional German potato salad contains oil and vinegar (provided that you don’t add mayo and other creamy ingredients), to make it easy to freeze. If you have properly stored this salad in an airtight container, you can freeze it for 4 to 5 months. But remember that the frozen German potato salad will lose its texture and flavor. When you are ready to eat, add some oil before reheating, and this salad will be as good as new.

Reheating Instructions

For reheating, thaw the salad in refrigerator for 12 hours, and then reheat in the microwave for 1 minute so that the ingredients can regain moisture. If you don’t want to microwave, mix a splash of oil before eating.

Ingredients Variations You Can Try

German potato salad is a versatile dish, and you can alternate some of the ingredients. Some of the alternative ingredients include;

1 small and finely diced shallots
1 tsp of caraway seeds
1 lemon juice
2/3 cup hot vegetable broth
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
Chives or celery for garnishing
9 oz of canned white beans
500g of cured herring

Alternative Salads

You can make this potato salad for German potlucks, picnics, and a side dish for barbeque get-togethers. This salad is perfect for making for the communal table as you can also make this without mayo and bacon. However, if you are looking for some alternative options of German potato salad include;

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Serve This Potato Salad Hot?

It is best to serve German potato salad at room temperature. You must wait and let the salad gain room temperature; then, you can serve it. Nonetheless, it’s a delicious way to enjoy this classic dish, and I encourage you to experiment with different temperatures and serving styles to find what suits your palate best.

Can I eat a week-old potato salad?

Eating the potato salad the same day you make it is best, but if you have to store it in the refrigerator, you can only eat it within 5 days. That, too, will change the flavor and texture of the salad. After this time, the ingredients become soggy and inedible and can cause food poisoning. In short, you need to avoid a week-old potato salad.

German Potato Salad Without Bacon recipe

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