Authentic German Potato Salad

Fall is the time for cooler weather, bonfires, football, Oktoberfest and all the typical German food that goes with it. One of the most popular of all German foods is German Potato Salad or Kartoffelsalt as it is called in Germany. Here is my favorite recipe for this traditional food; it is perfect with bratwurst. It is a family tradition at our house.

Authentic German Potato Salad

1 lb small red skinned potatoes

2 hard boiled eggs chopped

¼ c sliced radishes

1 small red onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

6 thick slices of bacon

1 small cucumber seeded and chopped (optional - if using add at the very end.)

1/3 c white balsamic vinegar

1 t salt

¼ t celery seed

1/8 t black pepper

3 cups assorted greens (examples: iceberg, endive, buttercrunch...)

Directions:

1. Scrub and prick potatoes, place in boiling water until tender (about 12-15 min).
2. Remove potatoes from heat and drain.
3. Halve any large potatoes.
4. Combine Potatoes, eggs, onion, celery and radishes together.
5. Fry bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain and reserve 1/3 c drippings.
6. Crumble the bacon into the potato mixture.
7. To make dressing: To the reserve drippings add vinegar, salt, celery seed, and pepper and heat until warm and ready to serve. If added to salad prior to guests being ready to eat salad will be soggy.
8. When ready to serve mix lettuce with potato mixture and place dressing in gravy boat and serve along with salad.

Serving Suggestions:

In many places, you can find frozen pretzels to bake in the oven when fresh ones aren't available. When German potato salad, fresh baked soft pretzels, cold meat, cheese and salads are served together you have a traditional meal called a Bavarian Brotzeit.