Mutti's Potato and Herring Salad (Kartoffel-Heringsalat)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Jump to recipe ⇣

German Potato and Herring Salad! A yummy recipe straight from my very own Mutti's cookbook. That makes it even more special and delicious when I make it!

This Potato and Herring Salad recipe, aka Kartoffel-Heringsalat, comes from my Mutti's handwritten cookbook. She usually made it as one of her party buffet recipes.

As well, she often made this traditional German food as a special treat for our summer picnics. To differentiate this salad from potato salad, Mutti would add slices of pickled red beets.

The resulting pink-colored herring salad became her trademark. I used to think it was her special way of making this salad special. It wasn't till I was older and had traveled to Germany that I realized adding beets to herring and potato salad was normal. 

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Which Herring to use ...

Use pickled herring that's sold in jars. Drain well and cut the herring into smaller pieces. If onions are in the jars, chop these and add to the salad as well.

If the pickled herring you've bought still has the back-bones in it, you'll need to remove this. Just cut along the back-bone and pull the flesh away from it.

You'll find a different version of the herring salad recipe minus the potatoes as Heringsalat, a great treat that my kids loved when they were little. Sweet and sour and creamy, too! Herring recipes that kids would love. Who would believe that?

Ready to make this potato & herring salad?

Print Recipe

Mutti's Potato and Herring Salad Recipe – Kartoffel-Heringsalat

This Potato and Herring Salad recipe, aka Kartoffel-Heringsalat, comes from my Mutti's handwritten cookbook. 

To differentiate this salad from potato salad, Mutti would add slices of pickled red beets.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time none

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons (90 grams) sour cream
• 1½ tablespoons (22.5 milliliters) lemon juice
• 1½ pounds (681 grams) cooked potatoes, sliced
• 1 cup (150 grams) diced pickled herring
• 1 large celery stalk, diced
• 1 15-ounce (425-gram) can whole beets, drained and diced
• minced parsley and chives, to taste
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream and lemon juice.
2. Add the potatoes, herring, and celery and toss gently.
3. Add the beets and toss gently.
4. Season with parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
5. Serve chilled.

Notes/Hints:

• Use the pickled herring that's sold in jars. Drain well and cut the herring into smaller pieces. If onions are in the jar, chop these and add to the salad as well.
• If the pickled herring you've bought still has the backbones in them, you'll need to remove them. Just cut along the backbone and pull the flesh away from it.
• Add some diced onions or green onions.
• The potatoes, herring, and beets can be sliced or cubed instead.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

05.13.2023 revision update

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch

Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.

 

Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰

 

Email address

First name

CLICK TO JOIN NOW

Thanks for joining!

Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

---

Follow Oma on Social Media:

instagramyoutubefacebookpinterest

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

• 
• 

1. Obatzda Recipe - Traditional Bavaria Beer Cheese Dip

   Jul 21, 25 09:13 PM

   
   Authentic Obatzda recipe! This creamy Bavarian beer cheese dip is perfect for Oktoberfest. Serve with pretzels for the best German party snack.

   Read More

2. One-Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables: Oma's Brathähnchen

   Jul 10, 25 08:07 PM

   
   This one-pan Brathähnchen is my easy German roast chicken ... crispy, juicy, and perfect for lazy weekends or cozy dinners.

   Read More

3. Mutti's Lamb Stew With Green Beans (Lammeintopf Mit Bohnen)

   Jul 10, 25 08:02 PM

   
   Here's my recipe for lamb stew with a traditional German twist ... hearty, simple, and full of flavor. A one-pot comfort dish just like my Mutti used to make.

   Read More

Let's connect...

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.