Recipe for Southern German Potato Salad – Oma's Kartoffelsalat

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

Jump to recipe ⇣

Traditional German Potato Salad from southern Germany

This recipe for German potato salad is an easy way to learn how to make potato salad. This one's usually served warm, but it tastes great cold as well. 

It follows the method shown for Easy Potato Salad, but has an interesting variation for the dressing, more in the style of the salads eaten in southern Germany

By the way, the German wieners that are shown here have had their ends cut before being pan-fried. My Mutti used to do that for us, and I loved doing it for our boys when they were young. Makes a great kid-friendly meal!

Quick tip 

• If you have nice new potatoes, you can skip peeling them.
• Just scrub them well and slice.
• This is really a healthier way to eat potatoes.
  

That's not Like The German Potato Salad I've Had!

Well, that's because there is not just one recipe for German potato salad.

Basically, northern Germany uses mayonnaise in their potato salads, and southern Germany uses recipes similar to the one above. But, even there, there are variations and no rule applies!

There are almost as many recipes as there are German cooks! So, use these various potato salad recipes to kick-start your own variation!

The recipe below is usually eaten warm. In other words, while this is cooking, you can make the dressing, perhaps but the hamburgers on the grill. Finish off the salad, take the burgers off the grill, and enjoy a traditional German feast!

If the salad is still HOT, why you've just made a hot German potato salad recipe -- also very traditional! And, if it's cold, then it's also traditional!

Another southern German Potato Salad

There are so many variations on this most traditional German food ... there just isn't any one traditional recipe for it though. Here's anther one, that includes a most popular ingredient: bacon. 

Enjoy this potato salad all the way from southern Germany. No mayo in this one. And, it's so good!

The potato salad, above, is also served warm and is popular in the southern part of Germany. Again, so many recipes abound. You really need to try them all to see which on is your favorite.

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Oma Says:

What I find so humorous about this is, that my Mutti loved to make potato salad. We all loved potato salad.

AND, we only knew the mayonnaise type. AND, we only knew of the cold type, like this one here ... 

Go to northern German recipe >

And it is so very, very good.

Never, ever, did we eat our potato salad hot or warm. It was lovely cold from the fridge, where it needs to stay because of the mayo.

Now, though, I've learned different. I really enjoy the salad warm; somehow the flavors just seem to come through better. So I let the salad warm a bit to room temperature to serve. 

Ready to make Southern German Potato Salad?

Print Recipe ♥ Save Recipe

Recipe for Southern German Potato Salad – Oma's Kartoffelsalat

This recipe for German potato salad is an easy way to learn how to make potato salad. This one's usually served warm, but it tastes great cold as well. 

It follows the method shown for Easy Potato Salad, but has an interesting variation for the dressing, more in the style of the salads eaten in southern Germany

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cook Time:

10 minutes

Total Time:

30 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 - 2 onions, sliced
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetable broth (see Hints below)
• 1½ pounds (681 grams) potatoes, sliced
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) juice from a jar of dill pickles
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon (13 grams) sugar
• 4 - 5 dill pickles, cubed
• 1 bunch radishes, sliced (optional)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• chopped fresh chives, to garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, cook the onions in the butter until they become translucent.
2. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
3. Add the potatoes.
4. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Remove the pot from the heat.
5. In a small bowl, mix together the egg yolks, pickle juice, lemon juice, and sugar to make the dressing.
6. Pour the dressing over the potatoes and mix until the potatoes are well coated.
7. Stir in the pickles and radishes, and season with salt and pepper.
8. Garnish with chives, and serve.

Notes/Hints:

• Use 1 cup of water and a bouillon cube instead of the vegetable broth
• If you have German pickles, use those instead. Since German pickles are semi-sweet, omit the sugar in the recipe and only add if needed. 

*  *  *  *  *

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

Updated: March 23, 2026

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. Dill Pickle Soup: Dillgurkensuppe - A Hearty Weeknight Recipe

   Apr 05, 26 06:03 PM

   
   Love pickles? This easy dill pickle soup recipe, or Dillgurkensuppe, is quick and packed with pickle flavor, ham, and tender potatoes. It's sure to be your new go-to!

   Read More

2. Oma's Rhubarb Syrup Recipe (German Rhabarbersirup)

   Mar 15, 26 12:03 PM

   
   Make homemade rhubarb syrup with this easy German Rhabarbersirup recipe. Just 3 ingredients and a delicious way to use fresh rhubarb. And you also get rhubarb butter!

   Read More

3. Authentic German Potato Dumplings Recipe: Oma's Kartoffelknödel

   Mar 07, 26 09:03 PM

   
   German potato dumplings (kartoffelklöße) are a family favorite, the perfect side to almost any meal. I’ll show you exactly how I make them.

   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.