Warm German Potato Salad
Warm potatoes dressed in a bacon, vinegar and stock dressing rather than mayonnaise — sharper, lighter, and much better alongside anything grilled. Dress them hot so they drink it in.
Method
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Boil the potatoes whole in their skins in well-salted water for 20 to 25 minutes, until a knife slides in easily.
-
Meanwhile render the bacon in a dry pan over medium heat for 8 minutes until crisp, then lift out with a slotted spoon.
-
Cook the onion in the bacon fat for 6 minutes until soft and translucent.
-
Add the hot stock, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer for 3 minutes. Taste — it should be sharp.
-
Drain the potatoes and, as soon as you can handle them, peel and slice them 5 mm thick straight into a wide bowl.
-
Pour the hot dressing over the warm potato slices and fold gently. Leave for 15 minutes so they absorb it.
-
Fold through the bacon, spring onions and most of the herbs, adding the oil last.
-
Taste again — warm potatoes absorb a great deal of salt and acid — and serve warm or at room temperature, scattered with the remaining herbs.
Chef’s Tips
- Peel and slice the potatoes while hot. It is uncomfortable but it is the whole technique.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes before serving so the dressing is fully absorbed rather than pooling.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the bacon with fried mushrooms and use a smoked paprika-spiked stock.
Pairing Suggestions
- A cold Pilsner or a dry Riesling
- Serve with schnitzel, sausages or grilled fish
- Follow with Black Forest cake
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate 3 days. Bring to room temperature or warm gently before serving; it is unpleasant fridge-cold.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.