The Potato Salad Debate: Which One Is More Authentic?

Which potato salad is more authentic German? The one made with mayo or the one with oil and vinegar? Find out in this short!

[Chicagoroll]

I am from Bavaria and mom would always use vinegar and oil. The very first I was introduced to mayonnaise potato salad when I came to the USA. Still grave my mom’s potato salad.

[christian]

I like them
Both 😂. Traditionally my mom made hers with mayo so that’s what I do BUT when I lived in Southern Bavaria, I very much enjoyed the oil/vinegar potato salad. I’ve tried making oil/vinegar potato salad before but I can’t ever get it to taste as good as I remember when I lived in Germany. ❤

[metajones]

Well I am from the south Germany so we always had the oil and vinegar based potato salad. I love both potato salad but I do prefer the one my mama always made

[mysikind]

In Summer we make the mayo potato salad and in cooler weather we make the oil and vinegar one. We just call it hot potato salad. I love both as do the family. ❤

[lorijohnson]

OMG. My first time eating German potato salad! I was in Germany. It changed my food world definitely. Love it

[schandler]

My German a.erican grandmother used oil vinegar base served cold or at room temperature.

[deannepuder]

I like them both but my Oma always made the warm one with bacon and vinegar, etc. -- even though she was from north of Hamburg!

[mschenandlerbong]

I'm gonna say it. And I'm sorry... truly.

"Authentic" isn't always better. When it comes to German food, it's rarely better. If they had mayo on their potato salad they would be much happier.

And just because I'm a terrible person, I will point out that mayo is oil, vinegar, salt and an egg to emulsify. So their version is the same thing, minus the emulsifying egg. So.. no creaminess. Just starchiness.

[TorchwoodJHarkness]

My is from the Southern part of Germany (Ellwangen) she would make both kinds of potato salad when I was growing up. At Christmas she made this potato salad with a lot of different things in it (franks, mayo, eggs, herring, onion, pickles) and other times of the year she made this potato salad that had oil, vinegar and cucumber. I loved both, they were both great in their own way. She did make a warm potato salad from time to time, but not as much as the other two which were always cold when she served them.

[ninakirkland]

I grew up with the pickle/onion/warm potatoes, oil and vinegar. Never had it with mayo until we moved to America.

[DajanaWindtSpaargaren]

I am from the south of Germany. Vinegar, Oil, broth and bacon are a must in salad. We never had it with mayo. I was introduced to potato salad with mayo here in USA. It is a regional thing as with every German cooked recipe. Liebe Grüße aus Chicago USA

[toneymitchell]

Olive oil, sweet pickle juice, boiled eggs, Diced sweet pickles, boiled potatoes. Blended like mashed potatoes then lightly sprinkle cayenne or paprika on top. The taste is a nice sweet&sour with a delightful texture that melts in your mouth. It is delicious, so much so it is almost like a desert!

[HammarM]

Like both creamy and French potato salads (as the ones with vinaigrette are called here in 🇸🇪). But prefer the creamy without mayonnaise, I use yoghurt and prefer to do it myself instead of buying it from the stores. ☺️

[amechealle]

I miss my grandfather’s, German potato salad, the real German potato salad and oh my gosh I also miss his sauerkraut. He also made his own pickles, bread, you name it.

[minimalishgermanish]

I grew up in Darmstadt I make mine with oil vinegar bacon dill onions parsley chives salt pepper and little golden potatoes 🥔 I’ve only had American with mayo but I’m sure like you said it is based on region 🇩🇪

[opknox]

I went to your blog and downloaded both your potato salad recipes. I actually don't like potato salad that much. Always had a hard time finding a good one. I tried BOTH of yours - the creamy one and the hot one. They were both good but I really liked the creamy one better. It was so refreshing and unexpected. So that's the one I'll be sticking to. Vielen Dank!

[Barbdaisey]

I want to make both of your potato salad recipes to see the difference. I am particularly curious to see how your vinegar potato salad tastes compared to mine. You prepare yours differently than I do. We use more vinegar. Thank you for sharing your recipes.

[debbiefarner]

My mayo based salad has vinegar & mustard in it, it's my most highly requested dish from friends & customers! My warm German potato salad recipe has no oil in it, there's bacon & vinegar. It is pretty awesome, too. Both came from my mother in law.

[LettersFromAFriend]

The broth&bacon warm potato salad is eaten in the southwest. My family (south of Lower Saxony) has always made a cold potato salad WITHOUT mayonnaise, broth or bacon, but WITH vinaigrette, pickles and eggs. The potatoes need to keep their shape and should not be mushy.

[michaeldebby]

I only like them in germany (both) but the ones here in the netherlands are grose. I like them worm in winter and like the cold ones in summer.