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    Home » Vegetarian

    Easy German Egg Salad with Pickles and Apple (Eiersalat)

    Published: Mar 4, 2024 · Modified: Mar 1, 2025 by Marita Sinden · 3 Comments

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    German Egg Salad Recipe Pin

    This creamy Egg Salad with Pickles and Apples is so easy to make and is perfect for egg sandwiches. An authentic German egg salad recipe, that has been passed to me by my mum. It is also a great savory option for breakfast or a side for a BBQ.

    German Egg Salad with Pickles
    Jump to:
    • What is German Egg Salad (Eiersalat)?
    • How to make Egg Salad with Pickles and Apples?
    • Dill Pickle Egg Salad Recipe Variations
    • Ways to serve egg salad
    • Storage Instructions
    • More German Salad Recipes
    • Recipe

    What is German Egg Salad (Eiersalat)?

    Eiersalat (egg salat) is a popular German dish that is served on bread or at BBQs. You will find it has a distinct sweet and sour taste to it.

    Eier is the German word for eggs, and "salat" is the word for salad. Eiersalat is often served with bread and can be a delicious savory sandwich filling. However, it also goes very well with grilled meat. Eggs and apples are a combination that works surprisingly well together.

    I often get asked if this traditional egg salad with apples and pickles is from a particular area of Germany. There is not one distinct area this salad originates from. However, German cuisine is full of recipes which have apples added to them. Here are more recipes with apples:

    • Apfelpfannkuchen-german pancakes with apples
      Fluffy Apfelpfannkuchen (authentic German apple pancakes)
    • German Potato Salad on a White Plate. Around there is some cut up apple, a jar of Ghekins and some unpealed potatoes
      German Potato Salad with Apple and Gherkins
    • Slice of German Apple Pie.
      Best German Apple Pie (Gedeckter Apfelkuchen)
    • Apple Strudel puff pastry
      Quick and Easy Apple Strudel with Puff Pastry

    Why you will love this Pickle Apple Egg Salad?

    For me, this is the best egg salad recipe there is. I often find egg salads boring. They feel heavy, overloaded with mayo, and simply unimaginative. This recipe is refreshing and puts a flavorful spin on the classic egg salad.

    What I love about this Eiersalat recipe

    • it has an interesting contrast in flavor. The fruity apple with the tangy dill pickles gives it a distinct sweet and sour taste.
    • the egg salad has different textures. From the soft egg to crunchy pickles, onions, and apples.
    • This is a light egg salad recipe. Only three tablespoons of mayonnaise (affiliate link) are needed to make the salad nice and creamy. I often use low-fat mayonnaise (affiliate link), or sometimes I swap out the mayo for creme fraiche, for an even lighter version.
    • it is ready in 15 minutes (and this includes hard-boiling the egg!)
    German Egg Salad and Apple

    How to make Egg Salad with Pickles and Apples?

    Ingredients you will need:

    Find the exact quantities in the printable recipe card below.

    • hard-boiled eggs (medium size. Hard-boiling should take around 10 minutes)
    • apple (a tangy apple is best. I like to use Granny Smith or braeburn apples)
    • pickled gherkins (affiliate link) (I like to use dill pickles but you can also use cornichons)
    • chives (can be replaced with fresh dill)
    • mayonnaise (affiliate link)
    • lemon juice
    • salt and pepper to taste

    German Egg Salad Recipe Steps

    1. To hard boil the eggs, bring a small saucepan with water to boil. Then carefully add the eggs and set a timer for 10 minutes. Cool the eggs after boiling in cold water (a bowl of ice water will even be faster).
    2. While the eggs are boiling, you can start with the rest of the ingredients. Peel and finely slice the apples and cube dill pickles.
    3. Combine the mayonnaise (affiliate link) and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
    4. Once the eggs are cooled, peel and finely chop them in a medium bowl. Add the chopped apples, pickles, and chives, stir in the mayo dressing, and mix until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    5. Serve the egg salad at room temperature for the best taste.
    German Egg Salad Sandwich

    Dill Pickle Egg Salad Recipe Variations

    • for a lighter egg salad, replace the mayonnaise (affiliate link) with a low-fat mayo, or creme fraiche. I would advise against using Greek yogurt, as this will make the salad too liquid.
    • you can adjust the salad dressing to your taste by, for example, adding a teaspoon of Dijon mustard (affiliate link) or whole grain mustard (affiliate link) to the salad.
    • replace the lemon juice with pickle juice.
    • substitute the chives with dill or spring onion

    Ways to serve egg salad

    Make egg salad sandwiches

    Try this egg and apple salad on some rye bread, soft sandwich bread or some nice crusty white bread. I love it with some crackers for Abendbrot (a lite German dinner) or as a savory German breakfast sandwich. Drain the liquid before wrapping the sandwich to go.

    Bring this homemade Egg Salad at a BBQ (Grillfest)

    This salad goes very well with meat (try it with Schwenkbraten, Bratwurst or Grillfackeln). My family serves it at every BBQ. It is great to dip your bread rolls into it while you wait for your sausage to cook.

    Save this recipe for Easter

    I love this apple and egg salad recipe and make it often. However, you can guarantee that it is on our menu after Easter. What else to make with all those colored eggs? 😊

    German Egg Salad for Bread

    Storage Instructions

    Store your homemade egg salad in an air-tight container in the fridge up to 4 days.

    Can you freeze egg salad with mayonnaise?

    It is not recommended to freeze egg salad with mayonnaise (affiliate link), as the taste and texture will change during the process. Also, mayonnaise (affiliate link) does not defrost very well, as the water and oil will separate which will make the texture appear unappetizing.

    More German Salad Recipes

    • German Apple Carrot Salad with lemons and carrots in the background
      Traditional German Carrot Salad (Karottensalat)
    • Spinach and Beetroot Salad
      German Spinach and Beetroot Salad
    • Tomatensalat
      Simple German Tomato Salad (Tomatensalat)
    • a bowl of cucumber radish salad
      Creamy German Cucumber and Radish Salad

    Recipe

    German Egg Salad with Pickles

    German Egg and Apple Salad

    Marita
    This German egg and apple salad recipe has a lovely creamy texture and a delicious sweet and sour flavour.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    I look forward to your feedback. Just click the stars above.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Dinner, Dip
    Cuisine German
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 200 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 eggs medium size
    • ½ apple tart apple, such as Granny Smith or Braeburn
    • 2-3 dill pickles can be subsituted with cornichons
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoon mayonnaise low fat if desired
    • 1 teaspoon chopped chives
    • salt and pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • To hard boil the eggs, bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Then gently add the eggs and set a timer for 10 minutes. Cool the eggs after boiling in cold water (a bowl of ice water will cool the eggs even faster).
      6 eggs
    • While the eggs are boiling, you can start with the rest of the ingredients. Peel and finely slice the apples and slice the dill pickles.
      ½ apple, 2-3 dill pickles
    • Combine the mayonnaise (affiliate link) and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
      3 tablespoon mayonnaise (affiliate link), 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • Once the eggs are cooled, peel and finely chop them in a medium bowl. Add the chopped apples, pickles, and chives, stir in the mayo dressing, and stir until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
      1 teaspoon chopped chives, salt and pepper to taste
    • Serve the egg salad at room temperature for the best taste. Taste great on rye bread or baguette.

    Video

    Notes

    Storage Instructions

    Store your homemade egg salad in an air-tight container in the fridge up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this salad. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 10gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 284mgSodium: 166mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 410IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Egg and Apple Salad, Egg Sandwich Filling, Egg Sandwich Spread, German Egg Salad
    Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Please leave a quick Comment and star rating. I appreciate your feedback.

    More Vegetarian

    • Rhubarb Streusel Cake Slice
      Rhubarb Streusel Cake (Rhabarberkuchen)
    • Homemade Quarkbällchen (German Donut Balls)
    • Tiroler Spinatknödel
      Homemade Spinatknödel (Spinach Dumplings) with Parmesan
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      Quarkkeulchen (German Potato Pancakes with mashed potato)
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    Comments

      4.86 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa says

      December 01, 2020 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars

      This version of the German egg salad is super tasty! The apple adds an extra crunch which I really enjoyed. Definitely recommend this recipe!

      Reply
    2. Natalie says

      December 01, 2020 at 12:12 pm

      5 stars

      5 stars
      Super lecker der Salat! Man kann ihn auch gut in einem Glas abgefüllt für den nächsten Tag aufheben 🙂

      Reply
    3. Eva says

      December 01, 2020 at 10:47 am

      5 stars

      5 stars
      My mother use to make this salad for me. Love it and very easy

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Marita

    Food enthusiast & home cook. I returned to Germany after living in the UK for 20 years. Here at My Dinner, you will find traditional and authentic German recipes with cultural backgrounds.

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