Do you love German potato salad and German Cucumber Salad - then this recipe is for you! This classic cucumber potato salad is made with a broth-and-vinegar dressing and fresh dill. The ultimate combination for your BBQ this summer, a salad that is filling and refreshing at the same time.
German Potato Cucumber Salad
There are hundreds of different German potato salad recipes in Germany. Every family has their own. Potato salad has been part of Germany’s food culture since the 17th century. When people abroad hear the term "German potato salad" - they think of a boiled potato salad made with a broth vinegarette. However, potato salads have regional variations.
In the south of Germany, Bohemia, and Austria, the recipes tend to use a dressing made from broth, oil, and vinegar. (See the Swabian Potato Salad for example) In the North, potato salads using a dressing with mayonnaise (affiliate link) is more common. (See the Northern German Potato Salad for example)
Not only do the dressings in the recipes differ, but also the ingredients. So for example in the East of Germany a potato salad made with Fleischsalat, is very popular, whereas this is a cucumber dill potato salad. This salad with naturally vegan and vegetarian.
How to make potato salad with cucumber and dill
Ingredients:
- waxy potatoes (Russet, red potatoes, Charlotte, Royal jersey or Yukon gold are good varieties to use)
- onion
- cucumber (use an English Cucumber. If you want you can peel it, but I prefer to wash it, and it it with the peel on.)
- vegetable broth /stock
- sugar - just a little bit to create the traditional sweet and sour flavour.
- mustard (affiliate link) ( if you can use German mustard (affiliate link), otherwise dijon mustard (affiliate link) will do)
- neutral oil (I used sunflower oil, but rapeseed oil or avocado oil is also good)
- white vine vinegar (can be substituted with cider vinegar)
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- 2 tablespoon fresh finely chopped dill / use more if you are using dried dill as the flavor is weaker
Recipe Steps
- Bring a large pot of water with the salt to boil. Wash the potatoes with the skin on and boil them until soft.
- In the meantime, peel and finely dice the onion. Heat the sunflower oil in a pan and fry the onions until translucent.
- Pour the vegetable stock (affiliate link)/broth into the pan and boil with the onions on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper, sugar and white wine vinegar and mustard (affiliate link)
- Once the potatoes are boiled you can peel them while still warm. Slice the potatoes into 1 cm wide slices and place into a large salad bowl.
- Pour the warm dressing over the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Leave to cool for about an hour and the warm potatoes soak up the vinegarette. Before serving, add in the cucumber and dill. Guten Appetit!
Variations
This is an updated post. In my original posts, I had added in ½ lb / 200 g of sliced radishes which also worked well. See below the old images.
How to serve German Potato Cucumber Salad?
Serve this cucumber dill potato salad cold and chilled. There are recipes for warm potato salads, but this is meant to be a refreshing light salad.
This salad pairs well with grilled meats and sausages. It also made a good side to Schnitzel. Here are some popular German dishes to serve with your potato cucumber salad.
Storage Instructions
Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It should be good up to three days.
Prepare this cucumber and potato salad ahead of time. I would suggest making it the night before. For the best result add the cucumber and dill on the day you are serving it.
Do not freeze this salad. Technically it should be possible but taste it is a NO NO! When defrosted the potatoes become a little soggy and soft.If you made too much potato salad it is a way better option to give a portion to friends or neighbours or combine it with different other dishes (see above) so it does not get too boring.
More German Salad Recipes
This post was first published in May 2014 and updated in May 2021, July 2024
Recipe
Easy German Potato Salad with Cucumber
Ingredients
- 1 kg potatoes waxy potatoes such as red potatoes, Yukon Gold, Russet, Charlotte, Royal jersey or new potatoes
- 150 ml vegetable broth/ stock 5 fl oz
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 white onion about 120 g/ 4.5 oz
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped dill use more if you are using dried dill as the flavour is weaker
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tsp mustard
- 3 tablespoon sunflower oil other vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoon white wine vinegar alternativley use cider vinegar
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water with the salt to boil. Wash the potatoes with the skin on and boil them until soft.1 kg potatoes
- In the meantime, peel and finely dice the onion. Heatthe sunflower oil in a pan and fry the onions until translucent.1 white onion, 3 tablespoon sunflower oil
- Pour the vegetable stock (affiliate link)/broth into the pan and boil with the onions on medium heat for about 5 minutes.150 ml vegetable broth/ stock
- Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper, sugar and white wine vinegar and mustard (affiliate link)
- Once the potatoes are boiled you can peel them while still warm. Slice the potatoes into 1 cm wide slices and place into a large salad bowl.
- Wash the cucumber. You can peel it if you prefer, but that is optional. Using a vegetable mandolin, or a sharp knife slice the cucumber into thin stripes. Place in a colander and sprinkle with salt, this will drive our the excess moisture our of the cucumber.1 English cucumber
- Pour the warm dressing over the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Leave to cool for about an hour and the warm potatoes soak up the vinegarette.2 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
- Before serving, add in the cucumber and dill. Guten Appetit!
Jean
LOVED this... when I saw it had radish in, I was not sure, but so glad I did. Now will use this salad every time. Thank you for this
Marita
I am happy that you gave this recipe a try. It is so easy and my family loves it as well.
Lesley
I love a good potato salad and dill is one of my favourite fresh herbs to use.
Marita
Thank you Lesley, hope the rain clears up so you can try it on your next BBQ
Emily
We love German potato salad in my house and I can't wait to try your recipe!! And I love that German food always has Dill because I love, love, love dill! LOL! Thanks for sharing!
Marita
Thank you Emily. Hope you enjoy this
Gregory Halpen
I am not always a fan of sweet-ish savory dishes, but this looks AMAZING! I would do make this too. A great alternative to potato salad made with Mayo.
Marita
Thank you hope you get to try it
Jeannie
this looks delicious, a vegan potato salad! I need a plate now
Marita
Thank you Jeannie