German Potato Salad with Apple and Gherkins

Apples and potatoes are a popular combination in German recipes. Therefore, it is unsurprising that you will find a version of their popular German potato salad recipe with apple and gherkins (or pickles as they are known in the US) .  A deliciously simple, nutritious, and yet surprisingly substantial salad this recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or a filling side dish.

Why Potatoes with Apples and Gherkins/ Pickles?

…”I can hear the unbeliever shout in disbelief? Well, let me tell you why potatoes and apples are a great combination. The combination of the potatoes with the apple and gherkins/ pickles create an unbelievable delicious sweet and sour salad. The apple adds some interest to the texture by providing some extra crunch which is constrasted by the soft texture of the potato. The gherkins add the sourness – which makes this such an exciting combination.  

How to serve this salad?

This salad goes well with a variety of dishes. As the apple adds that little freshness this dense salad, I think of it as the perfect summer potato salad.

In Germany, we would serve it at BBQ’s, buffets with sausages, or simply with a slice of bread during Abendbrot (German dinner time).

This German Potato Salad is served chilled.

Which apple variety to use for this salad?

I would recommend using tart apples for this potato salad. Here is a list of tart apple varieties:

• Braeburn
• Cox
• Granny Smith
• Bramley

How to make German Potato Salad with Apple and Gherkins

This recipe is great to prepare in advance. I like to make it the night before, to give the flavour enough time to infuse. Let’s get started:

Ingredients for 4 people

• 1 kg / 35 oz potatoes
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tsp caster sugar
• 100 ml / 3.4 fl oz liquid from your pickled gherkin jar
• 4-5 medium-sized gherkins
• 1 tart apple
• 50 ml white wine vinegar
• 100 ml 3.4 fl oz sunflower oil
• 1 large white onion finely chopped
• 5-6 spring onions
• Some chopped herbs such as chives (optional)
• salt and pepper to season

Recipe Steps

1. Boil the potatoes in water with a pinch of salt until soft (about 10-15 min depending on the size of your potatoes).
2. While the potatoes are boiling, peel and chop the onion finley. Combine the mustard, sugar, gherkin liquid, vinegar, and chopped onion in a jar. Screw on the lid and shake thoroughly to create the vinaigrette.
3. Peel the apple and chop into little (1 cm) chunks cube the gherkin/pickles.
4. While still warm, peel of the skin and chop the potatoes in about 1 cm wide slices.
5. Place the potatoes, apples and gherkins into a larger bowl.  Pour over the vinaigrette and mix carefully with a wooden spoon. Leave the warm potatoes to rest in the vinaigrette. This will help the potatoes to absorb the flavour.  Season with salt and pepper. I recommend you leave the salad in the fridge for at least 4 hours for the flavours to develop. Alternatively, you can also leave it to rest overnight.
6. Before serving stir in the chopped spring onions and garnish with chopped herbs.

How to store this potato salad?

Cover the salad and leave it in the fridge. It should stay good up to 3 days.

Here are more German Salad Recipes with Apple

• German Egg Salad with Apple
• Cucumbers and Radish Salad with Apple
• German Pasta Salad

For a potato salad recipe using mayonnaise, I would recommend trying this Amish Potato Salad Recipe.

Did you try this recipe?

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