Ina Garten’s Simple German Potato Salad Recipe Everyone Loves

Ina Garten German Potato Salad brings warm, hearty comfort straight from European culinary traditions.

Tangy and robust, this classic side dish transforms simple ingredients into something magnificently satisfying.

Regional cuisines often celebrate potatoes as their culinary cornerstone, connecting generations through shared flavors.

Crisp bacon adds smoky depth while vinegar provides sharp, bright undertones that awaken taste buds.

Sautéed onions contribute sweet caramelized notes that complement the starchy base perfectly.

Every bite promises a delightful balance between richness and acidity, making this recipe a crowd-pleasing favorite.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this dish comes together without compromising authentic flavor profiles: gather your ingredients and prepare for a mouthwatering experience.

What You’ll Need for Tangy Warm Potatoes

Main Ingredients:

• Potatoes: Starchy, waxy potatoes work best for holding shape in warm salad; red or Yukon gold potatoes recommended for best texture.
• Bacon: Provides rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture; choose thick-cut bacon for more substantial pieces.

• Onions: Adds sweet and caramelized undertones; yellow or white onions preferred for traditional German-style potato salad.
• Parsley: Fresh herb for bright garnish and subtle green flavor; flat-leaf variety offers more robust taste.

• White Vinegar, Water: Creates tangy, acidic base for authentic German potato salad; helps balance rich bacon flavor.
• Sugar: Balances vinegar's sharpness and rounds out overall taste profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing and layering flavors; freshly ground black pepper recommended.

How to Make It Without Mayo

Step 1: Boil Potatoes

Grab a large pot and place whole potatoes inside. Cover potatoes with cold water by 1 to 2 inches. Bring water to a rolling boil over high heat. Cook until potatoes feel soft when pierced with a fork, around 10 minutes. Drain water and let potatoes cool completely on a cutting board.

Step 2: Crisp The Bacon

Select a large skillet and cook bacon over medium-high heat until edges turn golden and crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Once cooled, crumble bacon into small bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Sauté Aromatic Onions

Keep the delicious bacon drippings in the skillet. Toss chopped onions into the pan and cook until edges become caramelized and rich brown, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 4: Create Tangy Dressing

• White vinegar
• Water
• Granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Stir ingredients and bring mixture to a quick boil.

Step 5: Combine Warm Potatoes

Gently fold cooked potatoes and half of the crumbled bacon into the skillet. Cook everything together for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.

Step 6: Garnish And Serve

Transfer potato salad to a beautiful serving dish. Sprinkle remaining bacon pieces on top. Finish with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and extra flavor.

Tips for Bacon, Vinegar, and Balance

• Select Waxy Potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes provide a creamy, sturdy base that won't break apart during mixing or while absorbing the delicious dressing.
• Crisp Bacon Technique: Drain bacon thoroughly on paper towels to remove excess grease, ensuring a crunchy texture and preventing the salad from becoming soggy.
• Caramelize Onions Carefully: Sauté onions slowly until they turn a deep golden brown, releasing their natural sweetness and adding a rich, complex flavor to the dish.
• Customize Dressing Balance: Taste and adjust the vinegar, sugar, and salt levels to create a harmonious blend of tangy, sweet, and savory notes that complement the potatoes and bacon.
• Handle Potatoes Gently: Fold the ingredients softly to keep potato chunks intact, maintaining a rustic texture and preventing them from turning into mashed potatoes.

Keeping the Salad Warm and Fresh

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract all air from the container using a vacuum sealer to preserve freshness and prevent moisture buildup. Lock in the potato salad's vibrant flavors and maintain its texture by removing oxygen that causes rapid degradation.
• Mason Jar Technique: Layer the potato salad carefully in clean glass mason jars, ensuring minimal air exposure. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator's coolest section, which helps maintain optimal taste and prevent bacterial growth.
• Portion Control Strategy: Divide the salad into smaller, individual serving containers before refrigerating. This approach prevents repeated temperature changes and potential contamination when repeatedly opening a large container, keeping the German potato salad fresher for longer.

Add-Ins for an Even Bolder Bite

• Herb-Infused German Potato Salad: Add fresh chopped dill, chives, and thyme to the dressing for an aromatic herbal twist.
• Spicy Bacon German Potato Salad: Mix in red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños for a fiery kick that complements the smoky bacon.
• Mustard-Enhanced German Potato Salad: Incorporate whole grain or Dijon mustard into the dressing for a tangy, robust flavor profile.
• Smoky Maple German Potato Salad: Replace sugar with maple syrup and add a dash of smoked paprika for a rich, caramelized undertone.

German Potato Salad Recap

German potato salad emerges as culinary poetry, weaving heritage and flavor into each delectable bite.

Bacon’s smoky whispers dance with tender potatoes, creating symphonic harmony on plates across kitchens.

Ina Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary memories that connect generations through traditional comfort.

Savory notes of vinegar and caramelized onions elevate this classic dish beyond mere sustenance.

Fragrant parsley adds fresh brightness, completing this masterful composition of textures and tastes.

Delicious discoveries await when familiar ingredients intertwine with passionate cooking – so grab those potatoes, crisp that bacon, and let family traditions simmer delightfully on your table.

Why German Potato Salad Brings Bold Flavor

• Savor Bold Bacon Flavor: The crispy, crumbled bacon adds an irresistible smoky punch that transforms ordinary potatoes into a mouthwatering side dish.
• Experience Warm Tangy Comfort: The hot dressing with vinegar creates a zesty, slightly sweet coating that perfectly coats each potato chunk, delivering a classic German-style taste sensation.
• Enjoy Quick and Easy Preparation: This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight side dish or last-minute gathering favorite that doesn't compromise on incredible flavor.

Ina Garten German Potato Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s German potato salad brings Bavarian comfort to summer gatherings with crispy bacon, tangy vinegar, and fresh herbs. Hearty potatoes mingle with zesty dressing, promising a delectable side dish that transports you straight to a German beer garden.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables and Starch:

• 3 cups (710 ml) diced peeled potatoes (Yukon Gold or similar variety recommended)
• 1 small onion, diced

Protein:

• 4 slices bacon

Seasonings and Liquids:

• ¼ cup (60 ml) white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
• 1 ½ tablespoons (22.5 ml) white sugar
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.6 ml) ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Cleanse the potatoes thoroughly, then submerge them in a spacious pot, ensuring they are covered by 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of water. Heat until bubbling and simmer until a fork easily pierces the potatoes, approximately 10 minutes. Carefully drain and allow to cool at room temperature.
2. Simultaneously, position bacon in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until achieving a crisp, golden texture. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate for draining and cooling, then delicately fragment into small, irregular pieces.
3. Retain the rendered bacon fat in the skillet and introduce diced onions. Sauté until developing a rich, caramelized brown color, roughly 6 to 8 minutes.
4. Integrate white vinegar, water, granulated sugar, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper into the onion mixture. Raise the temperature until the liquid reaches a vigorous boil.
5. Gently fold the cooked potatoes and approximately half of the crumbled bacon into the skillet. Warm together for 3 to 4 minutes, carefully stirring to prevent breaking the potato pieces.
6. Elegantly transfer the warm potato mixture to a serving platter. Garnish by sprinkling the remaining bacon fragments and fresh, chopped parsley across the surface before presenting to guests.

Notes

• Pick waxy, sturdy potatoes that won’t crumble during mixing and cooking.
• Crisp bacon transforms from limp to crunchy when strategically blotted on absorbent paper towels.
• Caramelize onions slowly, allowing natural sugars to develop deep, complex flavor profiles.
• Taste and tweak dressing components, creating a harmonious blend of zesty, sweet, and savory notes.
• Handle potato chunks delicately, preserving their structural integrity and preventing mushy texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: German

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 210 kcal
• Sugar: 3.75 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg