A German style potato salad is also known as Kartoffelsalat and is a savory and tangy side dish that is made traditionally without any mayonnaise and is instead dressed with a warm vinegar based dressing.
German style potato salad also is heavily featured with crispy bacon and sauteed onions.
And what many people in North America also recognize as "German potato salad" specifically replicates the southern German Bavarian and Swabian styles of potato salads that are served warm or at room temperature.
Instead of a thick mayo coating like American potato salad, German style potato salad uses a hot vinaigrette that is often built or made from rendered bacon fat, white or cider vinegar, a touch of water or broth, mustard and a pinch of sugar to balance out the acidity.
German style potato salad is often also served warm traditionally, and the hot dressing is poured over freshly boiled, sliced potatoes so that they absorb the liquid like a sponge.
For the potatoes in German style potato salad, recipes for German style potato salad strictly favor waxy potato varieties like Yukon Gold potatoes or red potatoes, because they hold their sliced shape and don't turn to mush when tossed.
The German style potato salad is also loaded with crumbled, crispy bacon and onions that are cooked directly in the bacon grease.
And German style potato salad is also commonly garnished with fresh parsley, chives or dill for a pop of freshness.
And while the warm bacon and vinegar version of German style potato salad is most famous globally, the German style potato salad also varies significantly inside of Germany.
Bavaria and Swabia German potato salad is found in southern Germany and is a classic warm style potato salad.
Swabian style potato salad also known as (Schwäbischer Kartoffelsalat), focuses heavily on mixing of the warm potatoes with hot beef broth, oil, vinegar and mustard, and often skips the bacon entirely to create a naturally creamy texture from the released potato starches.
And unlike the south, northern regions of Germany actually prefer the creamy, mayonnaise based potato salad that is served cold.
It also frequently includes apples, hard boiled eggs, gherkins (pickled cucumbers), or even radishes.
And because the southern version of German style mayonnaise lacks mayonnaise, it is also highly popular for summer barbecues and outdoor picnics since it can sit out at room temperature longer without spoiling and it serves as a nice classic accompaniment to traditional German main courses such as schnitzel and grilled bratwurst.