This is such an old fashioned dish. It has been around for years. But it is one of my favorite ways to enjoy one of my favorite starches, POTATOES. I love them in all of there guises; mashed, scalloped, au gratined, gratineed, pancaked, croquetted, baked and sauteed. Give me a potato and I can make a meal. My Mother used to make the best potato soup with just a ham bone, potatoes, onions and water. She was renowned for her potato pancakes and the secret to their crispy goodness was in the grater, which I have inherited. It is an ancient grater that she got from her Mother. This was before there was such a thing as a box grater. The holes are just the right size; smaller that the the biggest holes on a box grater, but not as small as the unusable size on the box grater. I still haven’t figured out what to do with that side. It is not even good for zesting. My Mother’s grater has the perfect size holes for potato pancakes.
But this is supposed to be a post about hot German potato salad. We had a pork roast the other night and I was tired of mashed potatoes so I made this classic standby. I have experimented with German potato salad over the years and this is now my favorite way to make it. It is a little bit sour from the vinegar which it is supposed to be, but tempered with a little sugar and enriched with chicken broth. Of course the bacon is the best part. Enjoy.
HOT GERMAN POTAOT SALAD
6 medium- sized Russet potatoes, boiled, cooled and cubed
4 slices of bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
3/4 cup chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish
In a large skillet, cook bacon until it is crisp. Remove to paper towel to drain. Pour off a little of the fat in the pan. Add the onion and cook until is is softened. Add the flour and cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the sugar, vinegar and chicken broth and cook until the sauce has thickened. Add the cooled cubed potatoes and mix into the sauce. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes to let the flavors meld. Pour into a serving dish and garnish with the bacon and parsley.
I am linking this to the Hearth ‘n Soul blog hop carnival. You should see what wonderful food is being presented this week. Check it out.
Oh Penny…you just made me drool! I grew up with my grandma’s hot german potato salad…this looks amazing!
I haven’t made this in years! And I always loved it. You’ve posted a super recipe, Penny. Thanks for reminding us what a great salad this is! Love that bacon and vinegar, don’t you?
The old recipes are the best.
Yay! Thanks for addingit to the hearth and soul hop, Penny 😀
I have not had this dish in years, I think it is time again! Thanks.
I have never had German potato salad. When my son was working in the kitchens in Switzerland, he said it was very popular. Tempted to try this.
Penny,
I haven’t had German potato salad in a zillion years and I love it. My grandmother used to make hers from a German recipe that was passed down from her husband’s mother (my grandfather’s mother.) That great-grandmother was German and came to this country after the Civil War. I’ll be making yours soon. It will bring back great memories.
Last Saturday was such fun in Asheville. We’ll have to get together again soon.
Hugs,
Sam
Sounds wonderful!!! Will definitely give this a go!
Now my mouth is watering! I haven’t made german potato salad in a long time. I am printing out your recipe!
Hugs,
Penny
From My Cottage to Your’s
We love German Potato Salad. Your recipe looks very good and I will give it a try soon.
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Oh, this brings back memories…my mother made the best!
XO,
Janie
Hi Penny, while this post IS about hot potato salad, I love the bit about your mamma and her potato pancakes. I am such a mush when it comes to hearing about how folks developed their foodie love and who influenced them. More often than not it’s their momma or gran. I also love that a simple kitchen utensil can bring such joy. I have my gran’s wooden mortar and pestle (in the hearth and soul hop badge!) and it means more to me than any of her old jewelery I got handed down to me.
Your german potato salad looks absolutely delicious and I am certainly going to try it soon because for my hubby, nothing is better than taters and bacon! Thanks so much for sharing this week on the hearth and soul hop! All the best! Alex@amoderatelife
Just reading about your Grandmother’s grater was a glimpse of how all your cuisine and cooking experience has been handed down over the generations, and that’s some of my favorite reading. I write so much about my Mammaw’s cooking because she was the principal influence in my life, and she never made me feel in the way or messy (which I certainly WAS) in the kitchen.
The recipe is just lagniappe to all the potato lore you shared, and I’m gonna go compare it to my neighbor’s famous recipe. She’s a dear sweet eightyish lady who moved here in the Forties with her American G.I. husband.
And OHHHH, her pastries!!
This sounds so delicious and I loved the story of your Grandmother’s grater..
Why do you suppose the holes are so wrong on a box grater? How blessed you are to have your grandmother’s grater! My husband would be drooling if you saw your potato salad! Thanks for sharing this with us at the hearth and soul hop!
Penny, this is exactly the kind of dish I crave this time of year. Every once in a while my father would forsake his French-inspired food for heartier German fare. I didn’t much like it as a child, but have since developed a taste for it.
This is definitely a mouthwatering dish. It looks and sounds delicious.