6 Traditional German Salad Recipe Ideas You Need to Try

Salads in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are often served as sides with other courses or occasionally as a luncheon meal in itself.

You will rarely come across these salads outside Europe, yet each of the salads listed below is special in its own right.

These salads are typically healthier, tangy, and very flavorful at the same time. You can try adding them to your weekly meal plan or surprise your family and friends at a BBQ cookout.

Warm Bavarian Potato Salad Recipe

A Bavarian potato salad is a warm potato salad made with a vinegar and oil dressing. The salad complements other German main course dishes as a side dish.

German Cucumber Dill Salad

Creamy German Cucumber Dill Salad, aka Gurkensalat. You can choose to slice your cucumbers fine (the way they do it in Germany) or to cut thicker slices to add crunch (the way I do it).

Scarlet Runner Bean Salad Recipe

The scarlet bean is mostly grown in Styria, Austria. This large broad bean is dressed with a dark green nutty pumpkin seed oil from the region, making this an exceptional regional salad specialty.

Bavarian Radi Salad Recipe

The shredded version to make Bavarian Radi Salad. The white “beer-radish” variety is turned into a flavorful side dish salad. This salad is also known as the beer garden salad.

Sausage Salad Recipe (Wurstsalat)

A classic sausage salad always contains luncheon meat leftovers and cheese slices as well. Nothing is ever wasted, and that is how this luncheon salad came to be. Best enjoyed cooled on a hot summer day with pickled cucumbers and warm crunchy bread.

German Coleslaw Recipe

My favorite use for this light cabbage slaw is to side it with a delicious goulash soup or stewed goulash meats. The tangy flavor elements add a satisfying balance to your meal.