A flavorful salad with a dressing void of mayonnaise

Austrian Potato Salad (Erdäpfelsalat)

By Bianca Borges

Appears in July-August 2017

30 minutes

Free

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Austrian cooks add flavor and creaminess to their potato salad without mayonnaise by cooking the potatoes in chicken stock, then using the starchy cooking liquid as the base for the dressing. That means you can skip the mayonnaise. Cornichon brine, red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard provide sharp notes; celery and fresh dill add crunch and bright flavor. Many recipes call for waxy potatoes, but we chose Yukon Golds for their rich flavor and creamy texture. If your potatoes are quite large, quarter them instead of halving before slicing.

4

Servings

Tip

Don’t overcook—or undercook—the potatoes. The cooked potatoes should be firm but not grainy, creamy in the center and just starting to fall apart at the edges. This texture is important, as some of the potatoes will break down into the salad. But if they’re too soft, they will turn into mashed potatoes.

30 minutes

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced ¼-inch thick

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped cornichons, plus 1 tablespoon brine

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided

1/2 cup diced red onion (about ½ medium)

1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

1/4 cup grapeseed or other neutral oil

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1/2 cup diced celery (about 2 medium stalks)

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

Ingredients

2

pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced ¼-inch thick
2

cups low-sodium chicken broth
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
¼

cup finely chopped cornichons, plus 1 tablespoon brine
2

tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
½

cup diced red onion (about ½ medium)
½

teaspoon caraway seeds
¼

cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
1

tablespoon dijon mustard
½

cup diced celery (about 2 medium stalks)
2

hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
¼

cup chopped fresh dill

Milk Street Recipes

Austrian Potato Salad: No Mayonnaise Required

Directions

01

In a medium saucepan, combine the potatoes, broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium-high then reduce to medium-low and cook until a skewer inserted into the potatoes meets no resistance, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the cornichon brine, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and ½ teaspoon pepper.

See Demo
02

In the empty pan, combine the reserved cooking liquid with the onion and caraway seeds and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and stir well. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.

See Demo
03

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar, ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper until emulsified. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and add the celery, cornichons, dill, and eggs, if using, then fold until well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

See Demo

Tip: Don’t overcook—or undercook—the potatoes. The cooked potatoes should be firm but not grainy, creamy in the center and just starting to fall apart at the edges. This texture is important, as some of the potatoes will break down into the salad. But if they’re too soft, they will turn into mashed potatoes.

Sides

Minty Green Pea Salad with Lemon and Feta

Chili-Soy Noodles with Bok Choy and Peanuts

Miso-Gochujang Umami Sauce

Smothered Cauliflower with Tomatoes and Capers

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Simple, Bold Recipes

Austrian Potato Salad (Erdäpfelsalat)

Get Ready to Cook

4

Servings

30 minutes

Tip

Ingredients

2

pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced ¼-inch thick
2

cups low-sodium chicken broth
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
¼

cup finely chopped cornichons, plus 1 tablespoon brine
2

tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
½

cup diced red onion (about ½ medium)
½

teaspoon caraway seeds
¼

cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
1

tablespoon dijon mustard
½

cup diced celery (about 2 medium stalks)
2

hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
¼

cup chopped fresh dill

Milk Street Recipes

Austrian Potato Salad: No Mayonnaise Required

Boil the potatoes, drain and add cornichon, vinegar and pepper

pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced ¼-inch thick

teaspoon kosher salt

tablespoon cornichon brine

teaspoon ground black pepper

In a medium saucepan, combine the potatoes, broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium-high then reduce to medium-low and cook until a skewer inserted into the potatoes meets no resistance, 8 to 10 minutes.

Reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the cornichon brine, 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and ½ teaspoon pepper.

Add onions and caraway seeds to potatoes

cup reserved cooking liquid

cup diced red onion (about ½ medium)

teaspoon caraway seeds

In the empty pan, combine the reserved cooking liquid with the onion and caraway seeds and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and stir well.

Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.

Make the dressing and serve

cup grapeseed or other neutral oil

tablespoon red wine vinegar

teaspoon kosher salt

teaspoon ground black pepper

tablespoon Dijon mustard

cup diced celery (about 2 medium stalks)

cup finely chopped cornichons

cup chopped fresh dill

hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar, ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper until emulsified.

Pour the mixture over the potatoes and add the celery, cornichons, dill, and eggs, if using, then fold until well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

Austrian Potato Salad (Erdäpfelsalat)

This recipe is free until September 7, 2022. Start your 14-day free trial to access every Milk Street recipe. Learn More.

4

30 minutes

Austrian Potato Salad: No Mayonnaise Required

Sides

Simple, Bold Recipes

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