German Wurst Salad

Here's an old-fashioned quick appetizer or lunch with German roots. Made with bologna (or smoked sausage), Swiss cheese, onions, and pickles, all tossed in a mustard vinaigrette. Ready in just 10 minutes! No cooking required!

German Wurst salad is a fun dish with deep roots. This recipe is protein packed, easy to make and highlights your favorite cured meat.

In this case, we are using gourmet bologna but sausage or any smoked, cured or preserved meat can be used.

★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

This is a filling, low-carb dish made with bologna, Swiss cheese and pickles seasoned with pickle juice, onion, and German mustard.

You can add a touch of mayo for a creamier texture. This is totally optional.

What's really interesting about this dish is the texture.

The ingredients are sliced into thin strips. This makes it easy to eat with a fork, creating a great little lunch or you can scoop this onto bread or crackers for a snack or sandwich.

German Wurst salad is served cold so it's a great option for making ahead and taking on a day trip, taking camping, or to work for lunch.

This dish is great for tailgating too! Or make a batch to enjoy at home while watching football or your favorite sport.

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

This uncommon dish is simple to prepare, made with a handful of pretty common ingredients.

Here's what you'll need:

• Start with a quality smoked meat. This can be gourmet bologna, smoked sausage, bratwurst or any variety of German sausage. Locally, Smith's meats are a favorite option. Their meats are slowly smoked and are prepared with a unique blend of spices that create amazing flavor.
• Dill pickles. You will be slicing these in thin strips to get that signature texture so medium sized dill pickles work best.
• Swiss cheese. This sweet and nutty yet tart cheese is often paired with cured meats but if you are not a fan, Havarti cheese is a nice alternative that's not quite as sour but is still creamy and rich. Gruyere, cheddar, provolone, or gouda would also be great choices.
• Onion. You can simply use onion powder or thinly sliced fresh onions. The fresh onions can be powerful, but the pickle juice and vinegar will tone them down a bit. White onion, red, or yellow can be used.
• White vinegar. This adds some tang and brightens the dish. You can try other types of vinegar if you want to experiment with the flavor.
• German mustard. A smooth mustard is ideal but a grain mustard can be used if you don't mind that added texture. Lowensenf mustard is a great choice and is easy to find.
• Grapeseed oil. This has a nice very subtle flavor. You can use olive oil or vegetable oil if you prefer.
• Salt, pepper, and paprika. Add these seasonings to taste.
• Parsley. This is for garnish and is optional. Fresh or dried can be used.

For a creamier salad, you can add in mayonnaise or sour cream.

That's it. Very simple but combined, makes for a very tasty dish!

★ Tips & FAQs ★

What to serve with German wurst salad?

German wurst salad is traditionally served with bread or fried potatoes. You can also serve with crackers.

As another option, try adding a touch of mayonnaise or sour cream and enjoying this salad on bread as a sandwich.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Freezing is not recommended as the texture of the dish may lose some of it integrity.

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