Mutti's Potato and Herring Salad (Kartoffel-Heringsalat)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

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German Potato and Herring Salad! A yummy recipe straight from my very own Mutti's cookbook. That makes it even more special and delicious when I make it!

This Potato and Herring Salad recipe, aka Kartoffel-Heringsalat, comes from my Mutti's handwritten cookbook. She usually made it as one of her party buffet recipes.

As well, she often made this traditional German food as a special treat for our summer picnics. To differentiate this salad from potato salad, Mutti would add slices of pickled red beets.

The resulting pink-colored herring salad became her trademark. I used to think it was her special way of making this salad special. It wasn't till I was older and had traveled to Germany that I realized adding beets to herring and potato salad was normal. 

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Which Herring to use ...

Use pickled herring that's sold in jars. Drain well and cut the herring into smaller pieces. If onions are in the jars, chop these and add to the salad as well.

If the pickled herring you've bought still has the back-bones in it, you'll need to remove this. Just cut along the back-bone and pull the flesh away from it.

You'll find a different version of the herring salad recipe minus the potatoes as Heringsalat, a great treat that my kids loved when they were little. Sweet and sour and creamy, too! Herring recipes that kids would love. Who would believe that?

Ready to make this potato & herring salad?

Print Recipe

Mutti's Potato and Herring Salad (Kartoffel-Heringsalat)

This Potato and Herring Salad recipe, aka Kartoffel-Heringsalat, comes from my Mutti's handwritten cookbook. 

To differentiate this salad from potato salad, Mutti would add slices of pickled red beets.

Prep Time:

15 mintues

Total Time:

15 mintues

Servings:

Makes 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons (90 grams) sour cream
• 1½ tablespoons (23 milliliters) lemon juice
• 1½ pounds (680 grams) cooked potatoes, sliced or cubed
• 1 cup (150 grams) diced pickled herring
• 1 large celery stalk, diced
• 1 15-ounce (425 grams) can whole beets, drained and diced
• minced parsley and chives, to taste
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream and lemon juice.
2. Add the potatoes, herring, and celery and toss gently.
3. Add the beets and toss gently.
4. Season with parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
5. Serve chilled.

Notes/Hints:

• Use the pickled herring that's sold in jars. Drain well and cut the herring into smaller pieces. If onions are in the jar, chop these and add to the salad as well.
• If the pickled herring you've bought still has the backbones in them, you'll need to remove them. Just cut along the backbone and pull the flesh away from it.
• Add some diced onions or green onions.
• The potatoes, herring, and beets can be sliced or cubed instead.

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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Updated: February 17, 2026

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Complete your set today - order now!

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.