When my Dad was in the Army (Royal Engineers) and we were stationed in Germany, whenever we went out to eat anywhere I would immediately scan the menu for Bockwurst und Kartoffelsalat. Thus began an eduring love affair with potato salad - but if I could ever lay my hands on any good Bockwurst, then it just didn't get any better than that.
Now, what makes a good Bockwurst good? Well, for me, it is the complete lack of whatever it is that the manufacturers put into hot dogs, that makes you feel nauseous after eating two of them. I never feel nauseous when eating Bockwurst - and to my shame, could happily down an entire jar full in one sitting, without any ill effects. The same could never be said for hot dogs!
For all that they are similar to hot dogs, a good Bockwurst has a more robust texture and a milder flavour. You know how, if you cut through a hot dog with a fork, it doesn't put up a fight but just kind of mushes beneath your fork? Not so with a Bockwurst. It should resist the fork - not as much as a pork sausage would - enough to let you know that this sausage is firm.
We found our Bockwurst in our local Aldi store. I am sure a good Delicatessen would also be able to source them for you.
As for the potato salad, well, I gather that a true Kartoffelsalat falls into two camps depending upon where in Germany you are. If in northern Germany, you can expect your Kartoffelsalat to be dressed with mayonnaise. However, if in southern Germany, it takes the form of a vinegar dressed salad, with accompanying smoked bacon pieces.
Where serving the dish is concerned, I can remember sitting down to an enormous sausage on a plate with a mountain of potato salad - and that's it. However, hubby seemed appalled at that idea (can't imagine why! *chuckle*) so we also had some mixed salad with the sausages.
The "Jelly" potatoes from Greenvale Farm Fresh (which I have used up and had to go out and buy some more), are particularly brilliant for this dish. Being a lovely combination of 80% waxy and 20% floury, they are able to be boiled without fear of their dissolving, yet they retain a lovely tender texture that goes so well in a salad.
I think that the recipe for my Kartoffelsalat might not be strictly true to the original, but it is certainly how I remember the potato salad tasting - which is all that I was interested in, in this case!
BOCKWURST UND KARTOFFELSALAT (or German Bockwurst sausage with potato salad)
Ingredients :
A jar of Bockwurst or two (a jar usually contains 5 sausages)
4-5 waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters or less ("Jelly" is a brilliant type for this)
2 tbsp greek yoghurt
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp fresh chives, snipped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped fine
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Method :
1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and add the potato pieces, which should still be in large chunks - you will cut them to salad size once cooked.
2. Allow the saucepan to simmer in lively fashion until the potatoes easily accept the point of a knife.
3. Drain.
4. Turn the potatoes onto a plate and allow to cool completely.
5. Half fill a saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn the heat right down until at a gentle simmer. Add the sausages from the jar, discarding the brine.
6. While the sausages are heating up, take the cooked, cooled potatoes and cut into small dice. Add them to a large bowl.
7. Add the yoghurt, mayonnaise, chives and parsley and mix gently, to combine.
8. Add some freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste. Mix again, lightly, to combine.
9. To serve, remove the sausages from the pan and place onto kitchen paper to drain. Add them to your plate, together with the potato salad - and some additional mixed salad, if you so desire.
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