It’s officially summer cook-out season! For starters the very first local produce options are starting to roll in… garden fresh chives. (So pretty!) I bought mine at our local market City Feed right down the street.
I grew up in Wisconsin–land of cheese, bratwurst and beer. Cooking out was a regular festivity especially during the balmy summer months. As a kid, one of my favorite dishes was always German potato salad. Something about the salty and slightly sweet zestiness did it for me.
I recently attended a cook-out where half the attendees were vegetarian, so I wanted to bring something that everyone could enjoy; hence my attempt at German potato salad–sans bacon. As someone who gave up pork almost a decade ago I can’t judge for sure if this comes close, but I can definitely say it’s pretty tasty.
You will need
- 1 medium-large sweet onion
- 2 pounds dutch yellow potatoes
- 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 package tempeh fakin’ bacon (or similar bacon substitute)
- fresh garden chives
- salt and pepper to taste
Rinse potatoes and cube into 1/3″ pieces. Add potatoes to a pot and cook until al dente. (Don’t over cook or you will end up with mashed potatoes!)
In a large skillet sauté onion over low-heat until clear in 1-2T of olive oil. Dice fake bacon and add to the onions. For crispier “bacon” turn heat up until the tempeh becomes a little crispy. Reduce heat and add 1/2 cup vinegar. Allow the flavors to sublimate over very low heat.
Drain potatoes from water and allow to cool.
Once potatoes are relatively cool, in a large mixing bowl combine the potatoes and onion/fakin’ bacon and vinegar mixture. For a final touch add chopped fresh garden chives. Salt and pepper to taste.
If you find the potato salad isn’t creamy or “wet” enough you can add a little olive oil or additional vinegar.
I’ve found veggie options to be fairly limited at most eating get-togethers. So why not surprise your guests with this dish! As always let me know what you think… love the feedback.
Regards,
David
1 Comment
Why not leave the tempeh out? I don’t like the taste of bacon so bacon-flavored tempeh would ruin it for me. I could never understand eating hot dog flavored tempeh, etc. I like cheese, eggs, nuts and yogurt for protein. I don’t miss hot dogs, sausage, bacon…
Good try, though. I think most vegetarians would like the salad without any bacon flavor. The fresh chives should be in the spotlight! You could always put some vegan bacon bits on the side for those who want it.