Homemade Fleischsalat just the way you know and love it from Germany!Ā Deliciously creamy with meat and pickles, spread this on your favorite bread for lunch or a light dinner.Ā Guten Appetit!
What is Fleischsalat?
There isn’t a German alive who isn’t familiar with Fleischsalat. Ā In Germany it’s practically as common as peanut butter and jelly is here in the U.S.. Ā It’s a sandwich spread that consists of mayonnaise, pickles and bologna. Ā But the key is those ingredients must all be German because the American equivalent is very, very different.
Fleischsalat takes me back to my childhood, youth and young adulthood in Germany. Ā I ate this stuff pretty frequently! Ā One of my favorite things to do was to pick up some freshly baked Brƶtchen at the local bakery, grab some Fleischsalat from the grocery store like Aldi, Lidl or Real, and then go home and bite into that crusty roll slathered thick with Fleischsalat. Ā I love it!
In Germany Fleischsalat is readily available in every grocery store, but since you can’t find it anywhere here in the U.S. (unless you have a local German deli that makes it), I’m providing a copycat recipe that tastes exactly like the Fleischsalat we know and love in Germany.
There are different variations of Fleischsalat, but the standard and traditional version – and the kind you find in most German delis and grocery stores – is this one. Ā Simple with no embellishments and thoroughly yummy.
Please, please, please don’t use American bologna. Ā Not unless you want to gag or make me gag at the thought of you eating it. German bologna is more like a mortadella with a more delicate flavor and texture. Ā Check out your grocery store deli or the pre-sliced meat section for a product like the one in the first picture below.
The other thing, if you have access to German mayonnaise, such as this Thomy Mayonnaise,Ā use it. Ā There’s a significant difference between German and American mayonnaise (the former tastes really good and the latter tastes tolerable). Ā Especially if you’re wanting to get the true taste of German Fleischsalat, use the German mayo. Ā If you don’t have access to it or can’t order it from Amazon, then use the American stuff.
However, using German pickles is a must. Ā A MUST. Ā The difference between German and American pickles is like night and day – no comparison. Ā No substitutions. Ā Not if you want it to taste like it’s supposed to.
Ready to make this quick-and-simple yummy German sandwich spread?
Fleischsalat Recipe
Let’s get started!
Thinly slice (like julienne) the pickles and bologna, in pieces about 1-inch in length and aboutĀ 1/4 inch wide.
(By the way, if you’re looking for a good pairing knife, I LOVE my German Wusthof 3 1/2 inch pairing knife)
Combine all the ingredients, including the pickle juice.
If at all possible, for this to taste the way it’s supposed to, use German mayonnaise, for example Thomy Mayonnaise.
German mayonnaise tastes substantially different than American mayonnaise and I strongly recommend using German.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
For best results let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.
Serve this as a sandwich spread on crusty rolls, French bread, baguettes, or artisan bread.
Enjoy!
For more delicious authentic German recipes be sure to try our:Ā Ā
Fleischsalat (German Meat Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 cup German-style bologna cut into thin strips about 1/4 inch wide and 1 inch long
- 1 cup German pickles this is a MUST, no American substitutions, cut the same as the bologna
- 1 cup German mayonnaise or American if you can't access German
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons pickle juice from the jar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, add salt and pepper to taste. For best results let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.Serve as a sandwich spread on crusty rolls, French bread, baguettes, or artisan bread.
Nutrition
Klaus Beyer says
I use LeberkƤse instead of ham and a good quality creamy Caesar salad dressing and some sour cream instead of mayo, agree with the pickles and I also add a touch of sugar, some fresh sprigs of tarragon (dried is OK, too) and I few drops of sesame oil (the latter use sparingly).
Eva-Maria Horner says
Hallo Kimberly,
first, you did a great job with your recipe. Thank you. Thomy’s Mayo is a favorite for many Germans, but not everybody. It is a matter of taste. I like to make my own Mayo, but Trader Joes works fine at times. My mom used all kinds of meats for her Fleischsalat. I like to use Mortadella, Bologna and Ham. However German Pickles are a must, since they have a bit of a sweet nuance to them. In the Detroit area you find them in most stores. We also have some good polish markets.
For our very critical friend, I have to say, maybe your version is the best, but don’t forget every part of Germany has their own recipe. I was raised in Bavaria, when visiting my uncle in Hamburg….totally different and in the Rheinland another version. I believe Kimberly gave us a good basic recipe to build on and develop to please your taste buds.
Thank you Kimberly, stay healthy!!!
Kelly Pedersen says
German Bierwurst is a good substitute for the German Bologna. It has the same delicacy that this salad needs. My Prussian Mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid. So delicious š¤¤
Amy says
This is exactly what I grew up eating in East-central Wisconsin! Back home this used to be a deli staple as well. I just made some for my daughter and I and had to google the recipe to convince myself this is really a thing. These days we live near a military installation in the US and can get the German ingredients pretty easily. Iād fully agree that the German pickles make all the difference!
Ronald Bradley says
I was pleased to find your recipe on Fleish Salat. I had tried making Fleish Salat using German Bologna but it didn’t turn out and now I know why, I had used American Mayo instead of German.
We are fortunate to have a German Deli and a German Bakery were I live. However the deli uses capers instead of pickles in their Fleish Salat and it is so good. I do love the Fleish Salat on Brƶtchen but it is also very good on Bauer Brot and Marble Brot.
Angelika H Holzinger says
I found that a very good substitute to German ring sausage is the Boars Head ring sausage. I used it for Swiss sausage salad and it was really good.
I clicked on the Amazon link for Thomy mayo and darn, I nearly dropped dead from my chair when I saw the price. I miss the products and prices at Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Netto, Real, Rewe, Edeka etc soooo much :(
Thank you very much for this Fleischsalat recipe. It was super lecker :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Angelika, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I know, the online prices often fluctuate and can go up to insane amounts. I miss being able to buy these ingredients in Germany! I stock up on things like this every time I go back. I came back with a couple of suitcases full last year :)
rose taylor says
I use Best Food Mayo “light”, and only enough to coat everything, and I also add finely chopped onions to my “Wurst Salat”. That’s what we call it where I come from. I also use a variety of German Sausages if I can find them.
Winco sells a german sausage that tastes great and is very reasonably priced.
My entire family enjoys this with a hardy Ryebread.
barbel says
My mother always used an assortment of cold meats to make this i.e. salami, ham, etc whatever was available. As for the pickles I like the ones called Polsky Ogorky the best. For mayo you can’t go wrong with a good whole egg mayo.
Karina says
My German mum always added chopped boiled egg and a pinch of mustard powder too. It’s a nice side dish at a BBQ! Thank you for your receipes, they always work out beautifully.
Rob Muller says
Thomy is Swiss, not German. :)
Trum says
Sorry… made in Germany in a tube. Have bought it for a long timeš
Minh says
I visited my cousin family in Germany in 2 weeks. They served me with German food daily and oh my… I started to fall in love with the German cuisine. I was literally taking pictures at Lidl and Aldi stores over there and so when I came back here that I could look for to shop some stuff. Thank you for sharing your recipe and I would try to do it.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m glad you enjoyed your time and the food in Germany, Minh! I WISH the Aldi’s and Lidl’s here sold the same stuff they do in Germany but unfortunately they hardly sell any German products at all :( You’ll just have to make your own! :)
Doris says
I make my Fleischsalad with German Bologna from the Walmart deli section, I use Kpsher pickles and Hellman’s Mayonnaise, the result is the same, my daughter and I love it, tastes just like the Fleischsalad in Berlin
Ute-Regine from Melbourne, Australia says
G’day all. I have just this minute finished making wurst/fleishsalad, pretty much the same thing. Originally from Germany I have lived in Australia for the past 60 years.
When I make this salad I only use German or polish pickled cucumbers. I make my own mayonaise which is so easy to do, Using Dijon mustard. Other than that it’s pretty much the same recipe as mentioned before. I do however play around with it, whatever mood I’m in. Sometimes I add peeled finely cubed Apple, also very nice, no need to add sugar. I also use “Pariser” sausage which is readily available in Australia. Its a bit of a joke because I remember in Germany it’s referred to as a condom. ? Cheerio
Kerrie says
Thank you so much for sharing recipes! I wonder if you might be able to help me. When I was a child my parents took me to their friends’ German deli. The owners asked me to try the food and made me a sandwich that seems a lot like this, but it was made with very small cubbed, almost diced, meat and I don’t remember it having pickles. It was delicious. I have never been able to find it again. Does it sound familiar to you?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Kerrie, I’m afraid the only thing I’m familiar with that fits that general description is this Fleischsalat and Wurstsalat (which is eaten with bread though, not typically on it).
Kerrie says
Thanks for responding!
I’m going to try your recipe with all the ingredients you suggested. Thanks for sharing!
Ulrike McNamara says
Hallo, thanks for the recipe. Everytime I visit my folks back home in Germany, the first thing I ask for is Homann Fleischsalat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. D you think “Schinkenwurst” would work? I get everything else fine from an international market in my neighborhood.
Ulrike
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hallo Ulrike! Yes, Schinkenwurst is perfect. Guten Appetit! :)