I got this recipe for Schinken Käse Eier Salat (Ham Cheese Egg salad) from a friend of my cousin who served it at an Easter Brunch. It’s a variation on a Wurst Salat, a combination of cheese, sausage, herbs, oil, and vinegar. (Don’t confuse it with Fleischsalat, Meat Salad, which is made with a mayo base instead of oil and vinegar) Once you’ve tried this savory combination of cheese, cooked ham, herbs, and boiled eggs in a tangy vinaigrette, you will know why they are such a popular dish in Germany.
German meat and cheese salads sometimes confuse people. How can meat and cheese be a SALAD? It just is. (Think about Chicken Salad)
You’ll find an easy recipe for Fleish Salat in my Easy German Cookbook.
While the dish is an excellent addition to Easter Brunch, it’s perfect for hot evenings when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. The only cooking required is boiling a few eggs. Serve on a bed of lettuce or with slices of bread. (My guy skipped both and ate it straight out of the bowl once I finished photographing.) The recipe also takes care of Easter leftovers, using up all those pretty hard-boiled eggs. And it’s perfect to pack along on a picnic. Seriously, Schinken, Käse, Ei Salat works for brunch, picnics, as a party appetizer, dinner on hot summer evenings, a quick meal on “I don’t feel like cooking” days, and I believe this falls into the Keto lifestyle too.
You will want to keep this versatile recipe in your back pocket.
Schinken, Käse, Eier Salat- German Ham, Cheese, and Egg Salad
Schinken is ham, and although there are many different kinds, I prefer the flavor of the simple Black Forest ham from the Deli. I use a Gouda for the cheese because it’s not that assertive, but if you want more punch, go ahead and use Emmentaler or Swiss cheese. You can slice the cheese from the Gouda wedge or buy pre-sliced cheese. You can even cut the cheese into little chunks. It’s up to you, your flavor preferences, and what you have in the refrigerator. You can even cut leftover Easter ham into little chunks.
Fresh herbs, especially Dill and Chives, add a wonderful bright flavor. So, do what you can to use fresh. My mother always had chives growing in a pot outside the kitchen door, and I kept the habit since they add nice flavor to everything from salads to scrambled eggs. Yes, dried herbs will work in a pinch. Let them sit in the dressing for a while to soften them up before tossing the salad.
And here is where you can get creative… Vegetables.
Usually, I slice in radishes because I like the bitter crunch. This week, my store sold teeny tiny tomatoes on sale. Super cute! How could I pass that up? But quartered cherry tomatoes work just fine (it will add more moisture, so let them drip in a strainer before adding to the salad if not eating right away). You can also add diced cucumbers and/or diced red or yellow bell pepper. You can even toss canned/frozen corn or some sliced green onion. Go once through the vegetable garden if you like.
Schinken Käse Eier Salat keeps well in the refrigerator overnight.

Schinken, Käse, Eier Salat- German Ham, Cheese, and Egg Salad
Ingredients
- 3- 4 Hard Cooked Eggs
- 8 oz. Black Forest Ham
- 6- 8 oz. Gouda Cheese
Dressing:
- 3 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon German or Dijon Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon chopped Chives
- 1 Tablespoon chopped Dill
- 1 Teaspoon chopped Parsley
- 1 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper (white is prettier, black is fine)
Vegetables:
- 3- 4 Thinly sliced Radishes
- 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes
- optional-
- Diced Cucumber
- Diced Bell Pepper
- Chopped Pickle
Instructions
- Hard Boil the eggs (see instructions in the notes) When cool enough to handle, peel. Set aside.
- Have a mixing bowl ready.
- Slice the ham- (I made 3/4 inch wide slices)... place in the bowl
- Slice the cheese- I made thin slices from the wedge... place in the bowl
- In a small mixing bowl, put in the dressing ingredients. Whisk until fully combined.
- Pour the most of the dressing over the ham and cheese... toss to coat. I use my hands for this so that the cheese doesn't break into pieces, but you can use a spoon.
- Add the sliced radishes and cherry tomatoes. (add any other vegetables you'd like to include) Toss again.
- Quarter the hard boiled eggs.
- Put the salad on a serving plate or shallow bowl. Place the eggs around the edge of the salad, and drizzle the rest of the dressing over them.
- Serve.
Notes
Find more classic German Recipes in my Easy German Cookbook
Easy German Cookbook: 80 Classic Recipes Made Simple
Simple Step by Step
Slice the Ham
Slice the Cheese
Ham and Cheese go into the Mixing Bowl
Fresh herbs are Best
Mix dressing and toss with Ham and Cheese
Add your Vegetables and toss again
Put on serving plate or bowl… surround by quartered hard boiled eggs.
Drizzle more dressing on the eggs. (Either the reserved dressing, or the dressing that collected at the bottom of the mixing bowl)
Serve on a bed of lettuce if you like…
. . . mein Wurstsalat ist der ‘Straßburger’ – also nur Schinkenwurst, Zwiebel und Käse – alles rel. klein geschnitten mit gutem feinem Essig und Olivenöl und Schnittlauch – fertig. Mehrere jüngere Familienmitglieder sortieren bei meinem Wurstsalat die Zwiebelstücke aus – das wäre auch bei deinem der Fall – jeder eben so wie er es mag. Habe auch einen YouTube Kanal /Max Veith). Bin jetzt auh als Pensionär passionierter Genealoge u.a. auch bei WikiTree.com – als Veith-256.