salad dressing
German Salad Dressing — Knorr & Kühne Dressing Mixes
Bring the flavour of a German Salatbuffet to your table with 25 authentic salad dressing products from two of Germany's most trusted kitchen brands. Knorr, founded in 1838 in Heilbronn, offers its popular Salatkrönung sachets — just add water and oil for a perfectly seasoned dressing in under a minute. Kühne, with roots stretching back to a Berlin vinegar distillery in 1722, supplies ready-to-pour dressings and vinaigrettes crafted with over three centuries of vinegar-making expertise. Whether you prefer a classic Kräuterdressing, a tangy balsamic, an American Caesar or a French-style vinaigrette, every product is the genuine German article, shipped directly from our Erfurt warehouse to the USA, UK and Canada.
Salad dressing in Germany is different from what you find in a typical American supermarket — and for good reason. German dressings tend to be lighter, herb-forward and less sweet, designed to complement rather than mask the vegetables.
Knorr Salatkrönung is the dressing mix most Germans grew up with. Carl Heinrich Knorr opened his first factory in Heilbronn in 1838, originally supplying chicory to the coffee trade. By the 1870s, Knorr had pioneered dried soups across Europe, and its expertise in dehydrating herbs and spices carries directly into the Salatkrönung line. Each sachet contains a precise blend of dried herbs, spices and seasoning — you simply whisk it with vinegar (or water) and oil. The result is a dressing that tastes freshly prepared, because the herbs rehydrate on the spot. Varieties include Gartenkräuter (garden herbs), Italienische Art (Italian style), Balsamico, French and Paprika-Kräuter.
Kühne dressings take a different approach. As Germany's oldest vinegar company — Johann Daniel Epinius founded the original distillery in Berlin in 1722 — Kühne has vinegar in its DNA. The company introduced tube-packaged condiments as early as 1951 and launched its ENJOY sub-brand in 2015, expanding into modern salad dressings and vegetable chips. Kühne's bottled dressings are ready to pour and often based on their own brewed vinegar, which gives them a depth you will not get from dressings made with commodity vinegar.
Potato salad dressing deserves its own mention. German potato salad — especially the southern German and Swabian varieties — relies on a warm vinegar-and-broth dressing rather than mayonnaise. A simple combination of Knorr Delikatess-Brühe dissolved in hot water, white wine vinegar and oil produces the authentic version. Let it soak into warm, sliced potatoes for ten minutes and you have the real thing.
Dressing vs. vinaigrette: In German kitchen terminology, a Dressing can contain creamy elements like yoghurt or mayonnaise, while a Vinaigrette is strictly oil-and-vinegar-based. Both styles are well represented in our selection.
FAQ
How do I prepare Knorr Salatkrönung?
Mix the contents of one sachet with two tablespoons of water, then add three tablespoons of oil and two tablespoons of vinegar. Stir well and let it stand for one to two minutes so the dried herbs can fully rehydrate. The exact proportions may vary by variety — check the packet instructions.
What makes German salad dressing different from American dressing?
German dressings are generally lighter, less sweet and more herb-forward. Many are vinegar-based rather than mayonnaise- or cream-based. Brands like Kühne use their own brewed vinegar, which gives the dressing a sharper, more complex acidity compared to mass-produced alternatives.
Can I use these dressings for warm potato salad?
Absolutely. Knorr dressing mixes and Kühne vinaigrettes work particularly well for warm German potato salad. The key is to pour the dressing over freshly boiled, still-warm potatoes so they absorb the flavour properly. Southern German and Swabian potato salad traditionally uses a vinegar-broth dressing, not Mayonnaise.