In Germany, Fleischsalat is a familiar deli-style dish often eaten on rolls, rye bread, or farmhouse bread. This version uses Lyoner sausage, which is especially associated with Saarland cooking and makes the salad mild, savory, and easy to pair with many sides.
The flavor is creamy, tangy, and gently salty. The gherkins add crunch and acidity, the mustard gives the dressing a little sharpness, and the herbs bring freshness. It is simple, but when made well, it is exactly the kind of cold German salad that disappears quickly from the table.
Lyoner meat salad and Saarland cooking
Lyoner sausage is one of Saarland’s best-loved ingredients, used in warm dishes, cold plates, salads, and simple everyday meals. In Lyoner Fleischsalat, the sausage is served cold and dressed in a creamy sauce, making it a practical dish for lunch, picnics, snack boards, or quick suppers.
This salad is related to German Wurstsalat, but it is creamier and more spreadable. Instead of a vinegar-and-oil dressing, Fleischsalat usually uses mayonnaise as the base. A little mustard, pickle brine, and vinegar keep the dressing from feeling too heavy.
Serve it generously on bread, spoon it next to fried potatoes, or add it to a cold platter with eggs, pickles, radishes, and salad greens.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Lyonnais meat salad is quick, satisfying, and easy to make ahead. It requires no cooking and uses simple ingredients that come together in minutes.
It is also versatile. You can serve it as a sandwich filling, a spread for rye bread, a side dish for fried potatoes, or part of a German-style cold supper. The flavor improves after a short rest in the refrigerator, making it a good make-ahead recipe for gatherings.
Lyonnais meat salad
Lyoner Fleischsalat is a creamy German meat salad made with thin strips of Lyoner sausage, chopped gherkins, mayonnaise, mustard, herbs, and a little pickle brine for tang. Popular as a bread topping, sandwich filling, or cold plate, this simple sausage salad is rich, savory, lightly sour, and easy to prepare ahead.
Ingredients
For the meat salad
- 1 lb Lyon sausage peeled if needed and cut into thin strips
- 4 to 5 small gherkins or pickles finely chopped or cut into thin strips
- 2 tbsp finely chopped onion or shallot
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional add-ins
- 1 small tart apple finely diced
- 2 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup small cubes of Emmental or butter cheese
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Finely chopped dill
- A few drops of Maggi-style seasoning
Instructions
-
Slice the Lyonnaise.Cut the Lyon sausage into thin strips. Place the sausage in a large mixing bowl.
-
Add the gherkins and herbs.Add the chopped gherkins, onion or shallot, parsley, and chives to the bowl with the sausage.
-
Make the dressing.In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, German mustard, pickle brine, vinegar, sugar or honey if using, salt, pepper, and paprika.
-
Combine the salad.Pour the dressing over the Lyoner mixture and fold gently until everything is evenly coated. The salad should be creamy but not soupy.
-
Chill and marinate.Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This gives the sausage and gherkins time to absorb the dressing.
-
Button and adjust.Before serving, taste the salad and adjust with more pickle brine, mustard, pepper, herbs, or salt as needed.
-
Serve.Serve chilled or slightly cool on rye bread, rolls, pretzels, or as part of a cold German plate.
Notes
Tips for the Best Lyonnaise Meat Salad
Cut the Lyoner into thin, even strips so the dressing coats the sausage well. This also makes the salad easier to spread on bread or pile onto a roll.
Use good gherkins or German-style pickles. Their brine is part of the flavor of the dressing, so choose pickles that taste bright, crisp, and pleasantly sour.
Let the salad rest before serving. Even 30 minutes helps the flavors come together, but it can also be made several hours ahead.
For a lighter dressing, replace some of the mayonnaise with sour cream or plain yogurt. For a richer, deli-style version, use all mayonnaise.
What to Serve with Lyonnaise Meat Salad
Lyoner meat salad is most often served cold with bread, but it also works well as part of a larger meal.
Good pairings include:
- Rye bread
- German rolls
- Pretzels
- Fried potatoes
- Kershjer
- Pickles or gherkins
- Radishes
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Green salad
- Cucumber salad
- Tomato salad
- German beer
- Sparkling mineral water
For a simple lunch, spread the meat salad on rye bread and serve with pickles. For a heartier plate, pair it with fried potatoes and a small green salad.
Make ahead and storage
Lyoner meat salad is a good make-ahead dish. Prepare it several hours before serving and keep it covered in the refrigerator.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir before serving and refresh with a small spoonful of pickle brine, mayonnaise, or herbs if the salad has thickened.
Because the salad contains mayonnaise and cooked sausage, keep it chilled and do not leave it at room temperature for long periods.
Variations
For an egg version, add chopped hard-boiled eggs to the salad.
For a cheese version, fold in small cubes of Emmentaler, Butterkäse, or another mild German-style cheese.
For extra crunch, add radishes, cucumber, or finely diced celery.
For a lighter version, use half mayonnaise and half plain yogurt or sour cream.
For a Saarland-style cold plate, serve the meat salad with rye bread, pickles, sliced tomatoes, radishes, and hard-boiled eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lyonnaise Meat Salad?
Lyoner Fleischsalat is a creamy German meat salad made with Lyoner sausage, gherkins, mayonnaise, mustard, herbs, and seasoning. It is usually served cold with bread or rolls.
Is meat salad the same as sausage salad?
They are related but different. Wurstsalat is usually dressed with vinegar and oil, while Fleischsalat is creamy and mayonnaise-based.
What kind of sausage is best for meat salad?
Lyoner sausage is ideal for this version. Fleischwurst, German bologna, or another mild cooked sausage can also work.
Can I make Lyonnais meat salad ahead of time?
Yes. It tastes best after resting for at least 30 minutes and can be made several hours ahead.
Can I make meat salad lighter?
Yes. Replace part of the mayonnaise with sour cream, plain yogurt, or a lighter mayonnaise.
What do you eat with meat salad?
Serve it with rye bread, German rolls, pretzels, fried potatoes, pickles, radishes, hard-boiled eggs, or green salad.