German Salad Dressing for Lettuce Salad (Salatsauce)

By
Jennifer McGavin
Jennifer McGavin
Jennifer McGavin learned to cook German food while living in Germany for 11 years and has worked in the food industry for many years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/30/23
Lettuce salad
Roberto Westbrook/Image Source/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
129 Calories
7g Fat
15g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 129
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 252mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 58mg 291%
Calcium 227mg 17%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 808mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This German cream salad dressing, or salatsauce, is the perfect match for butter lettuce, also known as Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce, or ​any crisp greens, for that matter.

It's an easy three-ingredient, one-bowl recipe. The salad dressing, made with heavy cream or half-and-half, is mixed in the bottom of a bowl with lemon juice and sugar, and then the torn greens are added. The greens are tossed in the creamy dressing to completely envelop them, and the salad is ready to be served. It couldn't get much easier than that. Since the dressing is made without mayonnaise, those with egg allergies can indulge.

Many people who have visited Germany come back raving about their salads. Root vegetables often find their way, raw and cooked, into salads, and many people like the fact they don’t mix everything up with the lettuce but include several small portions of different salads on the same plate.

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream, or half-and-half

  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons sugar

  • Milk, if needed

For the Salad:

  • 6 to 8 cups crisp salad greens, torn into bite-size pieces

  • Sliced or chopped tomatoes, or other ingredients you like

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice and 2 teaspoons sugar until the sugar dissolves.

  3. Add a little milk to thin, if necessary.

  4. Add salad greens and tomatoes and any other ingredients shortly before serving and toss to coat.

  5. Enjoy!

Tips