Traditional German cuisine is far from being a dietary option. The country’s culinary traditions began to take shape during the period of Ancient Rome, however, the active development of German cuisine falls on the post-war years, when the traditions in cooking were influenced by the cultures of neighboring countries.
About the ability of one person to influence culinary traditions
As history clearly demonstrates, monarchs can influence not only the country’s politics and culture, but also the culinary preferences and traditions of their people. Germany serves as a historical example of this. King Kaiser Wilhelm II was known for his stern and strict nature. During his reign, he imposed a strict ban on conversations during meals and the discussion of food and ingredients in society. Conversations on these topics were considered shameful. Additionally, the king had a negative attitude towards culinary extravagances, leading to a simple and bland diet for both the common people and the aristocracy. The only “color” that was allowed to be served was a floury sauce.
After the end of the First World War, the king abdicated, and the people of Germany, who had not been involved in the development of their national cuisine, began to starve. It was not until 1948 that cooking shows began to appear on local television, and cookbooks began to be sold in bookstores. Additionally, Germans began to travel extensively and bring back various recipes. As a result, German cuisine went through a complex and challenging journey before becoming what it is known for today: a high-calorie, hearty cuisine that seems to be a way for Germans to forget about the lean and hungry years in their country’s history.
National German cuisine-traditions and preferences
Despite the fact that culinary traditions in Germany have only recently begun to take shape, the country already has a well-established food culture, and many of its national dishes are well-known and beloved in many countries.
It’s good to know! In Germany, national recipes are constantly being improved, and interest in winemaking is growing every year, as locals enjoy sipping a glass of local wine.
Pork is probably the most popular and widely consumed meat in Germany, and it is used to make sausages, wieners, and pâtés. There are approximately 1,500 different types of sausages in the national menu, and this is not surprising, as each region of the country has its own unique recipe.
An important addition to meat delicacies is bread and pastries. There are at least three hundred varieties of bread in Germany, and it is almost impossible to count the number of baked desserts.
An interesting fact! In the city of Ulm, there is a Bread Museum where all types of bread in Germany are described in detail.
The most common and well-known side dish for meat is sauerkraut. Germans also love and know how to cook potatoes, which they fry, boil, stew, bake, and make pancakes with.
What do you eat for breakfast in Germany? First of all, this meal is dense and satisfying, as a rule, they eat bread with several varieties of ham, bread with jam, honey, yogurt and rolls. At lunch, Germans must eat soup, for the second — meat with a side dish, finish the meal with dessert, for dinner — salad and cold snacks. It is customary to eat at least five meals a day in Germany.
Interesting facts about traditional German cuisine
- Tourists will surely notice that in every German city there are a huge number of points where sausages and sausage are sold, they are inexpensive and attract attention with their aroma. Meat delicacies are served with potato salad or in the form of a hot dog.
- In everyday life, Germans rarely cook German national dishes, which are high in calories and fat. However, tourists enjoy ordering such dishes, and there are many restaurants offering traditional German cuisine.
- On weekends, after lunch, Germans treat themselves to a delicious addition, such as coffee with pastries, and the dessert is changed depending on the season.
- In Germany, it is not customary to invite someone “to lunch”; instead, they are invited “to coffee.”
- The main meal of the day is breakfast. It is not customary for Germans to leave the house without having a good meal.
- All cafes in Germany offer a wide range of breakfast dishes, which are served from morning until 3 p.m.
- The features of German cuisine vary depending on the region. For example, in the northern regions, potatoes are preferred and eaten in large quantities, while in the south, tea is consumed instead of coffee, and in the Alps, milk is traditionally consumed and cheese is widely used.
What to try in Germany from food
It is no coincidence that Germany is associated with sausages and beer by many tourists, and indeed, these two products are masterfully prepared and combined here. However, it would be wrong to evaluate German cuisine solely based on its meat delicacies and beer, as each region has its own unique dishes and culinary techniques. In the south-west, French traditions are followed. In Bavaria, sausages, sauerkraut, and sweet mustard are the hallmarks of the region. In the Rhineland, they prefer potato pancakes with marinated beef, while in Hamburg, they do well with seafood. If you find yourself in Cologne, be sure to try the almond cookies.
Germans prefer to eat heartily and deliciously, and this is evidenced by their diverse national menu, which offers a wide range of both simple and complex culinary masterpieces.
Main dishes
White Sausages Weißwurst
The name of the sausages means boiled veal sausage. According to the recipe, pork and beef mince, spices, onions, and egg whites are mixed in equal proportions, and lemon zest adds a tangy freshness.
It is interesting that the dish of traditional cuisine appeared in 1857, the recipe for sausages remains unchanged. Locals eat Weisswurst only until 12-00, after noon, sausages are not ordered.
The meat delicacy is served in the pot where the sausages were stewed, with a side dish of salted pretzels and mustard.
Beef rolls
This traditional German dish is served on Sundays in many families. In cold weather, it becomes especially popular. The meat is stuffed with chopped pickled cucumbers, bacon, and sautéed onions with mustard.
Beef rolls are served with a sauce made from meat broth, red wine, and vegetables. The best side dish is dumplings with stewed cabbage or potatoes.
Maultaschen
The name of this traditional German dish means “dumplings,” and the recipe involves kneading dough and preparing a filling of minced meat, lard, pork, and spices. The filling is then wrapped in small squares and boiled in meat broth.
An interesting fact! The dish was invented by monks from the Maulbonn monastery. When meat is not allowed, they prepare wraps with a lean filling of herbs.
Berlin-style knuckle
This traditional dish is popular in eastern Germany. It involves boiling a pork shank in beer and then baking it. To enhance the flavor and aroma, juniper berries, garlic, and a variety of spices are added. In local restaurants, the shank is often served with mashed peas and sauerkraut.
An interesting fact! The knuckle has a glossy, shiny crust, which is why the German dish “Eisbein” is translated as “ice leg”.
Laubskaus
The soup is made from herring, meat, potatoes, beets, pickled cucumbers, and onions. Local fishermen call this national first course “fish solyanka.” Although the soup may not look very attractive, it has a unique and delicious taste. The soup was first created by Baltic sailors, who combined all the ingredients they had on hand.
Konigsberg bedbugs
Boiled meatballs have been served in Germany since the 19th century. According to the recipe, klops are made from ground veal, eggs, bread, anchovies, lemon juice, mustard, and white wine.
It’s good to know! The treat is sold in stores as a semi-finished product, but you can try the real dish prepared according to the traditional recipe in a restaurant or cafe.
Fake Hare
Despite its mysterious and original name, this traditional dish is a meat casserole with onions and potatoes. Whole boiled eggs are added inside.
The dish appeared on the national menu after the end of World War II. After the war, there was a shortage of food in the country, and there were almost no animals left in the forests, so the women came up with a dish that looked like a rabbit’s back.
Schnitzel
The name of the national dish is undoubtedly familiar to everyone, but do you know how to cook schnitzel? In each region of Germany, the dish is prepared according to a unique recipe. In Hamburg, it is a cutlet with fried eggs, while in Holstein, it is a meat dish with fried eggs, capers, and anchovies. The simplest version is the Vienna schnitzel, which is a simple pork cutlet.
It’s good to know! All schnitzels have one thing in common – before frying, the meat is rolled in breadcrumbs, and after cooking, before serving, it is drizzled with lemon juice.
Side dishes
Sauerkraut
The famous sauerkraut, which is considered a traditional German dish. In Germany, it is known as Krauts. The shredded cabbage is fermented using vinegar and salt. The traditional recipe is similar to our own, but with one difference: carrots and apples are not included. The finished sauerkraut is then stewed or fried and served as a side dish for meat.
According to tradition, German housewives ferment cabbage for six weeks, and a jar of the dish can be purchased at any store in Germany.
An interesting fact! Germans enjoy eating sauerkraut as a beer snack.
Potato
It is noteworthy that potatoes were initially met with disinterest in Germany, and locals refused to grow or consume them. The reasons for this are unknown, but it is possible that people did not believe that potatoes could provide sufficient nourishment. However, two centuries later, the situation changed due to a lack of vegetable and fruit harvests, prompting the local population to turn their attention to potatoes. Since then, Germans have become proficient in not only growing potatoes but also creating numerous recipes using them.
An interesting fact! German linguists even associate the name “potato” with two German words: kraft, meaning “strength,” and troffel, meaning “devil.”
The most common potato dishes:
- knedl — boiled potato balls served with meat and sauce;
- potato salad — it is impossible to name a single recipe for this traditional dish, as it is prepared differently in each region;
- potato pizza, a popular dish in Swabian cuisine;
- In Mecklenburg, people love potato soup with baked plums and ham;
- potato sausage is made from potatoes, minced meat, and pork intestines, with a variety of spices added;
- potato pancakes — there are many recipes for this dish throughout Germany, and they can be made with or without flour, with or without raisins, milk, or yeast;
- mashed potatoes with apple puree, which is replaced by pear puree in Mecklenburg.
Desserts
Black Forest Cake or Black Forest
The recipe for this famous national dessert appeared in 1915. A Bavarian pastry chef used chocolate cakes and decorated them with cream and cherries. Since then, the dessert has become popular throughout Germany, and a decade and a half later, the recipe spread worldwide. Today, the cake is made by soaking the sponge cake layers in liqueur (cherry syrup), spreading them with whipped cream, adding cherries (cherry jelly), and garnishing them with grated dark chocolate.
Interestingly, the traditional dessert got its name because of its color scheme — a combination of black, brown, and white, which are the colors of the national clothing of the people of the Black Forest.
Stollen Cupcake
The cake contains a large amount of spices and herbs. It also contains raisins, nuts, and candied fruits. The cake is generously sprinkled with powdered sugar to resemble the newborn Jesus Christ, wrapped in a white swaddling cloth.
The dish was first prepared in 1329, and the recipe was met with criticism, as the simple taste of oatmeal, water, and flour did not impress the demanding Germans. As a result, it was decided to add butter to the dough.
An interesting fact! According to one of the legends, the dessert was created by Heinrich Drozdo, a court baker from the city of Torgau.
Today, in Germany, they make cakes with various fillings, but the most popular and traditional is the Dresden Stollen – this name is patented for a Christmas cake. Previously, the Stollen was called Stritzel, for this reason, the Christmas market in Dresden is called Stritzelmarkt – a market where they sell Stritzel. The main feature of the treat – the optimal taste of the cake is acquired two weeks after baking.
Brezel or bretzel
A traditional German pretzel, popular in the southern regions of Germany. This treat has been prepared since the 13th century, and it is always baked with great care and attention. The recipe and shape of the pretzel are strictly regulated. The shape of the pretzel resembles the hands folded over the chest during prayer. It is customary to sprinkle the pretzel with large crystals of salt. There are many recipes for this bread, including ones with sausage, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and grated cheese.
An interesting fact! Just before baking, the pretzel is dipped in a solution of sodium alkali, which is called laugen in German, which is why the pretzel is also called laugenbretzel.
What to try in Germany from street food
Germans don’t shy away from quick, light snacks, and street food is available in small vans found in every German city.
What is eaten in Germany from street food:
- Bratwurst is a sausage in a bun that uses a secret ingredient;
- Currywurst is sliced sausages seasoned with curry sauce and served with French fries.
- leberkese is spicy meat in a wheat bun;
- Herring in a bun is a wheat bread with pickled herring, pickled cucumbers, onions, and lettuce.
Drinks
Of course, Germany is primarily associated with high-quality beer. For centuries, local brewers have adhered to the recipe that was legalized in 1871. According to the law, traditional beer can only contain hops, malt, water, and yeast.
An interesting fact! There are more than 1,200 breweries in Germany, not including private breweries.
Beer is traditionally served with a thick foam, which is a sign of its quality. In addition to beer, Germany is actively developing its wine industry, as well as producing delicious schnapps, mulled wine, and cider. Among the variety of alcoholic beverages, Germans prefer tea and coffee.
It’s good to know! Be sure to try Bionade, a carbonated drink made using brewing technology, which is a lemonade with various flavors.
So, in Germany, they love to eat heartily and deliciously, so the portions in restaurants and cafes are large. At first glance, the national German cuisine may seem a bit crazy, but just try it and you will realize that the culinary preferences of the Germans are similar to ours.
