Sausages, beer and cabbage are the first things that come to mind about German cuisine. Germans are not considered gourmets unlike, for example, their French neighbours. There is an opinion that Germans eat only to live, and not for pleasure. Fatty fried foods, an abundance of meat, especially pork, and potatoes are the basis of the diet of the average German. Let's go through the most popular dishes in Germany and find out why they are so good, no matter what!
Königsberger klopse
Or "Köningsberg bugs". The dish is named after the city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), the former capital of East Prussia. These are meatballs that are made from chopped veal with onions, eggs and anchovies. Meat balls are stewed in a creamy sauce with the addition of lemon juice and spices, which gives the dish an unusual, spicy taste. The dish is common both in restaurants and in the home kitchens of germans.
Maultaschen
Maultashens - large dumplings (dumplings) square shape the size of the palm. In the traditional version, minced meat is prepared from a mixture of sausages, onions and white bread swollen in liquid. There is a vegetarian option where cheese and spinach are mixed. Well, then there are as many options as the imagination of the chef allows - any fillings from sweet to salty. Maultashens are usually boiled over low heat and served with broth, but as a variety you can find an option fried in butter.
Labskaus
The favorite dish of sailors is prepared from a mixture of salted meat and vegetables. Beef is boiled together with beets, mixed with pickled onions and passed through a meat grinder. The mass is stewed in cucumber brine on pork lard. Finally, add crushed boiled potatoes and serve with glaze and pickled cucumber. Beetroot gives the minced meat a red color, which causes erroneous associations that raw meat is not.
Sausages
It is impossible to imagine German cuisine without sausages, of which there are about 40 species! Sausages are the most popular street fast food in Germany. They are grilled and served as a hot dog, in a bun with sauce and additives, or on a plate of sauerkraut and potato salad – the perfect snack for beer.
Currywurst
Another hit of street food is curriwurst: the pork sausage is deep-fried and mixed with a sauce of tomato paste and ketchup with the addition of curry. Serve the dish in a disposable plate with French fries as a side dish. Germans love this dish so much that in 2009 the Currywurst Museum was opened in Berlin, which tells about the origin of the dish and the intricacies of its preparation.
Döner kebab
It seems that the magic word"kebab"is found in the cuisines of most countries of the world! In Germany, kebab came together with Turkish workers, one of whom founded a business, becoming a street vendor. A hearty sandwich of meat and vegetables wrapped in pita, seasoned with a fragrant sauce with spices, quickly won the hearts of Germans.
Schnitzel
Schnitzel is popular not only in Germany. The traditional German version of the dish involves the use of veal or turkey, fried in breadcrumbs. On top of the dish is crispy, inside it remains juicy. Germans like to serve schnitzel with sauces: mushroom, cream, lingonberry or tomato. To wash down schnitzel with cold beer is a holy thing for a German.
Käsespätzle
Cheese spetzle is a noodle that is laid alternately in a heat-resistant form in layers of hard cheese (as in lasagna), glazed onions are served on top. The dish is sent to the oven to melt the cheese, and served with vegetable and potato salad. A must-have dish at German beer parties.
Rouladen
Meat rolls, which are prepared from a mixture of bacon, pickles, onions and mustard. The resulting minced meat is wrapped in thinly sliced pieces of beef and boiled. The finished dish is briefly stewed in wine sauce and served with mashed potatoes, pickled cabbage or potato dumplings. In Germany, Rouladen is considered a festive dish.
Sauerbraten
A traditional German dish is sour roast. A dish that is long to prepare is considered food on a weekend or holiday. Meat (in the original recipe for horse meat, which can be replaced with beef, rabbit or pork) is marinated for several days in a cool place in a sauce of wine vinegar diluted with water or red wine with the addition of onions, carrots and spices. Then the meat dried with a napkin is fried and sent to stew together with marinade and vegetables. To soften the taste of vinegar, the sauce is recommended to be sweetened. Serve meat with boiled potatoes, pasta and salad.
Himmel un ääd
A dish with an unusual name "Heaven and Earth" is in the past the food of the poor. The Germans came up with a combination of two types of apples: earthen (potato) and heavenly. Mashed potatoes are mixed with fried onions to golden color, apples are made of mousse, in which cinnamon is added if desired, and two types of such different mashed potatoes with blood sausage are served. Surprisingly delicious!
Saumagen
Stuffed pork stomach is one of the favorite dishes of German cuisine. Unlike the intestine, which is used for sausage, the stomach of a pig has thick walls and acquires a crispy crust when cooked. Inside put the filling, which is prepared from potatoes and pork (sometimes beef), cut into cubes, with the addition of spices. Served traditionally with sauerkraut.
Pinkel mit grünkohl
A hearty dish for a winter dinner, which is prepared from sausages and cabbage. Cabbage is mixed with bacon and seasoned with mustard, and the sausage consists of bacon, lard, oats (or barley) and spices.
Spargel
It is not known where the Germans got their incredible love for asparagus. During the harvest season, vegetables are served in every restaurant! Asparagus is used to make soup; fry, wrapped in bacon; steamed or simply boiled. Often served with Dutch egg-butter sauce.
Reibekuchen
Perhaps, along with sausage and cabbage, the Germans love potatoes. Potato pancakes or pancakes are an integral part of German cuisine. There are up to 40 different ways to prepare pancakes from potatoes. A dish with apple mousse, black bread and syrup is served. This is also a popular option for fast food, without which no fair can do.
Perhaps German cuisine can not be called exquisite and refined, like the French, but it is definitely hearty and diverse enough that everyone can find something to their liking.
