Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (2024)

  • 01 of 15

    Quark (Classic German Cheese)

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (1)

    Favored in much of Europe, but somewhat hard to find in the U.S., quark can be made at home with little money and effort. You can make it even more easily than yogurt, as a fun afternoon project that can teach the kids where cheese comes from. Eat it with fruit or however you may enjoy cottage cheese.

  • 02 of 15

    German Potato Noodles

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (2)

    If you have leftover spuds, use them up by making badische schupfnudeln, or potato noodles. Browning them in butter gives them a delightfully toasty crust that tastes wonderful alongside schnitzel or any roast protein.

  • 03 of 15

    Butternocken (Tasty Butter Dumplings)

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (3)

    Just five ingredients stand between you and these delightful little butter dumplings. Butternocken are incredibly easy to make, even for beginners. You can also make ahead and freeze them, for later adding to any stew or soup that need a little extra something.

  • 04 of 15

    German Beef Rouladen

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (4)

    Germanrouladen tastes like a special occasion, but doesn't require any fancy cuts or techniques. Just thin slices of beef browned, then braised in a simple red wine sauce would sub in for your typical roast on a Sunday evening. Serve it with potatoes or noodles, preferably homemade spaetzle, on the side.

  • 05 of 15

    Simple Baked Fish With Apple

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (5)

    Catholics commonly eat fish on Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lent season, but this basic fish with apples tastes great all year round. In true German fashion, this simple baked fish with apple recipe does not shy away from bold flavors, with sinus-clearing horseradish as one of the main ingredients. Apple adds a hint of balancing sweetness.

  • 06 of 15

    Zurich Ragout (Zurcher Geschnetzelter)

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (6)

    While the may sound like a mouthful, the traditional veal stew Zurich ragout sure tastes wonderful. Consisting of veal, pork loin, or chicken, and mushrooms smothered in a creamy white sauce with parsley and lemon zest, it makes a lovely supper alongside a German white wine.

  • 07 of 15

    German-Style Mustard Pork Chops

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (7)

    These German-style mustard pork chops highlight one of Germany's favorite condiments. Dredged in seasoned flour then fried before covered in a wine and mustard sauce, this hearty one-pan meal packs a punch without taking a lot of time or complicated work.

  • 08 of 15

    Milchreis (German Rice Pudding)

    Many countries in the world have their own take on rice pudding and Germany is no exception. For a satisfying and hearty dessert, combine short-grain rice, vanilla, milk, and sugar into a creamy, satisfying sweet. Milchreis takes just minutes to cook up on the stove and comes out wonderfully.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.

  • 09 of 15

    Alsatian Apple Cake

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (9)

    The Alsatian apple cake has a shortbread-like crust filled with apple slices and vanilla cream for a rich and creamy fall treat. It also doesn't require any fancy ingredients, so you may even have the goods in your kitchen already.

  • 10 of 15

    German Christmas Cardamom Cookies

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (10)

    With its spicy, slightly medicinal taste, cardamom first appeared in folk remedies in the Middle Ages. Today, bakers use it to flavor desserts like these distinctly floral rolled German cookies that you may enjoy as part of a Christmas platter or anytime you want a unique pick-me-up.

  • 11 of 15

    Jaegerschnitzel with Mushroom Sauce

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (11)

    Jaegerschnitzelorjägerschnitzelalso known as "hunter's cutlets" in English—refers to a thinly-pounded pan-fried meat cutlet with a creamy mushroom sauce. Lots of variations exist, so feel free to mix it up once you master the basics. Pork tastes great, but chicken or veal cutlets work, too.

  • 12 of 15

    German Sausage and Sauerkraut

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (12)

    Kielbasa, Knockwurst, or your favorite smoked German sausage pairs with sauerkraut and veggies in this German casserole that will stick to your ribs on a chilly or dreary evening. Caraway seeds give it a slightly herbal note that just begs for some rye bread on the side.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.

  • 13 of 15

    German Fried Meat Patties

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (13)

    Use up old rolls with this fried meat pattie, or frikadellen, recipe that really hits the spot with a cold lager, a side salad, and roast potatoes. Ground beef or chopped bacon or pork works well, as does day-old white bread. If you don't have any, cooked oatmeal would give it a little extra nutrition as a substitute.

  • 14 of 15

    Fluffy German Pancake

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (14)

    Also known as Dutch babies, this fluffy giant German pancake will turn breakfast or brunch into an occasion. The pancake puffs up like a souffle while baking, but will deflate pretty quickly once it cools. Serve it with fruit or omit the sugar and add savory ingredients like ham or bacon.

  • 15 of 15

    Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

    Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (15)

    For the German answer to comfort food, turn to kohlrouladen, or German stuffed cabbage rolls. This recipe calls for ground beef, but you can use any chopped meat in the filling that you like. Tomato sauce would add a little extra flavor to the stuffing, if you prefer.

Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know (2024)

FAQs

Beyond Pretzels and Bratwurst: 15 Classic German Recipes You Should Know? ›

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

What is the national dish of Germany? ›

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

What is Germany's favorite food? ›

Sauerbraten. Sauerbraten is regarded as one Germany's national dishes and there are several regional variations in Franconia, Thuringia, Rhineland, Saarland, Silesia and Swabia. This pot roast takes quite a while to prepare, but the results, often served as Sunday family dinner, are truly worth the work.

What do Germans eat in a day? ›

Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!

What is the most famous German dish? ›

These German recipes celebrate some of the dishes Germany is most known for: crispy fried schnitzel, robust sausages, chewy pretzels, and all manner of mustard-tinged delights. We've even included a handful of items on the sweeter side, too, like a tangy apricot kuchen and a berry-studded German pancake. Guten appetit!

What do Germans eat for lunch? ›

Lunch foods

The main meal of the day is das Mittagessen, or lunch. The tradition is to have a hot meal during lunch. Sauerbraten, snitzels, Frikadellen (German meatballs), potatoes (such as Kartoffelsalat), green beans, soups, and stews are frequently served for lunch.

What time do Germans eat dinner? ›

But in Germany, the traditional dinner time is much earlier: you'll find many German households having their evening meal between 5 and 7 pm.

What is the favorite meat in Germany? ›

The average annual meat consumption is 59.7 kg (132 lb) per person. The most common varieties are pork, poultry, and beef. Other varieties of meat are widely available, but are considered to be insignificant. Meat is usually braised; fried dishes also exist, but these recipes usually originate from France and Austria.

What do Germans eat on Christmas? ›

These delicious holiday recipes represent typical German Christmas food. Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.

What is the number 1 food in Germany? ›

Sauerbraten. Germans love their meat dishes, and Sauerbraten (meaning 'sour' or 'pickled' roast) is one of the country's national dishes. You can make a pot roast by using many different types of meat, which you marinate in wine, vinegar, spices, herbs, and then season for up to ten days.

What is Germany's favorite fast food? ›

The story behind currywurst, Germany's favourite fast food. Currywurst, the beloved German snack, was created in the late 1940s.

What food is unique to Germany? ›

12 Unique Foods In Germany You Should Not Miss Out On
  • 12 Königsberger Klopse.
  • 11 German Potato Salad.
  • 10 Spätzle.
  • 9 Bratwurst.
  • 8 Schnitzel.
  • 7 Currywurst.
  • 6 Maultaschen.
  • 5 Kartoffelpuffer.
Jun 26, 2023

Do Germans eat eggs for breakfast? ›

In Germany, the soft-boiled egg is a requirement at every big Sunday breakfast. Typically, it is not considered a main dish and not eaten with an omnipresent bread roll, but stands alone in a dish of its own, like a work of art adorned only with a dash of salt. Usually the yolk - the "Eigelb" - is left runny.

Do Germans eat a lot of eggs? ›

This statistic shows the average number of eggs consumed per head in Germany from 2006 to 2022. In 2022, average per capita egg consumption amounted to 230 eggs, based on preliminary figures.

What do Germans say before eating dinner? ›

You'll find that most Germans begin the meal with a hearty Guten Appetit! Similar to Bon Appetit, it is an elegant way to phrase "Let's eat!". More informally, especially at lunch, you can expect an exclamation of "Mahlzeit!".

What cut of meat is sauerbraten made of? ›

Sauerbraten is a German roast of marinated meat, traditionally beef. Since it's generally made with tougher cuts (usually the rump roast), the meat is marinated for days at a time. The roast is sliced and served with a gravy. In some recipes, the gravy is made with gingersnaps.

What is Russia's national dish? ›

Pelmeni is considered the national dish of Russia. They are pastry dumplings are typically filled with minced meat and wrapped in a thin, pasta-like dough. They can be served alone, slathered in butter and topped with sour cream, or in a soup broth.

What is Sweden's national dish? ›

What's the most iconic Swedish dish? Köttbullar or Swedish meatballs are arguably the most iconic, often representing Swedish food culture globally.

What is the national animal for Germany? ›

The heraldic animal of the Federal Republic of Germany is the eagle. As a symbol of the sun, the life-force and the highest deity, the eagle was already revered in the highly developed civilizations of the Orient and in antiquity by the Greeks and the Germanic tribes.

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