Traditional German cuisine.
Traditional German cuisine is a blend of different influences and includes a variety of dishes and foods that have been prepared in Germany for centuries. One of the most well-known dishes in German cuisine is:
- Schnitzel: breaded and fried meat, mostly pork or chicken
- Bratwurst: fried pork or beef sausage
- Potato salad: Salad made from boiled potatoes, cucumber, onions and dressing
- Beef with red cabbage and dumplings: boiled beef with red cabbage and potato dumplings
- Schweinshaxe: fried pork knuckle
- Spätzle: handmade noodles made from eggs, flour and water
- Sauerkraut: fermented white cabbage
There are of course many other dishes and specialties in German cuisine, depending on the region of the country.
German cuisine is very diverse and shaped by various influences, including local culture and the ingredients that are available in each region. There are many regional specialties in Germany, such as:
- Bavarian cuisine: known for knuckle of pork, white sausage and pretzels
- Berlin cuisine: known for currywurst and doner kebab
- Rhenish cuisine: known for Rhenish sauerbraten and kale
- North German cuisine: known for kale and Labskaus
- Swabian cuisine: known for its spaetzle and dumplings
In addition to these specialties, there are also many common dishes in German cuisine, such as potato salad, beef with red cabbage and dumplings and sauerkraut.
German cakes and desserts are also very popular and include delicacies such as Black Forest gateau, apple strudel and Berlin pancakes.
Some other well-known dishes and dishes from German cuisine are:
- Potato Pancakes: Potato pancakes that are fried and often served with applesauce or sauerkraut
- stew: a stew-like dish made from meat, vegetables and legumes
- Meatballs: fried, flat, ground meatballs
- Liver dumplings: large, boiled dumplings made from dough, often served in soups
- Beef roulades: wafer-thin slices of beef wrapped around ham, onions and mustard and then boiled or grilled
German cuisine is also known for its beer culture. Beer is an important part of many German dishes and is often drunk with meals.
There are also many different types of German beer, from pale lager to dark bocks to wheat beer.
German desserts.
Some other well-known German cakes and desserts are:
- Black Forest gateau: a layer of gateau with a cherry filling and cream
- Apple tart: a tart with apples, served with crumble or shortcrust pastry
- Berliner Pfannkuchen: a type of Berlin donut filled with jam, custard or other fillings and then topped with sugar or powdered sugar
- Chocolate cake: a chocolate flavored cake, often frosted with cream or buttercream
- Quarkkeulchen: small cakes made from quark, eggs and flour, usually served with powdered sugar or jam
Bavarian cuisine.
Bavarian cuisine is one of the best known and most popular regional cuisines in Germany and is shaped by the Bavarian administrative districts. It is known for its hearty and tasty dishes, which often consist of pork, potatoes and sauerkraut. Some of the most famous dishes in Bavarian cuisine are:
- Schweinshaxe: fried pork knuckle
- Weißwurst: roasted veal and pork sausage, usually served with mustard and pretzels
- Pretzels: large, baked pretzels, usually filled with butter, cheese or sausage
- Potato salad: Salad made from boiled potatoes, cucumber, onions and dressing
- Schnitzel: breaded and fried meat, mostly pork or chicken
- Roast pork: grilled or baked roast pork served with potato dumplings and sauerkraut
Of course, there are many other dishes and specialties in Bavarian cuisine, such as Obatzda (a kind of cheese spread), cheese spaetzle (spaetzle with cheese gratin) and knuckle of pork with potato dumplings and sauerkraut.
Bavarian cuisine is also known for its beer culture and beer is an important part of many Bavarian dishes and is often drunk with meals.
Bavarian beer.
Beer is an important part of Bavarian culture and has been brewed in Bavaria for centuries. Bavarian beer is brewed according to the Purity Law, a German law dating back to 1516 that states that beer can only be made from water, hops and malt. There are many different types of Bavarian beer, including:
- Helles: a light, golden colored lager that is light and smooth
- Dark: a dark beer that has a more malty aroma and is spicier than a light beer
- Weißbier: a beer made from malt, wheat and hops with a light, sweet note
- Kellerbier: an unfiltered beer that is tapped straight from the cellar and has a slightly cloudy, golden colour
- Bock beer: a strong beer, usually darker and spicier than other beers, drunk in autumn and winter
Bavarian beer is served in many bars and restaurants in Bavaria and there are also many beer festivals and events across the country.