German Food
German Culture
German Drinks
German food is hearty, heavy and darn good. Some of these you have to try in Germany. I've also included some of the common fast food choices so that you are not stuck eating Mc Donalds.
Note: Though Mc Donalds has many locations in Germany, you cannot find American classics like Burger King or Wendys. Also Subway and Starbucks are becoming favorites in Germany.
Maultauschen
Otherwise known as German ravioli. Literally translated maultauschen
means "Mouth Pockets". Maultauschen are pockets of noodle dough
filled with pork, spinach, onions and egg. Germans developed
maultauschen to be able to eat meat on Fridays. Because the dough
covers the meat, God would not be able to see it, and they could enjoy
meat every day of the week. Maultauschen are either eaten boiled in a
broth or cut up and fried with scrambled eggs.
Schwäbische Linsen (Lentils)
Vinegar is what gives this dish its sour taste. These are lentils cooked with carrots, onions, and bacon. Often a frankfurter (or hot dog) is served in the lentils. They may be served with spätzle (schwäbische noodles). It is especially good in the winter months to keep warm.
Käsespätzle
This is a common southern-German, or Schwabish dish. Spätzle are German noodles that are made of floor, egg, and salt and are either made the traditional way of scraping the dough into boiling water or are made by using a press. The noodles are boiled and can be served with a meat dish or mixed with fried onions and cheese as in Käsespätzle.
Flammkuchen
The closer you go to the boarder of France the easier this dish is to find. It is a specialty of south-west Germany. If you are lucky enough to find it, check it out! Flammkuchen is like a pizza. It is made with a very thin pizza crust topped with onions and cream. It can also be ordered with cheese and/or ham. It is defiantly something you won’t be able to find in the states and the Americans I know like it.
Curry Wurst
Great as a snack! It is usually a hot-dog sized sausage that is cut into slices and covered with ketchup and curry powder. It is usually served with a roll or French fries. You would be more likely to find this at a street vendor than in a restaurant any where.
Rotewurst
A German hot-dog. This is a great quick lunch that can be found at any festival, special event and sometimes at street vendors. Most people eat these with mustard instead of ketchup. Both toppings are usually available. They are larger than an American hot-dog and usually a bit crispy. Enjoy!
Döner
This is a very common fast food in Germany. Döners are a result of all of the Turkish immigrants in Germany. They started to sell their Turkish kebabs and they became döners. A döner is shaved beef, chicken or lamb that is served in pita bread with lettuce, onions, a yogurt sauce and other vegetables depending on the vendor. It is relatively cheap and easy to find in cities. A döner-kebab stand is very common to stop by on the way home from the bars or during the day for lunch.
Pretzels
One cannot travel to southern Germany without a German pretzel. They are large like the pretzels you get at the baseball park, but they aren't soft either. The bottom of the pretzel tends to be soft and the smaller cross in the middle is sometimes hard and sometimes soft depending on which region you are in (hard in Baden-Wüttenberg and soft in Bavaria). Germans eat pretzels for breakfast or lunch by cutting horizontally through the soft part of the pretzel and then smearing the inside with butter and adding cold cuts or cheese as they like. They then replace the part of the pretzel that was cut off and eat like a sandwich. Most bakeries have butter pretzels or already-made pretzel sandwiches to eat. Great as a snack or a quick lunch.
Spargel mit Schinken / Asparagus with Ham
A spring dish, Germans eat the white version of asparagus instead of the green version Americans are used to. Spargel (Asparagus) is often served with ham, potatoes and sauce Hollandaise. The sauce is very buttery and the asparagus are very soft and delicious. Thought it is expensive, it is dish not to be missed.
German pancakes
German pancakes can best be described as crepes. They are nothing more than very thin pancakes made with flour, egg and milk. To eat you cover with jam, roll into a tube, and then eat from end to end. You can also eat with Nutella and bananas, honey, or cinnamon and sugar. Sometimes people will make them with ham and cheese for lunch.
Bavarian Breakfast
This is a definite must for anyone in Munich! A Bavarian breakfast consists of two white sausages, sweat mustard, a pretzel and a beer. This breakfast will really get you going for your day in Germany.
