National German dishes

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

National German cuisine is very popular in Europe. As for our country, the majority of culinary specialists prefer to cook primordially Russian dinners. Although some housewives still try to diversify their menu and make German dishes. About what ingredients they include in their composition, as well as what features they have, we will tell in the presented article.

General information about German cuisine

German cuisine is ancient cuisine. It originates from the time of Roman rule. It was then that the ancient Germans lived on the territory of modern Germany.

German dishes can be different and have their own characteristics. As a rule, it depends on a particular region of the country where they are consumed. There is no unity in German cuisine. The southern regions of Swabia and Bavaria can boast an abundance of unusual dishes.

Meat and sausages

It's no secret that sausage, as well as sausages in general, is one of the most beloved dishesin all regions of Germany.

As for meat, almost all German dishes necessarily include pork and beef. According to statistics, the average German eats about 84 kg of meat a year.

Germany is Europe's leading producer of various types of sausages. It is believed that more than 1,500 types of sausages are made in this state.

Favorite vegetables in Germany

Along with meat, almost all German dishes contain a large amount of vegetables. They are used both as a side dish and as part of thick puree soups.

The most widespread in this country are the following types of vegetables: spinach, carrots, beans, peas, as well as various varieties of cabbage. It should also be noted that German cuisine quite often includes tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. By the way, most meat dishes in Germany are served with fried onions. It is also often used both pickled and fresh.

Traditional German dishes are very similar to the national dishes of Russia. History contributed to this. For example, after World War II, sauerkraut became very popular in Germany. Today the Germans consider it their national dish. By the way, in English there is even a word Sauerkraut borrowed from German. It literally means "sauerkraut". Because of their excessive love for this product, the inhabitants of Germany received such a playful nickname asKrauts.

Bread products

Few people know, but approximately 350-650 different types of bread are produced in Germany. White bread made from wheat flour is very popular among Germans, as well as gray bread, black, rye, etc.

Most types of bread products in Germany are made from rye and wheat flour. By the way, this is where such a German name as Mischbrot, that is, "mixed" bread, came from.

It should also be noted that pumpkin or sunflower seeds are sometimes added to the dough.

German hot dishes are not eaten without bread. After all, it is the most important part of the family table. Bread is also eaten for breakfast, as well as hearty sandwiches in the evening.

The importance of this product in German cuisine is evidenced by terms such as Abendbrot (dinner), literally meaning "evening bread", and Brotzeit (snack or lunch), which translates as "bread time".

Drinks in Germany

Now you know what ingredients can be included in German national dishes. However, speaking of Germany, one cannot but recall such a foamy drink as beer. As you know, it is very popular not only among Germans, but all over the world.

Pilsner is the favorite beer in most parts of Germany. Although it should be noted that residents of the southern part of the country (especially Bavarians) quite often drink other types of drink (for example, wheat beer or lager).

In some regions of Germany,and own beers (local). For example, on the lower reaches of the Rhine, in the city of Cologne, they make Kölsch and dark Altbier.

It is impossible not to say that since 1990, such a sort of foamy drink as Schwarzbier has become widespread in the united state. Also in Germany, "Schnapps" and cocktails that are made on the basis of beer (for example, beer with lemonade) are very popular.

The most popular German dishes: cooking recipes

As in our country, in Germany it is customary to have breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. Snacks between main meals are also possible.

In this article, we decided to tell you about what the Germans prefer to eat in the morning, afternoon and evening. In addition, we will tell you exactly how German national dishes are prepared and what you need to purchase for this.

Delicious breakfast - apple pancakes in a pan

German dishes, whose names practically do not differ from Russian ones, are prepared quickly and easily. If you want to heartily feed your family at breakfast, then we suggest making apple pancakes. For this we need:

• light sugar - 2 dessert spoons;
• white flour - 300 g;
• medium-sized eggs - 4 pcs.;
• vanilla extract - small spoon;
• sea s alt - a pinch;
• gin (optional) - large spoon;
• whole milk - full glass;
• vegetable oil (use without fragrance) - large spoon;
• sweet red apples - 3 pcs

The process of making pancakes

To prepare a German breakfast, eggs, s alt, vanilla extract and sugar are mixed in one container and beaten with a mixer. Light flour, whole milk, gin and vegetable oil are also added there. Mix all the ingredients well.

As for apples, they are washed, peeled and sliced.

After the described actions, put a thick-walled frying pan on medium heat and add a little oil. Then they take pieces of fruit one by one and dip them into the batter. In this form, apples are placed in a pan and poured with a large spoonful of base. Products are fried until golden brown. After both sides of the pancakes are browned, they are laid out on a dry towel to remove excess oil.

Breakfast is served warm to the table. The pancakes are first sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and decorated with cream and mint.

Hearty lunch - Guttenberg side dish with German sausages

German cuisine, the recipes of which few housewives know, quite often includes various vegetables. For example, the traditional German side dish Guttenberg cannot be sold without such a product as cabbage. As a rule, this dish is served for lunch along with classic sausages. But first things first.

So, to prepare the Guttenberg side dish we need:

• sauerkraut - 500 g;
• onion - large head;
• potato - 1 tuber;
• garlic cloves - 2 pcs;
• black peppercorns - 7 pcs;
• lavrushka - large leaf;
• vegetable oil - 3 large spoons;
• boiled water - 2/3 cup.

Method of cooking

To prepare the dish in question, all vegetables are thoroughly washed and cleaned. Then they are cut into small pieces and proceed to heat treatment. To do this, take a deep saucepan, heat vegetable oil in it and fry onion half rings. After that, sauerkraut, whole cloves of garlic, peppercorns, s alt and bay leaf are added to the dishes. All ingredients are mixed well and stewed in their own juice for ¼ hour.

At the end, add drinking water, potato slices to the dish and continue the heat treatment for about half an hour.

After the Guttenberg garnish is ready, it is immediately presented to the table. To do this, stewed cabbage is placed on a plate, and a couple of German sausages and a slice of bread are placed nearby.

Nutritious afternoon snack - beef with egg

As mentioned above, the inhabitants of Germany cannot imagine their life without a good piece of meat. Beef with egg is a very hearty and tasty dish, which is most often served with an afternoon snack. To prepare it, we need:

• lean beef - about 600g;
• bulb - big head;
• mustard wet ready - about 30 g;
• butter - about 70-100 g;
• large eggs - 4 pcs.;
• vegetable oil - useoptional;
• spices - use as you like.

Processing ingredients

Dishes of German cuisine, the recipes with photos of which we are considering, are very satisfying and high-calorie. Before cooking them on the stove, all components should be processed.

The beef is thoroughly washed and then minced in a meat grinder along with a large onion. After that, wet mustard, pepper and s alt are added to the minced meat. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed, and then they are picked up and formed into flat and round cutlets.

Heat treatment of cutlets and eggs

After making a few beef cutlets, they are dipped in a grill pan with vegetable oil and fried over medium heat.

After all the products are ready, they are taken out and laid out on a separate plate. As for the pan, melt the butter in it and fry the fried eggs one by one.

Serve for afternoon tea

The finished dish is served on a flat plate. A beef cutlet is first placed on it, and then it is covered with a fried egg. Fresh vegetables and herbs are nearby.

Fragrant dinner - German dumplings

German dumplings can be made in many different ways. We decided to present the most popular recipe. To implement it, we need:

• lean pork - 500g;
• large onion - 2 pcs.;
• juicy carrot - 1 piece;
• potatoes - 500 g;
• fresh soft tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
• small egg - 1 pc.;
• cold water - 100 ml;
• fat sour cream - 150r;
• light flour - approximately 250g;
• vegetable oil - 2 large spoons;
• spices and herbs - optional.

How to prepare the dish?

To prepare the dish in question, lean pork is thoroughly washed, dried and cut into small pieces. Then the meat is put in a saucepan, vegetable oil is added and fried until golden brown. Finely chopped onions and carrots are also sautéed separately.

As for fresh tomatoes, they are peeled, chopped and laid out with vegetables. All ingredients are stewed for about 5 minutes, and then added to the meat. Products are s alted, peppered and spread with your favorite spices. They also pour a little water into them and simmer over medium heat for about ¼ hour.

Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them into medium pieces. The tubers are added to the meat and boiled until tender. After that, they begin to sculpt dumplings. To do this, beat the egg with a fork, combine with s alt, pour in water and gradually add flour.

After kneading a stiff dough, it is rolled out in a thin layer, and then smeared with thick sour cream. The dairy product is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the base and rolled into a tight roll. The resulting product is cut into pieces 3 centimeters thick.

Dip all the dumplings into the ready-made meat broth with potatoes and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. At the end, chopped greens are added to the dish, removed from the stove, distributed on plates and served.

Making delicious Germandessert

The sweet German dish "Strudli" is known to many residents of our country. To prepare such a dessert on our own, we need the following components:

• yeast-free puff pastry - about 500 g;
• frozen or fresh cherries - 1 cup;
• seedless dark raisins - 3 large spoons;
• breadcrumbs - 2 large spoons;
• egg yolk - from the 1st large egg;
• vanilla sugar - apply to taste;
• walnuts (chopped and roasted) - 50 g;
• butter - at least 100 g.

Making dessert

In order not to waste time, puff pastry can be purchased at the store, rather than kneading yourself. You also need to prepare the berries. Cherries are best used fresh. But if you decide to make such a dessert in winter, then you can use a frozen berry.

After the main ingredients are prepared, you should start rolling out the dough. It is taken out of the freezer in advance and thawed completely. Then the base is sprinkled with flour and a thin rectangular layer is made from it. To make the German strudel as tender and tasty as possible, it is recommended to roll out the dough only along one side. So its numerous layers will be preserved in its entirety, which will make the dessert fluffy and soft.

After the sheet of dough is rolled out, it is generously smeared with melted butter, and then sprinkled with raisins, chopped and roasted walnuts. Also, berries are evenly laid on top of the base,flavored with vanilla sugar. At the end, the dough is wrapped with a tube, after which it is smeared with beaten egg yolk.

In this form, the semi-finished product is placed in the oven, where it is baked for about half an hour at a temperature of 200 degrees.

After the German strudel is ready, it is carefully removed and cooled. After cutting the puff dessert into portions, it is flavored with powdered sugar and presented to the table along with a cup of hot tea.