Germany: Recipes and Cuisine

A list of typical German dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a German-style meal, party or festival.

Vorspeisen (Appetizers)

• Gefüllte Eier (Deviled eggs)
• Königinspastetschen (Filled patty shells)
• Marinierter Herring (Pickled herring)
• Tatar (Beef tartar)

Suppen (Soups and Stews)

• Erbsensuppe (Pea soup)
• Kartoffelsuppe (Potato soup)

Salate (Salads)

• Bayrischer Wurst Salat (Bavarian wurst salad)
• Gurkensalat (Cucumber salad)
• Kartofellsalat (Potato salad)
• Kohlrabisalat (Kohlrabi in sour cream dressing)

Klöße and Knödel (Noodles and Dumplings)

• Kartoffelknödel (Potato dumplings)
• Königsberger Klopse (Meat dumplings)
• Leberknödel (Liver dumplings)
• Maultaschen (German meat-filled pasta dumplings)
• Semmelknödel (Bread dumplings)
• Spätzle (Egg dumplings)
• Thüringer Kartoffelklöße (Potato dumplings)

Eierspeisen (Eggs and Dairy)

• Arme Ritter (German-style French toast)
• Bauernomelett (Farmer's omelette)
• Kaiserschmarrn (Emperor's pancakes)
• Pfannkuchen (Pancakes)
• Spiegeleier mit Schinken (Fried eggs and ham)

Geflügel (Poultry)

• Gänsebraten (Roast goose)
• Hänchen in Riesling (Chicken in Riesling)
• Hühnerfrikassee (Chicken fricassee)

Fleisch (Meats)

Rind- und Kalbfleisch (Beef and Veal)

• Geschmorte Rindszunge (Braised beef tongue)
• Rinderrouladen (Braised beef rolls)
• Rinderschmorbraten (Beef pot roast)
• Sauerbraten (Vinegar-marinated roast beef)
• Wienerschnitzel (Viennese veal cutlet)

Schweinefleisch (Pork)

• Kasseler Ripchen (Smoked pork chops)
• Schäufele (Roast smoked pork shoulder)
• Schwarzwälder Schinken (Black Forest ham)
• Schweinebraten (Roast pork)
• Schweinekotelette und Sauerkraut (Pork chops and sauerkraut)

Wild (Game)

• Gebratener Rehrücken (Roast saddle of venison)
• Hasenpfeffer (Rabbit fricassee)
• Rehragout (Venison stew)
• Wildschweinbraten (Roast wild boar)

Würste (Sausages)

• Bratwurst (White sausages)
• Kohl und Pinkel (Sausage with greens)
• Leberkäse (Liver loaf)
• Allerlei Würste (A primer of all kinds of sausages)

Fisch (Fish and Seafood)

• Aal in Sauer (Marinated eel)
• Forelle blau (Blue trout)
• Karpfen in Bier (Carp in bier)
• Matjes Hering (Marinated young herring)

Gemüse and Bohnen (Vegetables and Beans)

• Blaukraut (Braised red cabbage)
• Erbsenpüree (Split pea puree)
• Gedünstetes Kraut (Braised cabbage; see Dušené Zelí recipe)
• Gefüllte Tomaten (Stuffed tomatoes)
• Kartoffelpuffer (Potato pancakes; see Latkes recipe)
• Leipziger Allerlei (Mixed vegetables)
• Pilze in Rahmsauce (Mushrooms in cream sauce)
• Sauerkraut (Pickled cabbage)
• Spargel (Asparagus)
• Spinatpudding (Spinach pudding ring)
• Westfälisches Blindhuhn (Westphalian pork and beans)
• Wirsinggemüse (Savoy cabbage in brown sauce)

Brot and Korn (Breads and Grains)

• Bauernbrot (Farmer's bread)
• Brezeln (Pretzels)
• Semmel (Breakfast rolls)
• Butterbrot (Open-faced sandwiches)
• Pumpernickel (Pumpernickel bread)
• Sonnenblumenbrot (Sunflower seed bread)

Soßen (Sauces)

• Apfelmus (Applesauce)
• Dunkle Soße (Brown sauce)
• Grüne Soße (Green herb sauce)
• Helle Soße (White sauce)
• Käsesoße (Cheese sauce, see Béchamel notes)
• Kräuterbutter (Herbed butter)
• Senfsoße (Mustard sauce, see Béchamel notes)

Süßspeisen (Desserts)

• Apfelmus (Applesauce)
• Apfelstrudel (Apple strudel)
• Baumkuchen (Multi-layered, tree-shaped cake)
• Bayerische Creme (Bavarian creme)
• Blitzkuchen (Quick coffee cake)
• Brotpudding (Bread pudding)
• Dresdner Stollen (Fruitcake)
• Fruchtkompotte (Fruit compotes)
• Kugelhupf (Yeast ring cake)
• Lebkuchen (Gingerbread)
• Marzipan (Almond paste sweets)
• Mohntorte (Poppyseed torte; see Makový Koláč recipe)
• Pflaumenkuchen (Plum tart)
• Rumtopf (Rum-infused fruit)
• Schwäbischer Apfelkuchen (Apple torte)
• Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest torte)
• Waffeln (Waffles)

Getränke (Beverages)

• Eiskaffee (Iced coffee)
• Glühwein (Warm spiced wine)
• Kalte Ente (Champagne punch)
• Maiwein (White wine flavored with woodruff)
• Basics of German Wines