List of German dishes

Below is a list of dishes found in German cuisine.

Famous dishes

NameImageRegionDescription
Aachener Printen AachenA type of gingerbread that is typical for the city of Aachen.
Apfelkuchen Throughout GermanyGerman pastry consisting of sliced apples
Bratkartoffeln Throughout GermanyFried potato slices, often with diced bacon or onions
Bratwurst Throughout GermanySausage that is usually composed of veal, pork or beef. It is a traditional German sausage. Not to be confused with curry wurst.
Currywurst Berlin, Rhine-RuhrThis large-format, fried or grilled wiener is cut into thick slices and seasoned with spicy ketchup and generous amounts of curry powder, usually served with french fries — a popular snack originating in early 1950s Berlin. Both Bockwurst-style (i.e. intended to be boiled) and Bratwurst-style (i.e. intended to be grilled or fried) sausages are used, depending on region, and the use of one or the other is a matter for much debate among Currywurst gourmets. Currywurst remains one of the most popular fast foods in Germany, especially in Berlin and the Rhine-Ruhr area, but the Döner kebab is gaining rapidly in popularity.
Fischbrötchen Northern GermanySandwich made with various fish (pickled or fried) and onions, common in Northern Germany, particularly along the coast
Hendl Austro-BavarianWhole grilled chicken marinated with pepper and other spices this dish is known as Brathühnchen, Brathähnchen, and in eastern Germany, also as Broiler.
Hasenpfeffer A stew made from marinated rabbit
Kartoffelsalat Northern Germany and South GermanyPotato salad, which comes in many varieties, for example in a cream or mayonnaise dressing (northern Germany) or even in meat broth (south Germany), is often served as a side dish to Bratwurst or boiled sausages).
Knödel (also known as Kloß, depending on region) Throughout GermanyGerman dumplings; many different variations:
  • Semmelknödel (dumplings made with bread crumbs)
  • Rohe Kartoffelknödel - dumplings made from potatoes not cooked prior to forming and boiling the Knödel
  • Gekochte Kartoffelknödel - dumplings made from potatoes cooked prior to forming and boiling the Knödel
  • Halb-und-halb Kartoffelknödel: half the potatoes are cooked first, the other half are not
  • Halbseidene
Königsberger Klopse East-Prussian: city of KönigsbergCooked meatballs served in a white sauce with capers
Kohlroulade Throughout GermanyGerman-style cabbage rolls
Marzipan Throughout GermanyE.g. Lübeck-style, widely used in Christmas specialities
Pellkartoffel [de] Throughout GermanyBoiled or steamed potatoes before peeling (young potatoes may be eaten unpeeled), served with Quark and linseed oil, butter, or as a side dish with herring).
PfefferpotthastWestphaliaA traditional peppered beef stew of the German cuisine that belongs to the cuisine of Westphalia.
Rinderroulade Throughout GermanyA roulade of bacon and onions wrapped in thinly sliced beef
Sauerbraten RhinelandA beef pot roast marinated in vinegar, water, spices and seasonings
Sauerkraut Throughout GermanyFermented shredded cabbage
Schnitzel Throughout GermanyFried, breaded thin piece of meat, typically pork, poultry or veal
Schweinshaxe Pork hock served grilled and crispy with Sauerkraut or boiled as Eisbein
Spanferkel Throughout GermanyA grilled whole young pig, usually eaten in a large company of friends or guests
Speckpfannkuchen Large, thin pancakes with diced, fried bacon
Spätzle Southern GermanyThese hand-made noodles are very popular and are an important ingredient of several dishes, such as Linsen mit Spätzle or Käsespätzle.
Stollen DresdenA bread-like cake with dried citrus peel, dried fruit, nuts, and spices such as cardamom and cinnamon; it is usually eaten during the Christmas season as Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen. The best-known Stollen is from Dresden and is sold at the Striezelmarkt Christmas market, which derives its name from the cake.
Weihnachtsgans Throughout GermanyA roasted goose is a popular dish on Christmas Day.[1]

Baden-Württemberg

NameImageTypeDescription
Maultaschen Main courseNoodle filled with various ingredients, such as meat, spinach, onions, spices: Maultaschen are either served with broth or cut into slices and fried with eggs.
Brenntar Main courseIt is made of roasted flour called Musmehl, usually spelt flour or oat flour. It is usually cooked like a porridge with water and milk with various ingredients.
Sauerbraten Main courseA vinegar-marinated roast traditionally made of horse meat, although nowadays the majority is made of beef.
Filderkraut [de] Side dishA finely cut pointed white cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria.
Spätzle PastaA kind of soft egg noodle found in the cuisines of southern Germany and Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Moselle and South Tyrol.
Linsen mit Spätzle Main courseHearty dish that combines Spätzle with cooked lentils and Vienna sausages.
Schupfnudel PastaPasta made from potatoes and flour, often served with Sauerkraut.
Flädlesuppe EntreeA broth with thin strips of German-style pancakes.
Springerle SnackCookies made by pressing dough into intricate molds. Commonly used for dunking into a drink, as they are quite hard.
Zwiebelkuchen Main courseAn onion cake, a seasonal dish served around October, usually eaten while still warm and accompanied by slightly fermented red or white grape juice called Süser or (more commonly in other regions) Federweißer.
Flammkuchen Main courseA pizza-like dish with thin crust and onion, bacon and crème fraîche topping.
Gaisburger Marsch Main courseA famous stew made of meat, potatoes, Spätzle and several kinds of vegetables like potatoes and carrots.
Käsespätzle Main courseDish of Spätzle and fried onions gratinated with cheese.
Wibele SnackSmall, sweet biscuits.
Himbeergeist BeverageA fruit-based Schnapps produced mainly in Germany and the Alsace region of France.
Kirschwasser BeverageA clear, colorless fruit brandy traditionally made from double distillation of morello cherries, a dark-colored cultivar of the sour cherry.

Bavaria

NameImageTypeDescription
Bierwurst ColdcutsA German cooked, smoked Brühwurst sausage originally from Bavaria, with a garlicky flavor and dark red color. It is seasoned with black peppercorns, paprika, and mustard seeds for flavor.
Blutwurst ColdcutsA type of blood sausage originating in Bavaria.
Brotzeit Main courseA traditional German savory snack native to the Bavarian cuisine and it literally means "Bread time".
Weißwurst SnackLt.:'White sausages'; a speciality from Munich, traditionally eaten for second breakfast. Always accompanied by sweet mustard, pretzels, and wheat beer. Traditionally not served after 12 noon because in earlier days, before fridges, the sausages had to be consumed before 12 noon so that they didn't decay. But, nowadays, people also eat it for dinner or lunch.
Weizenbier BeverageA beer, usually top-fermented, which is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley. The two main varieties are Weissbier and Witbier; the minor types include Lambic, Berliner Weisse and Gose.
Helles BeverageA German beer style that is usually drunk in Bavaria, Germany. It has a yellow, gold color, and has 4.5-6% alcohol.
Radler BeverageA beer mixed with citrus lemonade
Kartoffelkäse Side dishA spread from the regions of Bavaria and Austria that literally means "Potato cheese".
Münchener Bier BeerA protected geographical indication for beer since 1998, which is brewed within the city limits of Munich by the breweries Augustiner Bräu, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Hofbräu and Löwenbräu, which are members of the Münchner Brauereien.
Schweinsbraten [de] Main courseSliced pork roast with a crunchy crust that was boiled in a pot.
Schweinshaxe Main courseBraised pork leg with a crunchy brown crust on the outside, and a moist and juicy inside. Served with gravy and Klöße.
Leberkäse SnackA type of sausage baked in a mould and cut into slices. When eaten as a main course, it is sliced and served with an egg (must be sunny side up style), and mashed potatoes. For a quick lunch, it is usually eaten in a bread-roll with mustard, a bit like a hotdog. Some people eat the Leberkäse with hot mustard, others with sweet mustard.
Leberknödel SoupA traditional dish of German, Austrian and Czech cuisines that literally means "Liver dumpling soup".
Schlachtschüssel SnackLt.: Butchers plate; a combination of Blutwurst and Leberwurst (blood sausage and liver sausage), served hot on sauerkraut.
Saures Lüngerl [de]Main courseA ragout from lung and sometimes heart from the veal.
Bayrisch Kraut Side dishShredded cabbage that is cooked in beef stock with pork lard, onion, apples, and seasoned with vinegar.
Kartoffelsalat Side dishBavarian potato salad is usually made with broth, bacon bits and onions and may be served hot or chilled.
Pichelsteiner Main courseA stew made from various kinds of meat and vegetables.
Bayrisch Creme DessertA very light, fluffy, and not too sweet dessert made from gelatin, milk, cream, egg yolk, and sugar.
Prinzregententorte CakeA cake that consists of seven thin cake layers with chocolate buttercream in between.
Topfenstrudel CakeSimilar to Apfelstrudel, but filled with topfen instead, and served with vanilla sauce.
Dampfnudel Main courseA sort of white bread or steam noodle made of yeast dough, steamed in a pan and then served with various toppings, e.g. sugar, cinnamon, poppy seeds, jam, butter, and vanilla sauce.
Buchteln Main courseSweet dumplings made of yeast dough, filled with jam, poppy seed paste, or curd, and baked in a large pan so that they stick together. The traditional Buchtel is filled with plum jam. Buchteln are topped with vanilla sauce, powdered sugar, or eaten plain and warm.
Obatzda Side disha Bavarian cheese delicacy that is prepared by mixing two thirds aged soft cheese, usually Camembert (Romadur or similar cheeses may be used as well), and one third butter.
Limburger CheeseA cheese that originated during the 19th century in the historical Duchy of Limburg, which is now divided between Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The cheese is especially known for its strong smell caused by the bacterium Brevibacterium linens.
Tafelspitz Side dishA boiled veal or beef in broth, served with a mix of minced apples and horseradish. It is a classic dish of the Viennese cuisine and popular throughout Austria and the neighboring German state of Bavaria.

Berlin

NameImageType‡Description
Akvavit BeverageA distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Akvavit is distilled from grain and potatoes, and is flavoured with a variety of herbs. Akvavit is also popular in Germany and the American Midwest.
Berliner Luft BeverageA type of mint liqueur produced in Berlin.
Beamtenstippe [de] SauceA either white or brown sauce that is eaten with potatoes.
Berliner Weisse BeerA cloudy, sour beer of around 3% alcohol by volume. It is a regional variation on the white beer style from Northern Germany, dating back to at least the 16th century.
Buletten Main course or snackA kind of meatball in Berlin.
Currywurst SnackA hot pork sausage served either with curry ketchup or a tomato paste with curry powder.
Dinkelbrot [de] BreadThe name for a bread made in Germany from at least 90% spelled malt products or spelt.
Eierkuchen Main courseA generally thicker pancake than a French-style crêpe and usually served with sweet or, occasionally, savory fillings.
Eisbein Main courseHam hock usually served with pea purée and Sauerkraut.
Hackepeter SnackRaw ground pork or mett that is spiced with salt and pepper, garlic and caraway.
Berliner Pfannkuchen PastrySweet dough dumplings, fried in fat or oil, filled with jam and glazed with confectioner's sugar. Also known simply as "Berliner" or, in the eastern part of Germany, including Berlin itself, "Pfannkuchen" and in Bavaria, they are called "Krapfen".

Bremen and Lower Saxony

NameImageTypeDescription
Birnen, Bohnen und Speck Main courseA dish of pears, beans and bacon, invariably accompanied by potatoes.
Bratwurst SnackA grey sausage with veal content that has a mild flavor, is pan-fried and then eaten with a hard roll.
Braunschweiger SnackAn internationally known sausage that is spread on toast or used in sandwiches.
Bregenwurst SnackA specialty sausage, usually served with Grünkohl
Bremer Kükenragout [de]Main courseA ragout made from different kinds of meat and seafood as well as vegetables; may contain no chicken and if it does it's meat from very young chicken.
Brunswick Mum BeverageAn ancient beer from Brunswick.
Butterkuchen CakeA sheet cake made from yeast dough topped with blops of butter and sugar.
Calenberger Pfannenschlag SnackGroats that are broiled and eaten with potatoes or on bread with various other side dishes, e.g. pickles or red beet; special kind of Knipp.
Gose BeverageA top-fermented beer that originated in Goslar, Germany. It is brewed with at least 50% of the grain bill being malted wheat.
Jägermeister BeverageA digestive made with 56 herbs and spices at a strength of 35% alcohol by volume (61 degrees proof, or US 70 proof). It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, south of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Kassler Main courseA slowly cooked salted pork dish that is usually served with Knödel and Sauerkraut or potato salad.
Liverwurst SnackA kind of sausage made from the livers of pigs or calves.
Kluntjes CandySugar crystals that are used as sweetener for tea.
Knipp Snack or Main courseBroiled groat sausage.
Labskaus Snack or Main courseA dish made from corned beef, herring, mashed potatoes, and beetroot, served with a fried egg and a pickled cucumber.
Mettwurst SnackA strongly flavored German sausage, made from raw minced pork which is preserved by curing and smoking, often with garlic.
Nordseegarnelen Snack or Main coursePrawns from the North Sea.
Pinkel mit Grünkohl Main courseA dish made from slowly cooked kale that is served with Pinkel, a rather salty sausage.
Pottwurst SnackAnother kind of Knipp.
Ratzeputz BeverageA type of spirit popular in Germany, which contains extracts and distillates of root ginger. The fresh ginger it contains is said to be beneficial to the stomach.
Räucheraal [de] Main course or snackSmoked eel that is used as ingredient in various dishes.
Schlachteplatte SnackA dish with a variety of meats usually eaten as second breakfast.
Spargel Side dishWhite asparagus that is eaten as a delicacy, commonly with potatoes and Sauce hollandaise.
Speck SnackAn English word meaning "fat", attested since the early 17th century. This word also exists in German with the same meaning, but it normally refers to pork fat with or without some meat in it.
Steckrübeneintopf Main courseA hearty stew made from rutabagas, carrots, and potatoes.
Welf puddingDessertA sweet two-layer pudding invented by a royal chef with one layer of vanilla-based and one of wine-based pudding.
Wurstbrühe [de] SoupThe broth, which arises in the production of brewing and cooking sausage. At the traditional slaughterhouse, the meat and liver were also cooked in the same cauldron before the sausages, which produced a strong broth, especially when later sausages burst, which formed the basis.

East Prussia

East Prussia, as Germany's easternmost province, was very often influenced by the cuisines of its surrounding neighbours: Russia and Lithuania to the northeast, and Poland to the south. The Russian borscht was adapted to the East Prussian palate, and Polish sausages were frequently found on the dinner table.

East Prussia's gastronomy also made extensive use of the abundant products from its dark, remote forests. Honey was often incorporated into recipes, and Kopskiekelwein, a fruit wine made from wild currants, was the favourite regional tipple alongside beer.

NameImageTypeDescription
Bärenfang BeverageA German honey-flavoured liqueur based on vodka. It is usually called Bärenjäger in English-speaking countries.
Beetenbartsch SoupA beetroot-based soup served with sour cream (Schmand) and beef (originally from Ukraine) Similar to Borscht.
Kuttelsuppe [de] SoupA lightly bound soup from tripe, usually with acidified vinegar that mentions regional spots, which is common in variants in numerous countries.
Königsberger Klopse Main courseMeatballs served in a white sauce with capers and eaten with potatoes.
Königsberger Marzipan CandySpecial kind of marzipan made in Königsberg.
Kopskiekelwein fruit wineA wine made from either blackcurrants or redcurrants, and usually fermented with Burgundy yeast.
Pillkaller Machandel BeverageA clear liqueur that is served in a drink with liver sausage and mustard.
Schwarzsauer SoupA type of blood soup with various spices cooked in vinegar-water.
Spirgel [de]SnackThe East Prussian name for fried bacon or pork belly as well as for a simple dish of diced pancetta or pork belly and onions.
Tilsiter cheese CheeseA light yellow semi-hard smear-ripened cheese, created in the mid-19th century by Prussian-Swiss settlers, the Westphal family, from the Emmental valley.

Franconia

NameImageTypeDescription
Fränkische Bratwurst SnackFränkische Bratwurst is composed of beef, pork or veal and is traditionally served with sauerkraut or potato salad or simply in a breadroll. They vary greatly in size and seasoning from region to region but are often considerably thinner than the equivalents elsewhere in Germany. The best-known sausages are from Nuremberg (Nürnberg) and are recognisable by their small size and clearly visible herb seasoning. They are traditionally served as three sausages in a roll ("Drei in 'a Weckla") or six sausages on sauerkraut ("Sechs auf Kraut").
Drei im Weggla SandwichA sandwich that has three items in a roll, typically three sausages or sausage pieces.
Extrawurst SnackA type of Austrian scalded cold cut that is moist, light colored, fine textured and made from a well-spiced mixture of beef, pork and bacon fat. In Austria, it is the most popular type of cold cut.
Kartoffelklöße [de] Main courseLarge klöße made from a dough consisting of raw or a combination of raw and cooked potatoes. The exact recipe is a matter of regional differences and personal belief. The best friend of pot-roasted meats or mushroom ragout.
Pressack mit Musik Main condimenta cold cut that originated in Europe that literally means head cheese with music.
Saure Zipfel Main courseA typical dish of the cuisine of Franconia and Upper Palatinate that consists of Bratwurst and sliced onion cooked in vinegar and usually eaten with Bavarian pretzels.
Schäufele Main courseAn entire pork (or, in some cases, Lamb) shoulder roasted in a fairly cool oven over long period so that the meat is extremely tender with a crunchy crust. Seasoning is usually simple using salt, pepper and caraway and traditionally it is served in a dark sauce, made from the roast stock, meat broth, and often dark beer and Lebkuchen spices. Accompanied by a side salad, dumplings and red cabbage or less commonly sauerkraut.
Stadtwurst SnackA type of sausage consisting of pork in a casing that may be white or red. Stadtwurst is a regional variety in Franconia and Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) and usually unknown and not available in other parts of Germany.
Hochzeitssuppe SoupA spicy wedding soup with bread dumplings, liver dumplings and finely sliced pancakes.
Lebkuchen Pastry/CookieGerman kind of gingerbread of which the most famous originates in Nuremberg and is traditionally only available at Christmas, although tourist demand means that Lebkuchen are available in some form practically all year round.
Regensburger Wurst SnackA boiled sausage with a fine or coarse pork filling that comes in a compact shape with a length of about 10 cm (4 in) and a diameter of about 4 cm. It was invented in Regensburg in the second half of the 19th century and only sausages that are produced in the inner city ring may be called "Regensburger".
Weihnachtskarpfen [de] Main courseA traditional dish with breaded and fried carp for Christmas Eve in Central Europe.
Wickelklöße [de]SnackA variant of the potato dumpling of the Erzgebirge cuisine and Thuringian cuisine filled with breadcrumbs.
Wurstsalat Main courseA tart sausage salad prepared with distilled white vinegar, oil and onions.[1][2] A variation of the recipe adds strips of pickled gherkin.

Frankfurt am Main and Hessen

NameImageTypeDescription
Nürnberger Rostbratwurst SnackThe small, thin bratwurst from Franconia's largest city, Nuremberg, was first documented in 1567; it is 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long, and weighs between 20 and 25 g.
Green Sauce DipA bright sauce made from an abundant amount of seven fresh minced herbs namely borage, sorrel, cress, chervil, chives, parsley, and burnet. Served with boiled potatoes and hardboiled eggs. Called "Grüne Soße" in German or "Griee Sooß" in the Hessian dialect.
Frankfurter sausage SnackA smoked sausage made from pure pork, which is eaten hot and usually accompanied by bread and mustard. Not to be confused with the American hot dog "Frankfurter".
Fischmilch [de] Main courseMilt that is fresh or preserved with salt as food and is used for flavoring sauces or used in whole fish dishes.
Apfelwein BeverageA wine made of apples, somewhat comparable to Cider and French Cidre though drier and more sour-tasting. Best enjoyed in traditional "Äbbelwoi-Lokalen". Served from a special jug (the "Bembel"), drunk with a special glass (the "Gerippte").
Schorle BeverageA refreshing drink that combines apple juice with sparkling water. It is usually served during summer.
Handkäse CheeseA German regional sour milk cheese and a culinary speciality of Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach am Main, Darmstadt, Langen, and other parts of southern Hesse. It gets its name from the traditional way of producing it: forming it with one's own hands.
Harzer CheeseA German sour milk cheese made from low fat curd cheese, which contains only about one percent fat and originates in the Harz mountain region south of Braunschweig.
Mainzer Kaese [de] SnackA sour milk cheese, similar to the Harzer or hand cheese. It was invented in 1813 by a farmer's wife named Kaul in Groß-Gerau and sold at the weekly market in Mainz.

Hamburg

NameImageTypeDescription
Knackwurst SnackA sausage type of northern German origin from the mid-16th century. The manifold available varieties depend on the geographical region of their production.
Hamburger Speck DessertA type of candy made out of foamed sugar with various coatings. The colors of the candy are often the same as the colors of Hamburg's flag (red and white), with a white central square and two red outer squares.
Labskaus Main course or snackA dish made from corned beef, herring, mashed potatoes, and beetroot, served with a fried egg and a pickled cucumber. See also under Bremen and Lower Saxony.
Marmorkuchen CakeA cake with a streaked or mottled appearance (like marble) achieved by very lightly blending light and dark batter.
Birnen, Bohnen und Speck Main courseA dish composed of pears, beans, and bacon, invariably accompanied by potatoes.
Hamburger Aalsuppe [de] SoupA sweet and sour soup of eel, meat broth, dried fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Franzbrötchen PastryA pastry made from Phyllo dough, covered with sugar and powdered cinnamon that is usually eaten for breakfast. It literally means "Frenchman's roll" and is only rarely found outside of Hamburg, Germany.
Frikadelle Main course or snackA type of flat meatball composed of pork, beef and onions commonly eaten with pasta salad, potatoes or simply in a bread roll with mustard or other condiments.
Hamburger Hummersuppe SoupA creamy lobster soup served with a small amount of whipped cream and garnished with dill.
Hamburger KrabbensuppeSoupA creamy shrimp soup served with a small amount of whipped cream and garnished with dill.
Heißewecken [de] Main course or snackA traditional pastry that has been proven in German-speaking since the late Middle Ages and was eaten in north and northwest Germany before the beginning of the pre-Easter Lent, especially from Rose Monday to Ash Wednesday.
Krabbentoast [de] Main course or snackA bread dish that is made with vegetables and shrimp.
Rote Grütze DessertA jelly/jam-like dessert or summer dish made from berries especially currants that can be eaten pure, but is often accompanied by milk or vanilla sauce.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

NameImageTypeDescription
Mecklenburger Rippenbraten [de] Main courseRib roast, made from belly of pork including meat of the upper rib, stuffed with Boskoop apples, prunes, cinnamon, rum and zwieback, usually served with Klöße and red cabbage.
Tüffel un PlumMain courseA potato stew made with smoked ham, prunes, potatoes and spiced with clove and bay leaves.
Fliederbeersuppe [de] DessertDessert soup made from elderberry, served with semolina dumplings
Sahnehering [de] Main courseYoung herring marinated in cream, with onions and sometimes pears or apples and served with Bratkartoffeln or Pellkartoffeln.
Schwedeneisbecher [de] DessertA Swedish ice cup with vanilla ice, served with apple sauce, whipped cream and a waffle, optionally with advocaat liquor.

Palatinate

NameImageTypeDescription
Gequellde mit weißem Kees [de]Main courseA dish of cooked potatoes with curd cheese.
Pälzer Lewwerworschd [de] Main courseA dried sausage in the curry and the palate, the cheese is made from cereals, as well as the shrub, salt, garments, and croissants, of the marginal downy marrow, which is breeding - a lot of peasants are typical and bred.
Saumagen Main courseA pork's stomach that serves as casing for a filling of pork, sausage meat and potatoes. Sometimes the filling also contains eggs and carrots. The dish is usually served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, bread or Bratkartoffeln.
Weck, Worscht, un Woi [de] SnackA widespread meal with a bread roll, a sausage, and wine in the wine-growing regions of Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Hessische Bergstraße, and Rheingau, where the sausage is always enjoyed cold.
Grumbeersupp un Quetschekuche Main coursePotato soup and plum tart
Kirschenmichel DessertKind of cherry cake or bread pudding made with cherries and usually served hot with vanilla sauce.
Zwiebelkuchen Main courseAn onion pie usually served with Federweisser.
Federweisser BeverageYoung white wine.
Kuemmerling BeverageA type of Kräuterlikör (herb liqueur) from Germany, belonging to the group of Halbbitter (semi bitters).
Chestnuts Side dishCooked chestnuts served with meat or other things.

Rhineland

NameImageTypeDescription
Rheinischer Sauerbraten Main courseLarge pieces of beef or more traditionally horse meat, marinated in a spicy water-vinegar mixture for a long time before baking.
Reibekuchen Side dishPotato fritter with black bread, apple syrup, sugar beet syrup, or stewed apples.
Blutwurst SnackBlood sausage either cured or fried.
Himmel und Erde Main courseA dish with mashed potatoes with stewed apples and fried blood pudding (Cologne) that literally means, "Heaven/Sky and Earth". Potatoes are also called 'Erdäpfel', what means 'ground apples', so it is a meal prepared out of 'apples' which grow above and under the earth.
Halve Hahn [de] SnackA dish that literally means, "Half Cockerel", but does not actually contain rooster at all. It is a cheese sandwich with a thick slice of extra matured Gouda cheese, onions and mustard on a Röggelchen. The name is based on a wordplay (Köln).
Muscheln Rheinischer Art Main courseMussels cooked in wine with vegetables and served with whole wheat bread and some butter.
Killepitsch BeverageA herb liqueur from Düsseldorf, Germany. It is a blood red colour and is flavoured with fruits, berries, herbs, and spices. Its alcohol content is 42% by volume.
Korn BeverageA German colourless distilled beverage produced from fermented cereal grain seed.
Marillenschnaps BeverageA fruit brandy made from apricots. It is mostly produced in the Wachau region of Austria, but similar apricot brandies are produced elsewhere
Underberg BeverageA digestive bitter produced at Rheinberg, Germany by Underberg AG, made from aromatic herbs from 43 countries, which undergo inspections and are based on a secret Underberg family recipe whose members are personally responsible for the production of the drink.
Zwetschgenwasser [de] BeverageA plum brandy obtained by distilling fermented plums.

Saarland

NameImageTypeDescription
Dibbelabbes [de] Main courseA potato hash prepared from raw grated potatoes, bacon and leeks, and baked in a Dibbe, or pot, usually eaten with apple sauce.
Schwenker Main coursePork steaks, marinated in spices and onions and broiled on a grill that hangs on a chain over a wood fire).
Geheirate Main courseMarried potatoes and dumplings made of flour served with a creamy bacon sauce.

Saxony

NameImageTypeDescription
Eierschecke CakeA cake consisting of three layers: The bottom one is either a yeast dough (Hefeteig) or one made with baking soda (Rührteig), the middle layer is a cream made of quark, vanilla and some butter, egg, sugar and milk, and the top layer is mainly made from eggs (Eier), which are beaten with butter, sugar and "Vanillepudding"-powder (starchy substance normally used to cook a dessert similar to semolina pudding).
Leipziger Allerlei Side dishA vegetable dish consisting of peas, baby carrots, white asparagus and morels. It may also, but not necessarily, contain broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or corn, even small prawns.
Quarkkeulchen Main course or dessertA sweet main dish made from quark, mashed boiled potatoes, a little flour, an egg and some grated lemon peel. The ensuing dough is baked as small, less than palm-sized pancakes and eaten hot with sugar and cinnamon, or with fruit, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream etc.
SchälklößeSoupA soup that consists of filled pasta and various vegetables.
Stollen CakeGerman Christmas cake of which there are two important centers in Saxony: Dresden and the Ore Mountains.
Teichelmauke [de] Main courseA dish that consists of mashed potatoes with bouillon and cooked beef.

Note: The cuisine of the Saxon part of the Ore Mountains is more a relative of the cuisine of Franconia than a relative of the other parts of Saxony. The cuisine of Upper Lusatia also differs from central Saxony and is more related to the (former) cuisines of Lower Silesia and Northern Bohemia.

Saxony-Anhalt

Typical for very traditional dishes from Saxony-Anhalt is the combination of bitter or hearty meat dish with sweet. Sweet pancakes in Green bean soup for example are the cause of many jokes.

NameImageTypeDescription
Baumkuchen CakeA cake typical for Christmas that is very difficult to prepare.
Magdeburger Schmalzkuchen [de] PastryFried pastry made from yeast dough, topped with confectioner's sugar and usually consumed for carneval.
Eisbein Main courseHam hock that is usually served with mashed potatoes or bread and sauerkraut.
Schierker Feuerstein BeverageA herb liqueur.
Rotkäppchen Sektkellerei [de] BeverageA brand of sparkling wine.

Schleswig-Holstein

NameImageTypeDescription
ButtermilchsuppeSoupButtermilk soup with flour dumplings
Gruenkohlgericht Side dishCooked kale usually served with potatoes and Kasseler or other foods.
Kieler Sprotten Main courseSmoked Baltic sprats.
Labskaus Main course or snackA dish made from corned beef, herring, mashed potatoes, and beetroot, served with a fried egg and a pickled cucumber.
Mehlbeutel [de] Main courseA large flour dumpling served with bacon and a sweet sauce.
Schnüüsch [de] Main courseA stew made of ham, potatoes and vegetables cooked in roux.
Schwarzsauer SoupA sort of black pudding made with vinegar.
Snuten un Poten [de] Main courseCured pig snouts and trotters that are cooked in vinegar together with several spices. Traditionally served with sauerkraut, erbspüree, and hot mustard.

Silesia

When Silesia was German, the influence of neighboring countries was clear in Silesian cooking; Polish carp and cheeses, Bohemian goulash, Austrian sausage and Pfefferkuchen (pepper cakes). Schnapps was very commonly drunk with beer in Silesia. There was an old saying that went "Silesia has two principal rivers, Schnapps and the river Oder".

NameImageTypeDescription
Schlesisches Himmelreich [de] Main courseA dish of pork belly with dried fruits and cinnamon that literally means, "Silesian Heaven".
Kartoffelsuppe [de] SoupA potato soup of the traditional German and Austrian cuisine that has the main ingredient of potatoes. If the consistency is relatively viscous, then it is called a potato stew.
Weihnachtsgans [de] Main courseRoasted goose traditionally served with potatoes or Klöße with gravy and vegetables.
Schlesische Kartoffelklöße [de] Main courseSilesian potato dumplings.
Schlesische Küche [de] CakeA flat Silesian cake of fine yeast dough with a topping of crumbles, a crumbly mixture of sugar, fat, and flour.
Mohnkuchen [de] CakeA generic term for various types of cakes, which have in common that they contain poppy seeds or the seeds of blue or gray grapes, either in the dough or in the form of a pad or filling.
Streuselkuchen CakeA German specialty that is traditionally made of a yeast dough and covered with a sweet crumb topping referred to as streusel.
Liegnitzer Bombe [de] CakeA gingerbread specialty from Liegnitz in Lower Silesia that is a small round cake made of brown gingerbread dough with a fruit and marzipan filling.
Stonsdorfer [de] BeverageA type of herb liqueur, originally made in Staniszów (Stonsdorf).

Thuringia

NameImageTypeDescription
Thuringian sausage SnackRed to grey, stuffed in a natural casing of pig intestine, unlike the white Franconian variety.
Thüringer Rostbrätel Main courseA pork neck steak marinated together with onions in beer and mustard.
Thüringer Klöße Main courseDumplings made of raw or cooked potatoes with pan-fried toasted bread inside.
Mutzbraten [de] Main course or snackA pound of mutton, roasted on open birchwood fire, served with sauerkraut.
Rinderroulade Main courseBeef roulades: Spread with mustard and filled with bacon, onions and (in some areas) pickled cucumber.
Käsekuchen CakeCheesecake made from quark (cheese) either with or without pie crust (usually shortcrust pastry).
Schmandkuchen [de] CakeA sheet cake that consists of yeast dough and a layer of fruit or quark, which in turn is covered by a layer of sour cream, pudding, or porridge. The top layer is a made of cinnamon on the sour cream cake.
Prophetenkuchen [de] CakeA speciality cake from Altenburg that consists of eggs, sugar, oil, flour, and alcohol (usually rum).
Zwiebelkuchen Cake (savoury)A sheet cake made in Weimar from yeast dough with onions, sour cream, bacon bits and eggs.

Westphalia

NameImageTypeDescription
Blindhuhn StewA stew of the Westphalian cuisine prepared with beans, vegetables and bacon
Kassler Side dishThe name given to a salted (cured) and slightly smoked cut of pork similar to British gammon. It can be either hotly or coldly smoked.
Knieperkohl Main courseA pickled cabbage dish similar to sauerkraut. It contains not only white cabbage but also collard greens (or leaves of red cabbage) and kale, as well as grape leaf and cherry leaf.
Pickert Main coursePotato pancakes
Kohlwurst Main courseA simple, fresh, strongly smoked sausage (Rohwurst) made of lights, pork and fat, which is mostly eaten cooked with kale (cabbage) dishes.
Westphalian ham SnackA hearty and smoked ham from Westfalen that is very aromatic.
Möpkenbrot SnackA kind of blood sausage that contains rye bread, pig-blood, milk, eggs, fat, salt, and pepper.

Pfefferpotthast

Main CourseA meat dish consisting of beef, lard, onions, and spices, cooked in a pot; and served with boiled potatoes and salad in the summer, and pickled cucumbers and beetroot in the winter.
Rump steak Main courseRoast beef served with various sides such as potato wedges and vegetables.
Pumpernickel BreadA hearty bread; it goes black because the sugar in the bread goes to caramel.
Herrencreme DessertA gentleman's creme that consists of vanilla jelly with cream and rum.
Spanish friccoStewA hearty Westphalian stew prepared primarily using diced beef, potatoes and onions, typically in a cream soup base
Stippgrütze SnackBarley groats cooked in sausage juices (Wurstbrühe), which are enriched with pieces of meat, offal, such as heart, kidney or liver and seasoned with spices and salt. The cooked ingredients are minced after the juices have been poured off and a crumbly cake is left which is held together with fat and which sets on cooling.

See also

References