German traditional food and drink are almost certainly more exciting than most new residents and visitors expect it to be. Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!
When in Germany, you should try as many national and regional dishes as you can. Here are the top five traditional German foods that should be on your bucket list:
1. Brot & Brötchen
Bread, whether in the form of a loaf (Brot) or a thin, typically crusty roll (Brötchen), is an important part of German cuisine and is served with almost every dish. Most meals include bread, especially breakfast and dinner, but also lunch (which is generally considered the main meal of the day), which is often served with rolls on the side.
Grain, Pumpernickel, Rye, and Whitebread are among the bread enjoyed by Germans. German bread is usually thicker and more hearty than bread from Italy, Spain, or France.
2. Currywurst
Currywurst is sold in many towns and cities from stalls and fast-food restaurants, and if you want to know what food Berlin is famous for, you can soon discover that it is Currywurst.
It is not a meal that Germans prepare at home, but rather something that is consumed when on the go. This plate of chopped sausages, chips, and a spicy ketchup sauce may be low in nutrition, but it's a popular German food, particularly after a few pilsners.
3. Kartoffelpuffer & Bratkartoffeln
A Kartoffelpuffer is a shallow fried pancake made from grated potatoes, egg, and flour, similar to a Swiss 'Rosti.' In Germany, it's served with eggs and bacon for breakfast, as a side dish with meat at lunch or dinner, or on its own with applesauce. Bratkartoffeln, on the other hand, are more akin to sauté or hashed potatoes, in which small bits or chips of potato are parboiled before being fried with onion and, sometimes, bacon. Bratkartoffeln can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner once again.
4. Schnitzel
Tenderizing a piece of meat (such as chicken, beef, veal, or pork) and then coating it in egg, flour, and breadcrumbs before frying it in oil is how a Schnitzel is produced. The Schnitzel is an Austrian dish that looks a lot like a French escalope.
This dish is an excellent example of traditional German cuisine found in pubs, restaurants, and fast-food establishments. Schnitzel with fries is a popular and filling alternative.
5. Sauerbraten
Sauerbraten is a type of German pot roast that means "sour roast." The sour portion refers to the meat being pickled in a sweet and sour gravy-like sauce before being roasted slowly in a dish.
The meat is typically veal, beef, or pork that has been marinated for days or even weeks. It can be found all over Germany and the German-speaking world.
