Traditional German Recipes - German Recipes for the American Cook
By Jennifer McGavin, About.com Guide
Traditional Main Courses
Some dishes we hear about again and again. Sauerbraten, Wienerschnitzel and Schweinehaxe are very popular with tourists and delicious in their own right.
Not Quite Meatless Meals
German cuisine has many ways of stretching the meat budget. Lenten practices, too, helped create many meatless, or nearly meatless dishes. Here are a few, both sweet and savory.
- Maultaschen - German Ravioli
- Kartoffelpuffer - Potato Pancakes
- Kaesespaetzle - Mac 'n Cheese
- Milchreis - Rice Pudding
- Eierkuchen - German Crepes
Soup is Hot
Not always hot, German soups are often served before the main midday meal. Soup is a classic for most cuisines, check below for the German twist. Many German soups are related to French recipes, but have been accepted for so long, we think of them as German.
- Ochsenschwanzsuppe - Oxtail Soup
- Flaedlesuppe - Pancake Soup
- Spargelsuppe - Cream of Asparagus
- Linseneintopf - Lentil Soup
- Kirschkaltschale - Cold Cherry Soup
Side Dishes from Deutschland
Ach, those potatoes, noodles and veggies. Wonderful food, sometimes even upstaging the main course. German sides are hearty and filling.
Traditional German Baking
German baking uses large amounts of cream, nuts and fresh fruit. It differs from much of the rest of the world in not being overly sweet. This makes it a big hit with adults and kids.
Festival Food and Specialties
Advent, Christmas, Lent, summertime. Special foods are waiting at each of these yearly milestones. Here is a short list of what people eat on those days.