When you think about German food your mind instantly wanders to beer and sausage. But if you look beyond the obvious, you will find an interesting mixture of dishes. The German cuisine has a lot to offer when it comes to food, with dishes like Kartoffelsallat (Potato salad), Frikadellen and Schnitzel.

Germany is the perfect destination for any food-lover or aspiring chef. The German kitchens are filled with basic ingredients, most of which you will find in your local supermarket. The food is cheap and easy to make. We have gathered a list of five German dishes that you have to try.

Five Popular German Recipes

The German Pork Roast (Schweinebraten) is native of the German region of Bavaria. It is essentially a large piece of pork, roasted with a mixture of vegetables and spices. This is all served with red cabbage, Sauerkraut and dumplings. Add on a brown sauce for a real German taste to it.

It is a dish with a lot of history; during the mid 1800’s, the price of Pork in Germany was very high. This meant that the pork was only available to the wealthy and eventually only to royalty. Now-a-days it is used for a Sunday dinner or a special occasion.

Most people’s first experience of German cuisine is the Schnitzel. Traditionally this was cooked with a veal cutlet but a lot of German kitchens now use other types of meat. The meat is dipped in egg, flour and bread crumbs after which it’s fried in a butter-covered pan. This is what gives the Schnitzel its signature golden brown color.

Serve up your Schnitzel with boiled potatoes or thick-cut fries and a slice of lemon on top. The alternative meats when you cook your Schnitzel are Pork, Turkey or Chicken

The Germans love their Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat). It is something that goes with almost every dish, a truly universal meal. If you want to experience a genuine German potato salad it will take quite a bit more effort than you would imagine. The recipes for the salads are usually passed down within families, making each one unique. You can find anything from leaks, apples, onions, cucumbers, sausage, eggs and seafood along with the boiled potatoes.

One dish that you should not miss is the Kasseler Rippchen. This is a smoked pork chop that has been ripened in salt brine. This meal has become very popular in all of Europe and has spread like wild fire. Kasseler is quite similar to ham except for its thickness and salty taste. Have it with a side of Potato salad for a genuine German meal. You can fry, grill, bake and steam the meat or even have it raw. This is one German dish that you just shouldn’t miss.

If you want to try something new, go for the German Potato Pancakes (Pfannkuchen). They started out as a way for the Germans to use their left-over potatoes. Mashed up and mixed with eggs, flour and milk the potatoes are mashed and fried in a pan. This is a great, cheap and tasteful way of experiencing the German cuisine. Have it with a bit of fried bacon on the side and some jam for a bit of extra flavor.

Mirza Sahria Kamal

I’m food-loving writer that travels the world to experience the universal cuisine. I fell quickly in love with the German kitchens because of their interesting approach to food and I’ve never looked back. Love sharing my passion for food with my readers on a regular basis.