Authentic German Food: Beyond Beer and Sausages

"German Food?! - that is just Beer and Sausages."

How often have I been asked that, when living in the UK and trying to tell people about German food. "No!" I want to shout - and tell them about my mum's red cabbage, so wonderfully sweet and sour, and about German cheesecake that tastes so completely different from the American version, and about the crackling a schnitzel makes when you cut into it.

So I wrote this article instead, to answer some common questions about German food and to tell you why, for me, it is the best cuisine ever.

What is German Food

German food is hearty, traditional cuisine, a melting pot of different regional specialties from Europe's most populous country, built around its natural seasons and high-quality ingredients.

Pork, potatoes, cabbage, apples, and dairy are some of its staples, but the common thread is slow-braised meats, fresh breads, warming soups, and cakes that are never too sweet and very often fruit-based.

Unlike French or Italian cuisine, German cooking has never really had its moment in the global spotlight. But anyone who has eaten a proper plate of Beef Rouladen or a slice of homemade Bienenstich knows that German food absolutely holds its own.

Fun fact: food in German is Essen. And if someone says "Essen gehen" to you, they're asking you out for dinner!

What food is Germany known for?

If you've heard of any German food, it's probably one of these:

• Bratwurst - grilled pork sausages, eaten with mustard (affiliate link) at every street market and Christmas market in Germany. Try my Grilling Brats guide for the real German method
• Schnitzel - thin, breaded, pan-fried pork or veal, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. My classic German Schnitzel is one of the most popular recipes on this site
• Rouladen- Thin slices of beef wrapped around bacon, onions, and a pickle, slow-braised in a rich gravy until meltingly tender. Served with potato dumplings and red cabbage - it is the ultimate German Sunday dinner."
• Pretzels (Laugenbrezeln) - soft, chewy, with a dark crust and coarse salt. Nothing like the hard American pretzel snack - try homemade German Pretzels and you'll never go back
• Sauerkraut - fermented cabbage, tangy and delicious, most often served cooked. I like it with Schupfnudeln - try my Sauerkraut recipe
• Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) - chocolate sponge, cherries, whipped cream. A total showstopper
• Currywurst - sliced pork sausage smothered in curried ketchup sauce, Berlin's most iconic street food. Try my Currywurst sauce at home

Germany's street food scene goes way beyond Currywurst too - want the full picture? Check out my guide to German street food.

But this is really just the beginning. Germany has around 1,500 types of sausage, over 300 varieties of bread, and a cake culture so serious that there's an entire dedicated afternoon for it (Kaffee und Kuchen - coffee and cake time, usually between 3-5pm).

What is a typical German meal?

A typical German main meal, Mittagessen, is eaten at lunchtime and is the main hot meal of the day. It usually consists of a protein, a potato dish, and a vegetable side.

Think Pork Schnitzel with Bratkartoffeln (German fried potatoes) and a side of creamed cabbage. Or German Goulash with bread dumplings on a Sunday.

Evening meals (Abendbrot, literally "evening bread") are traditionally served cold: bread fresh from the bakery, cheese, cold cuts, and maybe a refreshing light salad.

In Germany we have a saying: "Frühstücken wie ein Kaiser, Mittagessen wie ein König und Abendessen wie ein Bettler" - eat breakfast like an Emperor, lunch like a King, and dinner like a beggar. And that really sums up how we eat in Germany.

Wondering what Germans eat first thing in the morning? It's quite a spread - my German Breakfast guide walks you through the whole thing.

What is Germany's national dish?

Germany doesn't have an officially declared national dish. Some say it is Sauerbraten, meat marinated in vinegar and wine and then slow-roasted, others say it is Schweinebraten, Bavaria's beloved pork roast.

In fact, a survey found that most Germans associate their regional specialty as their national dish. Someone from Bremen would say Grünkohl and Pinkel, someone from Swabia would say Maultaschen, and someone from Saarland would say Schwenkbraten.

What do Germans drink?

Beer is Germany's most famous drink - and yes, it really is that good. Germany brews around 6,000 types of beer across 25 categories, from light Pilsner to dark Dunkel to the wheat-based Weizen.

But Germans drink much more than beer. Here are some famous German beverages you should know off.

• Apfelschorle - apple juice mixed with sparkling water - is practically the national non-alcoholic drink, drunk by kids and adults alike.
• Mulled wine (Glühwein) comes out every Christmas market season alongside all the festive food that makes December in Germany so special.
• And Eiskaffee - iced coffee with vanilla ice cream - is a summer staple that Americans are always surprised by.
• Try Ostfriesentee - the elaborate tea-drinking ritual from Germany's North Sea coast that puts English tea to shame.

Is German food spicy?

No, German food is generally not spicy in the chili-heat sense at all. The flavoring comes from herbs like caraway, marjoram (affiliate link), bay leaf, and juniper, plus mustard (affiliate link) and vinegar. It's savory, warming, and deeply flavorful rather than spicy.

If I had to give you one word to describe the flavor of German food, I would say sweet and sour. Many famous German dishes have that balance: Red Cabbage, Sauerbraten, but also salads like German Cucumber Salad and Carrot Salad.

Some, including my British husband, would describe German food as salty. And I do think that is true when I compare it to the British cooking I experienced living in the UK.

What food did Germany invent?

You've probably eaten German-invented food without even knowing it:

• Frankfurter sausages - the original hot dog, named after Frankfurt where they were first made. Americans took them, put them in a bun, but you can read the true history here
• Currywurst - Berlin's iconic street food, invented in 1949 by a woman named Herta Heuwer. Try my Currywurst sauce
• Döner Kebab - not traditionally German, but invented in Berlin by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s. He was the first to put the Döner meat between two slices of bread and sell it as street food. Try my German Döner Kebab recipe
• Stollen - the original Christmas fruit bread, baked in Dresden since the 15th century. Try my family's Stollen recipe
• Gummy bears - invented by Haribo in Bonn in 1922. You're welcome, world
• Spätzle - Germany's answer to pasta, soft egg noodles from Swabia that have been on German tables for centuries
• Spaghetti ice cream (Spaghetti Eis) - vanilla ice cream pressed through a ricer to look like pasta, topped with strawberry sauce. Invented in Mannheim in 1969. Try my Spaghetti Eis recipe

Where should I start with German cooking?

If you're new to German food, these are the recipes I'd start with - all classics, all delicious, and none as complicated as they look:

• German Potato Soup - the perfect entry point, simple and deeply comforting
• Kartoffelsalat - try one of my German Potato Salads, like this Warm Potato Salad with Bacon
• Kartoffelpuffer - learn why these potato pancakes are loved all over Germany
• Frikadellen (German meat patties) - a favorite in our kitchen
• Versunkener Apfelkuchen - you cannot get this German Apple Cake wrong and it is a perfect place to start with German baking