Introduction:

Viktoria Daute is a German who has lived in the US for many years. Today, she will talk to us about German food. When most of us think about German cuisine, we think of meat and potatoes. But the cuisine is more than that. It's as diverse as any other cuisine from the rest of the world. Viktoria will chat with us about this famous European cuisine to help us get an accurate picture of it. She will also touch on some of the renowned German dishes.

If you want to listen to the whole interview with Viktoria you can find it below!

Intro to German Food

German cuisine is, for the most part, pretty meaty. It also has plenty of potatoes and bread, although not the type we know here in the US. It consists of many regional and local dishes. Germans have a strong bread culture. They consume various types of bread, including crusty, dark, and seed breads. They also have lots of sourdoughs.

Germany has one of the world’s best bread cultures. According to Germany’s Institute of Bread, the country has over 3,200 bread varieties. In German culture, bread isn't only a source of food sustenance but also a significant cultural icon with a strong symbolic meaning. From social customs to religious rituals, bread plays a vital role in German life. It's a symbol of abundance, community, and abundance.

Everyone's main picture of German food is sausages and potatoes. While Germans love sausages and potatoes, there is so much more to German cuisine. German cuisine is as diverse as the cuisine from other European ingredients.

“ The German cuisine largely depends on the region. Every region has different dishes. The Germans from the North eat plenty of fish because of the proximity to the northern coastline. Those from the southern region, also known as Weisswurst Equator, have  white sausages as their staple dish,” says Viktoria.

Germany has some wildly popular dishes. Spaetzle is among the most beloved and famous. It is basically a chewy noodle pasta with a dumpling-like texture. Spaetzle is a staple of the Germans from the southern region. The noodle pasta is a classic German side dish that pairs well with many German dishes, including Kaesespaetzle and Linsen mit Spaetzle.

Currywurst is a German fast-food cuisine consisting of curry ketchup and sausage. It is a grilled or fried sausage cut into slices. German chefs usually season the slices with lots of curry powder and spices. The popular side dish goes well with French fries. Knackwurst is a type of sausage from Northern Germany. It’s a favorite snack for the Germans in the city. Knackwrust is available in different versions, depending on production and geographical region.

Sauerkraut is another popular Christmas German dish consisting of fermented vegetables. Germans from all over the country eat it with sausages. Others eat it with the carp on Christmas. Most immigrants eat sauerkraut with potatoes. Some, especially the Germans from the North, eat it with fish and various seafood.

German Desserts

Spaghetti ice cream is one of Viktoria's favorite treats. It's simply vanilla ice cream, but the Germans put it through a ricer to make it look like spaghetti. Spaghetti comes on top of whipped cream, and then the Germans top it with strawberry sauce. It is like tomato sauce, although they put a bit of shaved white chocolate to make it look like the parmesean cheese!

The other dessert is hazel ice cream. This sweet ice cream has a delicious chocolate sauce on top. Traditional hazel ice cream has vanilla ice cream. Other varieties contain strawberry or tomato sauce. Most people make the dessert at home as a treat, but it's available in ice cream shops. 

The German chocolate cake is a generous treat, just like the black forest cake in the US. But there is a difference between the two cakes. The black forest cake looks like a chocolate sponge. It contains morello cherries, making it like a cake with sour cherries inside.

German chocolate cake utilizes a special type of baking chocolate, which gives it a milder and sweeter profile than black forest cake.

The significant difference between the two cakes is that the German chocolate cake has no coconut frost. The black forest in the US has coconut frost because coconuts grow in the US, unlike in Germany. The ingredients of the German chocolate cake are strictly from Germany. The cake baker was a German, so the chocolate cake is a trademark of the German dessert.

Christmas and Christmas Markets in German Culture 

Christmas is a big deal in German culture. Germans celebrate this festival in style. Although Christmas is a crucial festival in all Christian nations, celebrating this festival is an integral part of German culture. In Germany, Christmas is a magical experience full of heartwarming dishes and celebrations.

Germans have Christmas markets to celebrate Christmas as part of their tradition. These markets aren't only about shopping during the festive season. They are also part of centuries-old German traditions. They are traditionally at the heart of cities and towns. They offer seasonal items, drinks, and foods for sale. Some famous German Christmas markets include the Nuremberg, Cologne, and Dresden Striezel.

German food is always available in the Christmas markets. Every stand in a typical Christmas market has some authentic German dish. Potato pancakes are standard in all markets. The other specific holiday foods you can’t miss in a Christmas market are cookies. The German Christmas cookies are different from the cookies in the US. They have butter, nutmeg, and cinnamon. They also contain various Christmas flavors. These cookies also have elaborate Christmas patterns.

The Germans' favorite Christmas cookies are the tasty vanilla crescents. These cookies are similar to almondy, with plenty of vanilla sugar and a distinct crescent shape. Other Christmas cookies you can get in every Christmas market include the Linzer cookies and speculoos.

Final Word About German Cuisine

German food is exceptional. It contains many ingredients besides potatoes, sausages, and meat, making it among the most unique European cuisines. German cuisine also varies with region. The staple dishes for the Germans in the south differ from those from the North. Connect with Viktoria on Instagram to discover more about German food.

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