While hosting their Instant Restaurant on My Kitchen Rules SA, Kirsten and Detlev introduced their guests to several German dishes. Given the name of the restaurant, Sauerkraut & Turkish Delight, Abraham and Michelle were convinced they’d be eating the former. A German staple, sauerkraut is fermented cabbage that can be eaten hot or cold.
However, Kirsten and Detlev had other plans, serving up other traditional German staples, namely: rotkohl, roulade, and spätzle. But if your curiosity was piqued, then browsing through your local supermarket should unearth a bottle of the famous German cabbage. Here are a few more foods you should find fairly easily for a foray into German cuisine.
Bretzel
For the love of all things good, please do not call them pretzels, unless you want to invoke the wrath of an exacting German. Or unless you’re talking about the snack food that comes in bags. When it comes to the actual knotted bread sprinkled with salt, you’re talking about bretzel or brezeln. Smear them with butter and serve with bratwurst and sauerkraut.
Bratwurst
What is bratwurst, you ask? Translated it means “fried or grilled sausage”. This particular sausage is made from pork and is popularly grilled. Stuff it in a bun, top it with sauerkraut, and slap on some mustard – Germans love mustard – and just like that you have a whole new idea to try on the braai this summer.
Eisbein
There’s more pork on offer with this famous German dish. Eisbein is boiled or cured ham hock that you can make at home, should you have the time, patience, and inclination. If you don’t, keep an eye out when eating out. There are many restaurants – not only German ones – that place it on their menu. But make sure you have a big appetite because it’s an enormous amount of food.
Lebkuchen
This one might be a little more difficult to find. You could find lebkuchen in a supermarket, but you’ll definitely find it should you have a German shop or bakery in town, especially around Christmastime. It’s a type of gingerbread, but it’s different from any gingerbread you’ve made or eaten before. Lebkuchen is softer than typical gingerbread and made with lebkuchen spice. It comes in different shapes and sizes and is sometimes covered in chocolate. A popular variety is pfeffernüsse (literally translated to “pepper nuts”), which are soft and round and made with a blend of heavenly spices.
Stollen
Speaking of Christmas and all things sweet, stollen is another famous German Christmas treat that you’re likely to find in stores or can make yourself. This is a fruit bread (not a fruit cake) made with dried or candied fruit, nuts and, of course, spices, and covered with icing sugar or marzipan.
Zimmt sterne
We’ll leave you with one more Christmas treat since ‘tis almost the season. Zimmt sterne – literally “cinnamon stars” – are star-shaped cookies made with almonds and cinnamon and covered with icing sugar. They’ll add a festive feel to any table, but won’t last long because they’re so delicious!
Which of these German foods would you love to try? Share your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok using the hashtag #MKRSA.
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