Having visited some German Christmas markets again this year, I got to sample even more delicious regional food. Similar to the food found at Oktoberfest, there are certain German staples that can be found year-round (think sausages and beer), but there is a lot that I had never seen or tried before last Christmas, so I thought I’d put together a guide as to what’s good to eat. Some of these items may not be available at every market around the country, while some are classic dishes that can be sampled almost anywhere.
Bratwurst
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first: sausages. You’ll find sausages at every German Christmas market (without exception), but the range and variety (and even quality) will differ. Expect to see bratwursts, bockwursts (similar to big hot dog sausages) and sausages made from a variety of meats including deer, pork and beef. Usually they’re served inside a small white roll, but sometimes the stall will have big baskets of bread laid out for you to help yourself to.
Kartoffelpuffer
Kartoffelpuffers are like big hash browns. They are fried potato pancakes made with flour and egg and usually seasoned with onion and garlic. Traditionally, they are served with applesauce, but you can often also order them with a garlic dip instead.
Smoked Salmon
As there is now a trend at many of the larger Christmas markets to include fare from Scandinavia, you will often find stalls smoking whole salmons and serving them on bread or on plates accompanied with salad and potatoes. As a salmon lover, I’ve tried both and have never been disappointed, although the plates are quite expensive for the amount of food you get. The sandwich, which is usually served with salad and either a honey mustard or seasoned sauce, is often better value for money and just as filling.
Roast Mushrooms
I’ve seen roasted mushrooms at every market, but only tried them for the first time this year. Essentially, it is exactly what it says on the tin: mushrooms roasted in a large pan with oil and seasoning. They are usually served with bread and a garlic or herb sauce.
Fried Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
Another first for me this year was fried cauliflower (I also saw fried broccoli being sold at one market). Battered and fried, the cauliflower florets are then smothered in a cheese sauce (other options include garlic and herb sauces too) and are the perfect combination of soft and crunchy, without being too greasy or soggy.
Berliner
“Berliners” are donuts, and you can often find them at all markets, even if a stall only sells plain fried ones covered with powdered sugar. Often times, you will find a stall that sells many different kinds or sizes, sometimes filled with cream, custard or chocolate.
Homemade Potato Chips
Homemade potato chips (crisps) seem to be a popular addition to most markets, and you will often see stall-holders chipping them from a machine in front of you and then even sometimes curling them around long sticks before frying them and tossing them in salt. The chips are served in a big paper cone and come with no other seasoning or sauce other than the salt they’re coated in.
Fried Fish Sandwich
There is usually always at least one fish stand at every market, often selling a variety of pickled and cooked fish. Here you can order sandwiches filled with herring, prawns, salmon and other regional fish, but there are usually always some fried delights to be had, too. Fried prawns and fish fillets served on crusty bread with a little salad and sauce are the most popular.
Mutze / Mutzenmandeln
These are essentially small beignets – triangles of dough that are deep-fried and rolled in confectioners sugar. They come in cones of different sizes and should always be eaten freshly cooked.
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes of every different incarnation can be found at the Christmas markets. Sometimes they are served alongside meat and vegetables, other times they are the star of the show, roasted in their own large pan with spek, vegetables and onions and topped with grated cheese.
Flammkuchen
Flammkuchen consists of a very thin bread dough (almost cracker-like) rolled out into a square or circle and then topped with creme fraiche, white grated cheese, bacon and spring onions. Sometimes you will find flammkuchen served with alternative toppings such as salmon or olives, but the traditional and classic recipe is the one with bacon and onions.
Schneeballen
A schneeball is a round ball of shortcrust pastry which is fried and either coated in sugar or dipped in chocolate. It consists of several strips of pastry dough that have been arranged into a ball to give it its characteristic shape (the name means “snowball”). The schneeballen is fairly dry in consistency (because it’s essentially just fried pastry) but you can find versions that have chocolate or marzipan fillings.
Lebkuchen
Another classic German staple, Lebkuchen is a spiced gingerbread-style cookie that is soft and often iced or dipped in chocolate. Much like at Oktoberfest, you will find stalls selling the traditional lebkuchen hearts with piped icing words on them, saying things like “Merry Christmas” and “I Love You”.
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