5 Things I Would Have Never Eaten Without Going To Germany

So many times I think to myself, “Wow, I would’ve never done that, tried that, seen that, had I not moved to Germany”.  I’m quite sure if you are a fellow expat, you’ve also had these thoughts.

Food can be a big cultural difference and only further exacerbating that culture shock you feel when you move to a new country. While other countries may have similar things, they are typically different in their own way. Think, pizza. How many different styles of pizza can you think of? Exactly. 

Aside from beer and bratwurst, Germany has so many other delicacies to offer. Here are five that were new for me:

Fleischsalat - basically bologna with a sweet mayo type sauce and pickles
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Fleischkäsebrötchen or just Fleischkäse also known as Leberkäse - not necessarily my favorite, but not bad either.
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Kartoffelpuffer
Oh. Holy. Yum. If you went to a Christmas market you most likely had one of these; similar to potato pancakes and served with applesauce.
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Mettwurst.
Yum again. You can have these cooked and they taste like the good all beef hot dogs. Or you can leave them out to dry and eat like a beef stick with some hot mustard.
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My first Dampfnudel (yeast dumpling) with cherries and vanilla sauce at the Christmas Market this year. So. Good.

Ok, so there is definitely a running theme of MEAT, but I haven’t even begun to share all of the many fantastic sweets you can find here. Don’t worry, that’s soon to come.

What did you think? Any you would try or have tried? What’s a food item you tried for the first time in your new country?

***And don’t forget about the Monday Ante next week where you can submit your favorite post from this week for a chance to be published on this site the following Saturday! 

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60 thoughts on “5 Things I Would Have Never Eaten Without Going To Germany

  1. Steven

    If you travel to Switzerland, try the Rosti there- it’s a great deal like the Kartoffelpuffer you listed, but better.

    Before I came here, I’d never had a Döner before- it’s just not something I’d ever come across, but they’re delicious and fast.

    Some places do different varieties of Leberkäse- there’s a pizza Leberkäse available over here that’s damn tasty.

    If you ever visit Regensburg, you have to try Wurstkuchl. They’ve been using a family mustard recipe for generations. http://stevenglassman.de/2012/10/29/wurstkuchl/

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Oh I LOVE Döner! It’s mostly the texture of Leberkäse that I don’t like so it just depends where we get it from. Oh, family mustard? That sounds good! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Hemborgwife

    In Sweden they have things similar to the mettwurst called beer sausage (ok that is the English translation but that is easier!) and I love them so much! You can get all sorts of various seasonings and just snack away!

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Yum! I love the mettwurst. I had actually had them dried before I ever had them cooked. So good!

      Reply
      1. Hemborgwife

        In Sweden you just buy them dried but we did one time get some from The Netherlands that were like that and was very pleased with how the flavor intensified over time!

        Reply
  3. Allison

    Hah, I love that meat features so heavily in Northern European cuisine. My mother in law was visiting recently and wanted to go to a traditional Danish restaurant, but we kind of talked her out of it. Because while there are some really good things that they do here - like pastries, oh my god the pastries - their “traditional” food is mostly a big serving of cooked meat with a side of bland boiled potatoes and a vegetable. They’re not the biggest fans of spice here.

    Those potato pancakes look sooo yummy.

    Reply
  4. bevchen

    I hate Wurstsalat! I just don’t like the type of meat that goes into it. I do like Fleischkäse, though. Jan loves those Mettwurst type sausages, and also Kaminwurzl (which are Austrian).

    I’ve tried sooo much since moving to Germany - Pfälzer Saumagen, Raclette (I had noooo idea what the raclette grill thingy was the first time I saw it!), Currywurst, Käsespätzle, Maultaschen…

    I also lived in Austria for a year, where I had Topfenstrudel for the first time (Topfen is Austrian for Quark) and Serviettenknödel, which I loooove. Actually, the Austrians are all about their Knödel. I also had Germknödel there.

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Oh I know! I could’ve gone on and on, but I thought I’d break it out. I love Currywurst and any spätzle, but I don’t really like Maultaschen at all! Knödel are good too! I haven’t had Raclette for a long time as my husband isn’t a fan, but I really like it.

      Reply
  5. Ksenija @ With An Open Mind

    It’s so fun how I am German and hate most of the things you described. Sometimes I am in the mood for some Fleischsalat, but the taste of Fleischkäse, Kartoffelpuffer and Mettwurst really throws me off. Dampfnudeln on the other hand… holy yum! Too sad that they are not typical for the region I am coming from (NRW), but when I get my hands on them… there is no holding back :)

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Really? Even that Kartoffelpuffers? That is funny. My husband has to be in the mood for Fleischsalat and I can only eat it on a crusty brötchen. But yes, the Dampfnudeln are so good!

      Reply
  6. Katrin

    I love Kartoffelpuffer! When David came to Germany for the first time he thought it was weird to eat them with apple sauce but he liked them a lot.

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Yay! You have to be open minded when living in a new country, I think. I love your Slice of Americana series! It’s nice being on the other side for a change. :-)

      Reply
  7. ifs ands & butts

    Hahaha Fleischkäse for sure —- it is not easy on the eyes, but it definitely surprised me with how edible it was. I still cannot deal with Wurstsalat, but love Dampfnudeln!

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Sometimes I like it, but for the most part I just can’t handle it. The Fleischsalat we get is fresh from our local butcher and I love it. Oh all this talk of Dampfnudeln and now I’m really craving one!

      Reply
  8. Expat Eye

    You really shouldn’t have led with the first two. The first one looked like someone had vomited over two pieces of toast AND nearly put me off the idea of moving to Germany. The potato pancakes looked damn good though ;) And the last thing - mmm, I’d like to give that a go! :)

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Haha! Nooooooo! Linda, please don’t hold this against Germany. :-)
      Omg, the potato pancakes and the dumpling are so, so good. The pastries here are to die for and they have great coffee and tea.

      Reply
        1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

          Haha! It’s not for everyone, but not to worry. There are so many delicious foods here!

          Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Haha! Well I only listed 5 but I’ll definitely do more lists just to show all of the tasty things you can eat here.

      Reply
        1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

          I don’t have too many German recipes, but I do have a cooking series on here in an attempt to cook as a new expat who is also a mom of a toddler and a girl on a budget! Ha!

          Reply
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  10. ebe

    I haven’t even heard of the dumplings until last Christmas season - where have I been? Looks amazing and I must make a point to try it soon. But you’re a braver expat than I with the Fleischsalat. I give that a big ‘ole “No thank you”.

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Haha! I have a *mostly* try everything once attitude. I was skeptical at first but it’s good! It’s the pasty stuff I can’t stand and I always forget the name. I think I’ll have to do a top 5 of things I wish I never tried. ;-)

      Reply
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  12. bavariansojourn

    I have a slight love affair with the dampfnudel… They are just so delicious! I am also fond of a kartoffelpuffer or 3! :)

    Reply
    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      Oh me too! I love them both almost equally and I’m just glad I don’t know how to make them. :-)

      Reply
  13. Pingback: Expat Life: Five Things I Never Would Have Eaten If I Hadn’t Moved to Germany | Young Germany

    1. Deanna Herrmann Post author

      That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll be doing more like this soon.

      Reply

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