Cultured Palate: Dishes from Germany

German food has permeated North America, to the extent that many of their original culinary inventions we now claim as our own. Take the humble hot dog as an example, which is actually descended from German sausage, and originally called a Frankfurter, as a nod to the city where pork sausages originated.

If you’ve never been to Germany, you may think that you’ve tried German food, but you can never replicate the rich and delicious food that’s an everyday part of their cuisine. The next time you take a trip, make sure to sample each of these different specialties.

Laugenbrezel

The humble pretzel has spread around the world, as people have fallen in love with the deliciously salty treat. In Germany, what we call pretzels are known as laugenbrezel, and they can be found everywhere – on the breakfast table, in the beer garden, and everywhere in between.

Traditionally, laugenbrezel are sliced open and spread with butter, or used as a bun to make a simple sandwich with cold cuts. In Bavaria, pretzels are also used as a vessel for spooning up the beer garden favorite obatzda –  a cheese dip made with soft cheese, butter, onions, and spices.

Karl Allgaeuer / Shutterstock