The list of German National Foods includes more than just sausages, cheese, and beer, foods which first come to our minds when we think of Germany.

Germany shares its cuisine with the neighboring European countries of Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Russia which are fairy similar. There are many significant regional dishes from the area which have become the national dishes of Germany today.

Popular German National Foods

German National Food- Meats

Germans eat a lot of meat, "Mett" or "Hackfleisch" (ground pork) and there are several meat dishes associated with Germany.

Wierner Schnitzel is one of the most popular German national foods. It is a breaded veal cutlet that is fried in oil or butter. Schnitzel also comes in several different variations using many types of ingredients, such as pork, chicken or turkey.

Sauerbraten literally translated into 'sour' pickled Braten or roast meat^. This is a German pot roast, usually of beef or meats like venison, lamb, mutton, pork, and horse, marinated in a vinegar marinade and braised in a pot. It is traditionally served with red cabbage or “sauerkraut”, potato dumplings “Kartoffelklöße”, Spätzle, boiled potatoes, potato pancakes or noodles. Sauerbraten has been described as one of the national dishes of Germany

Wursts or sausages that is synonymous with Germany. There are more than 1500 German sausage varieties, made from various meats. The most common wursts are:

Bratwurst, made of ground pork, that is grilled or fried.

Wiener a smoked and cooked pork and beef sausage.

Knockwurst that is boiled.

Liverwurst is traditionally made from calf liver mixed with different seasonings.

Frankfurter is a long, thin pork sausage that is smoked.

Weisswurs is a white-colored sausage made from veal and pork and a specialty in Munich, Germany.

Blutwurst or Schwarzwurst made from pig blood.

Leberknödel, also known as liver dumplings, is beef liver combined with onions, bread crumbs, herbs, and spices.

Königsberger Klopse, also known as Soßklopse, is a dish of meatballs in a white sauce with capers.

Rouladen are rolls of beef and cabbage leaves normally cooked by braising.

Black forest ham is a common ham that is salted and smoked.

Currywurst a large-format fried or grilled sausage cut into thick slices and seasoned with spicy ketchup and generous amounts of curry powder, usually served with french fries. It is a popular snack originating in early 1950’s in Berlin. It remains one of the most popular fast foods in Germany.

National Foods of Germany- Vegetables

Spargel is the German name for asparagus. It a common side dish served with hollandaise sauce. Potatoes are a German national food that are used in traditional German dishes such as potato pancakes, “schupfnudel” dumplings, “Kartoffelsuppe” potato soup and German potato salad “Kartoffelsalat". Cabbage both red and white is popular in a multitude of German dishes such as Sauerkraut, one of the most familiar German national foods.

National Foods, Germany- Breads

Bread or “Brod” are an integral part of the German cuisine. Rrye-dominated breads such as Vollkornbrot or Schwarzbrot are typical of German cuisine. Pumpernickel, a steamed, sweet-tasting bread, is internationally well known. Most German breads are made with sourdough. The world-famous pretzel is a German bread.

National Desserts of Germany

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or the Black Forest cake is the most popular German national dessert consisting of several layers of  sponge cake sandwiched and frosted with cherries and whipped cream and cherry brandy and topped with chocolate shavings.

Pfefferkuchen or gingerbread and Stollen or Christmas bread are also synonymous with Germany.
 

While these are the most popular German foods, beer remains to top the list of German national foods.

Image courtesy - en.wikipedia.org