Vegetables | German Cooking | German Food Guide (2024)

In the German cuisine, vegetables are most often served in casseroles, soups, and as side dishes. Among the favorites in German cooking are potatoes, various types of cabbage, carrots, spinach, peas, asparagus, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and various types of salads. Onions are mainly served with meat dishes or as ingredients in many recipes. Sauerkraut is also a favorite throughout Germany.

Potatoes are one of the most important foods in German cuisine and they are most often served as side dishes. They are served in many different ways: boiled, pan fried, deep fried, mashed, dumplings, Kroketten, pancakes, in soup and stews, in casseroles, etc. Germany belongs to the top potato consuming countries. In fact, on average, each German consumes 150 pounds (70 kg) of potatoes annually.

Asparagus is so loved in Germany it is nicknamed "Königsgemüse (King's Vegetable)," "Frühlingswonne (Springtime Delight)," and "Zartes Elfenbein (Soft Ivory)". The asparagus season begins in April and runs through June. During this time, asparagus are on the menu at many restaurants and homes in Germany. Asparagus is enjoyed as a main meal, as a side dish, or in soups and casseroles.

Vegetables | German Cooking | German Food Guide (1)

Below, we list several of the most popular vegetables used in German cooking. Select a vegetable below to get detailed information and recipes.
Asparagus (Spargel)
Brussels Sprouts (Rosenkohl)
Cauliflower (Blumenkohl)
Green Cabbage (Weisskraut)
Kale (Grünkohl)
Kohlrabi
Potatoes (Kartoffel)
Red Cabbage (Rotkraut)
Sauerkraut
Savoy Cabbage (Wirsing)
Squash (Kürbis)
Vegetables | German Cooking | German Food Guide (2024)

FAQs

Vegetables | German Cooking | German Food Guide? ›

Vegetables. Vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, beans, peas, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and asparagus are often used as side dishes as well as in soups and stews. Potatoes are a favorite food, including Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and Kartoffelsalat (potato salad).

What vegetables are used in German cooking? ›

Among the favorites in German cooking are potatoes, various types of cabbage, carrots, spinach, peas, asparagus, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and various types of salads. Onions are mainly served with meat dishes or as ingredients in many recipes. Sauerkraut is also a favorite throughout Germany.

What is the king of vegetables in Germany? ›

Asparagus. Asparagus harvesting takes place from mid-April to late June. During this time, you can savour the flavour of German asparagus, also known as the “King of Vegetables”, in Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony).

What is the most consumed vegetable in Germany? ›

Tomatoes are by far the most consumed vegetable in Germany
  • Tomatoes (31.3 kg)
  • Carrots, beetroots (11.5 kg)
  • Onions (9.0 kg)
  • Cucumbers (7.5 kg)
  • Lettuce (5.7 kg)
  • White cabbage, red cabbage (4.7 kg)
  • Savoy cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi (2.5 kg)
  • Beans (2.2 kg)
Jan 16, 2024

What is a German famous vegetable? ›

Asparagus: An ode to Germany's favorite vegetable.

Is garlic used in German cooking? ›

Garlic has never played a large role in traditional German cuisine, but has risen in popularity in recent decades due to the influence of French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, and Turkish cuisines. Ramson, a rediscovered herb from earlier centuries, has become quite popular again since the 1990s.

How many potatoes do Germans eat? ›

Potatoes are a German staple

No matter how you slice it, potatoes make up a large part of the average German diet. Whether in soups, mashed, fried, or served as French fries or chips, an average of roughly 60-65 kilograms of potatoes are eaten per person per year in Germany.

What is the most eaten vegetable in Europe? ›

The most popular vegetables are tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and sweet peppers. In Europe, tomatoes are at the top of this list. For 67% of Europeans, a nice piece of fruit is the ideal snack.

How do Germans eat kohlrabi? ›

Kohlrabi can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw kohlrabi is delicious and refreshing shredded with a vinaigrette dressing or added to a salad.

What is the number 1 food in Germany? ›

Sauerbraten. Germans love their meat dishes, and Sauerbraten (meaning 'sour' or 'pickled' roast) is one of the country's national dishes.

Do Germans eat a lot of cabbage? ›

Healthy and tasty, it is a main ingredient in Bavarian cuisine, but is common all over Germany.

What is the most popular fruit in Germany? ›

In Germany no other fruit is consumed as much as the apple. Four out of five Germans (79%) regularly eat apples. Followed closely by bananas (78%) and strawberries (77%). And most Germans (74%) believe that apples aren't just tasty but also healthy.

What is Germany's national food? ›

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

What is a German root vegetable? ›

Kohlrabi, also known as German turnip, is a cruciferous vegetable.

What fruits and vegetables are native to Germany? ›

Some of the most popular fruits and vegetables in Germany are apples, pears, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, and potatoes. Germany is also known for its production of asparagus. Apples are by far the most popular fruit in Germany; in fact, around 21% of all apples consumed in the European Union come from Germany.

What are the vegetables in Germany? ›

German cuisine makes use of a variety of gourds, squash, and peppers. Some common types of gourds used in German cooking include pumpkin, zucchini, and cucumber. These vegetables are often used in soups, stews, and casseroles, and can also be grilled or roasted as a side dish.

What is typical German cooking? ›

Traditional German fare is hearty, stick-to-your-ribs delicious, and beckons to be enjoyed with a pilsner, helles, or kölsch — and friends! These German recipes celebrate some of the dishes Germany is most known for: crispy fried schnitzel, robust sausages, chewy pretzels, and all manner of mustard-tinged delights.

What are typical European vegetables? ›

There are vegetables well known today in the list such as cucumber, chickpeas, celery, carrots, cabbage, leeks, peas, lettuce, garlic, onions, shallots, as well as familiar aromatic herbs as mint, sage, cumin, anise, parsley, savory, coriander.

Does Germany have veg food? ›

Traditionally Germans have their famous white asparagus with ham, sauce hollandaise and fresh potatoes. Well, of course, you can also have the very same dish without the ham, making it a delicious vegetarian meal. Paired with some veggie Schnitzel you also get the perfect three-component meal, Germans love so bad.

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