German soup (Suppe or Eintopf) is a cornerstone of home cooking, characterized as hearty, nourishing, and often vegetable-forward or potato-based. Common types include potato soup (Kartoffelsuppe), sausage-loaded stews, and vegetable soups, often made with Suppengrün (leek, celery root, carrot). These soups are often thickened, creamy, or, as Eintopf, a thick one-pot meal, commonly incorporating bacon, beef, or dumplings. The Daring Gourmet +4
Common soups in German restaurants include oxtail, beef or chicken broth with noodles, dumplings, or rice, goulash, split pea, cream of asparagus, turtle soup (Echte Schildkrötensuppe) and cream of lobster.
Creamy comfort in a bowl of soup, that's what you get with every serving of German Potato Soup! Also known as 'Kartoffelsuppe', this is one of the most popular soup in Germany – and now, you can easily prepare it at home!
While there's no single "most popular" dish due to regional differences, Currywurst, Schnitzel, and various Wurst (sausages) like Bratwurst, alongside street food favorites like Döner Kebab, are consistently among Germany's most beloved and widely eaten foods, often served with sides like potatoes or sauerkraut.
Hochzeitssuppe ( lit. 'wedding soup') is a German soup based on chicken broth, fortified with chicken meat, small meatballs (Fleischklößchen), asparagus heads, noodles, and savoury egg custard garnish (Eierstich). Sometimes raisins are added as well.
This was one of the first soups my children asked for again and again. It features potatoes, garlic, and of course—pieces of pan-fried sausage (Czech párek)! Despite its name, "Frankfurt soup" (Frankfurtská polévka) is not German at all—it is actually a Czech classic. .
Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!
Crisp and salty pretzels and pretzel stick have been popular in Germany for centuries. Salzstangen (salty pretzel sticks) and Erdnussflips (peanut flips) are particularly popular snacks in Germany.
The four main categories of soup are Thin (Clear), Thick, Cold, and International/National Specialties, a classification system used in culinary arts to organize soups by texture, preparation, and cultural origin, covering everything from clear broths (thin) and creamy bisques (thick) to chilled gazpacho (cold) and regional dishes like ramen or pho (international).
Soup was one of Julia Child's favorite things to eat, and reportedly, her absolute favorite was vichyssoise. Leek and potato soup, known as potage parmentier in French, is a classic base soup recipe. What sets vichyssoise apart is the addition of cream—and the fact that it is traditionally served chilled.
From creamy brie to tangy feta, there's a wide range of cheeses to choose from. 5. Eggs are not always scrambled: While scrambled eggs are popular in Germany, they're not the only way to eat eggs for breakfast. Germans also enjoy boiled eggs, fried eggs, and eggs baked in a dish called "Strata".
The typical meals are divided in a rather copious breakfast (6 am – 8 am), lunch (12 pm – 2 pm) and dinner (6 pm – 8 pm). Breakfast usually consists of bread that can be topped with cheese, cold cuts, jam, honey, Nutella etc., if you prefer something salty.
Mealtimes: When and what do Germans eat? People in Germany generally have three or four meals a day: breakfast, a midday meal, an evening meal, and possibly Kaffee und Kuchen (we'll get to this in a minute) in the afternoon.
Bratwurst is among Germany's most famous foods, known for its flavorful sausage made from pork, beef, or veal. Other favorites include sauerbraten, a pot roast, and wiener schnitzel, a breaded cutlet.
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.
In the US, the term hot dog refers to both the sausage by itself and the combination of sausage and bun. Many nicknames applying to either have emerged over the years, including frankfurter, frank, wiener, weenie, coney, and red hot.
Cullen skink is a thick Scottish soup typically made of at least smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions. An authentic Cullen skink will use finnan haddie, but it may be prepared with any other undyed smoked haddock. Sometimes ocean perch or salmon are used in the soup.
