Missing German Cuisine

It’s been 3 days since I got back to Mumbai, India. Having missed the butter chicken and mutton biryani’s I had a prompt get together with friends last evening, telling them about my travels and experiences.

Folks often know of the foods from other nations, but do not realize that quite a few of them actually originated in Germany! In fact most over the American favourites were actually German Food.

As I was telling my friends about the wonderful German Cuisine (Food) I experienced, I realised my transformation from being a die-hard Indian food fan to one who loved the Germany Cuisine.

I asked around to notice that popular opinion was actually not very fond of the German flavours. Most in fact thought it limited to a mix of Beer & Sausage, so it could of course be attributed to being unaware of the real tastes.

When of course they were informed that the loved American foods such as Meatloaf, Deviled Eggs, Hot Dogs (frankfurters, bratwurst etc...) , Hamburgers (bouletten) , were first German, many opinions revised!

Germans really appreciate healthy, well-prepared foods served with care. They basically treasure food as gold and eat in larger portions. Their lunch are their heaviest meals and dinners often light.

Lunch consists of meat, normally pork or beef, followed by veal. There are always vegetables on the table such as beets, onions, cabbage, turnips, and carrots. Dinner being light consists of bread, cheese, and sausage.

It’s really difficult to get the same taste here in India. After all that raving of German food my friends and I decided to have a party to make them see and feel what I saw. Arm with recipes from my travels and from Guten Appetit I was confident. Now only to find the Ingredients. To my luck Priya (one of my blog reader’s) let me know of the German products in Hyper city, Malad, Mumbai, India.

You too could find the place closest to you at
http://www.guten-appetit-india.com/where-to-buy/

Thanks again Priya!

I guess you’ll find out how the cooking and the party went on the next post. Will put up some pictures for sure.

Guten appétit indeed

I’ve always liked different styles of food. Throughout my journey, I’ve tried out so many varieties and have written about those I liked the most. The other day I was surfing through channels on TV, and I stumbled upon this food show called Guten Appétit.

Hosted by Chef Vernon Coelho, a man so very passionate about his cooking that his eyes begin to twinkle as his fingers weave aromas that waft endlessly forth. The transformation holds one in awe.

Vernon has a charming sense of humor, which is almost cuddly (Don’t get me wrong). He has great knowledge of recipes and styles of cooking, both regional and international.

One can learn a lot about Germany food from his show, not forgetting his beautiful co-hostess Jennifer - a great foil to draw little details from the great chef.

Across episodes I observed, Vernon’s ease with pots and pans and a meticulous attention to detail that makes it all so appetizing and infuses a let’s-cook-it-now feeling! True genius in action.

The show also had interesting tit-bits that added more spice to the watching, like Jennifer being “an amateur boxer”. Part of the reason that she likes a healthy German diet of salads, whole-grain baked products and low-fat milk products.

The result of the episode was an impressive preparation of the baby tarts. For the uninitiated I have managed to get the video of the show.

Do give me your inputs.

Whats Dine Without Wine!!!

I’ve noticed many times throughout this trip German Recipes are often well-guarded its precious family traditions carried throughout the generations. The German recipes are typically passed down from grandparents to grandchildren. There are many varieties of fruit punch, a popular party drink often neglected by German Recipe books. Bowle is just another word for fruited punch. Nothing is more appreciated for a themed party than a refreshing fruit punch. The fruit punch itself serves as a delightful attraction with its typically colorful presentation. From related Christmas classic Wassail to the seasonal Erdbeer (strawberry wine) Punch, German Recipes for Fruit Punch are often a much cherished party preparation treasure and can make parties so much nicer! Here is my favorite German Fruit punch Recipe. German Erdbeer Bowle (Strawberry Wine Punch).

Ingredients:

• 1 kg fresh strawberries
• 100 g powdered sugar
• 1/2 bunch lemon balm leaves (or lemon rind, see note in instructions)
• 4 (3/4 liter) bottles white wine
• 1 (3/4 liter) bottle champagne

This is done usually 2-3 hours before your guests arrive, wash the strawberries, drain well and pat dry. Halve the berries, and then place them in the bottom of large punch bowl or glass pitcher. Sprinkle the powdered sugar over them. Rinse the lemon balm leaves and shake them dry. Pluck the leaves from their stems and add them to the berries. Pour one bottle of wine over the berry mixture, cover, and cool in the fridge.

When the guests have arrived, add the remaining wine and the champagne. Lemon balm is an herb in the mint family common in Europe; if unavailable then use a vegetable peeler to cut about 5-6 long narrow curls of lemon rind in place of the balm (remove before serving).

Please note: it is best to use fresh fruit for Bowle recipes, but when fresh is unavailable, substitution of frozen fruit in the Bowle recipe is acceptable. For alcoholic recipes, please allow for plenty of time for the fruits to soak prior to finished presentation, as the alcohol-soaked fruit is considered a treat in itself!

Do you have a similar recipe, if so feel free drop a comment below...

German Sausage Salad

Over the last 10 days I’ve had a great time living with my friend in Berlin. It has been regularly between 30-35°C. I found it really strange last Friday when my friend said "This reminds me of the weather we had when shifted to Berlin, I used to go cycling for a Wurstsalat und Radler". Wurstsalat means literally "sausage (cold cut) salat" and Radler means literally "cyclist".

We decided to go a Biergarten near my friends office we had a Wurstsalat which was a Bavarian salad of cold sausage and vegetables and a schweizer Wurstsalat (Swiss sausage salad) which was basically the same but with Swiss cheese and a bit less sausage. I recall there being thinly sliced sausage combined with firm vegetables such as red onion, fennel and I’m guessing white radish too. Both my friend and I recall thinly sliced pickled gherkins in many instances. There was a fairly watery salad dressing very obvious on the plate. This did taste good.

I am convinced that German food is simple to prepare, and also German dishes would find a great importance in India; especially the salad while dinner.

I decided to try this dish on my own and made it the following.

Ingredients:

• 1 red onion
• Half fennel bulb
• 100 g radishes
• Half a cucumber
• 50 g pickled gherkin
• 100 g bockwurst
• 100 g thinly sliced garlic sausage or paprika salami
• 100 g Emmentaler cheese
• 75 ml vegetable oil
• 25 ml white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp whole grain mustard
• 25 ml water
• Salt and pepperCrushed raspberry 100 gm

Firstly sliced the red onion, fennel, cucumber and radishes into 1 mm slices. Then thinly slice the pickled gherkin. Slice the bockwurst into 3 mm or thinner slices. Slice the cheese into thin strips. Toss the sausage, cheese and vegetables thoroughly together. Mix the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and water as a dressing, Toss the salad with the dressing and in no time it was ready to eat.

P.S: This really tasty good while watching a football match with your friends and especially with beer or cider!!

Chicken Maryland for the family

Chicken Maryland is the most convenient and really quick dinner to make - great for those Saturday nights with the family around. Everyone I've cooked it for has loved it, including my mother – in – law, now how cool is that. It's kind of the most easiest and healthy Fried Chicken Recipe With croquette potato & lemon grass infused jus. Anyway, let’s get to the recipe.

Ingredients

• Chicken breast 4
• Egg wash 1 egg
• Breadcrumbs (fresh) 100 gm
• Oil for frying
• Salt to taste
• White pepper a pinch
• Mixed herbs 1 tsp.
• Brown sauce (espagnole)
• Lemon grass
• Croquette potato
  

Infuse brown sauce with lemon grass. Trim chicken breast and bone. Marinade in salt, pepper and mixed herbs. Coat chicken pieces with egg and bread crumbs. Press firmly.

Heat oil and shallow fry chicken till evenly brown. Drain on absorbent paper and serve with croquette potato and brown sauce.

P.S: I usually serve this in the dish at the table, with a handful of fresh mint thrown over, and let people help themselves.

A classy dessert

Dinner is just not complete unless you have some dessert treats on occasion. What’s better than a European dessert? Have you tasted any of them?? It’s about time you do. This classy dessert can be made with – Plain Yogurt, Crème fraiche, Sugar, Crushed raspberry, whole raspberry - you get the picture! Here’s how to make your own Raspberry Baked Yogurt:

• Yogurt (plain) 200 gm
• Crème fraiche 200 gm
• Sugar (castor) 60 gm (approx.)
• Crushed raspberry 100 gm
• Whole raspberry few

Now put yogurt in a strainer and allow any moisture to drain. Combine the yogurt, crème fraiche, sugar and raspberry and Mix well. Transfer to porcelain baking dishes (individual). All you need to do is bake it for 15–20 minutes.

Cool down, then chill and enjoy!

Do you have a variation on this theme? If so drop a comment below...we're hungry for your recipe!!