While Germany is famous for its many beer halls that tourists love to visit, it’s scrumptious and hearty cuisine tends to be underrated. One of the biggest mistakes that rookies make their first time in Germany is not trying the variety of delicious delicacies on offer. Trust us—there’s much more available than sauerkraut! Check out these divine German dishes.

Sauerbraten: Roast Beef Stew

One of the things to know about Germany before you go is that the cuisine is very meat-focused. An iconic national meat dish that you have to try is sauerbraten, otherwise known as roast beef stew. Like a German pot roast, this stew tends to be marinated in vinegar and spices, including the German favorite caraway seed.

If you want to make this dish at home, you’ll have to allocate plenty of time. The beef or venison usually has to marinate in a wine and vinegar mixture for at least one day before it is cooked. If you travel to Germany, you’ll find it served at every German restaurant, accompanied by red cabbage and potatoes.

Schweinshaxe: Pork Knuckle

Schweinshaxe, or pork knuckle, is one of the most traditional foods that you can eat in Germany. Once thought of as a cheap dish, it is now one of the most popular delicacies that visitors to Germany crave. The pork knuckle or ham hock is roasted until the meat is tender and juicy and the falls off the bone. The best versions contain crispy skin that crackles when you eat it.

You can now find this dish all over Germany but it is especially popular in Bavaria. Like many German dishes, it also comes served with cabbage and potatoes. Be warned: it’s often much bigger than it looks! If you don’t have an overly large appetite, it’s best to order this one to share between two people!

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Kartoffelkloesse: Potato Dumplings

Although many traditional German dishes are based on meat, they are almost always accompanied by potatoes. Along with boiled potatoes, Germans also eat delicious kartoffelkloesse or potato dumplings. Made using potato and potato starch, this comfort food is popular in the south of Germany.

There are several varieties of potato dumplings available in Germany but they are most commonly served with gravy for flavor. Typically, Germans keep any leftover dumplings and cook them the following day in butter, creating a dish that carb-lovers would go crazy for.

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Bratwurst: Grilled Sausage

Germany is famous for its wide range of sausages, the most famous being the grilled bratwurst. Bratwurst is commonly made with pork but can also be made with veal or beef. Carraway seeds and other spices go into German sausages to give them lots of flavor and they are often served with mustard.

Along with bratwurst, just some of the other sausages you’ll find in Germany include knockwurst (boiled sausage), weisswurst (bacon sausage), and currywurst, which is a steamed pork sausage served with curry ketchup. The latter is extremely popular street food in Berlin.

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The Most Delectable Dessert: Black Forest Cake

The Germans are known for their desserts. Out of all of the must-try German desserts and sweets, Black Forest cake is non-negotiable. Totally decadent and rich, this cake consists of layers of chocolate sponge that are sandwiched by sweet cherry filling and whipped cream. Some versions of the cake include chocolate ganache on top of the cake for extra indulgence.

In German, the Black Forest cake is known as schwarzwälder kirschtorte and is one of the country’s proudest culinary achievements. Other delectable desserts to sample in Germany include bienenstich, or bee sting cake, käsekuchen, or German cheesecake, plum tarts, berry puddings, and the famous Berliner, which is similar to a jelly donut.

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