Have you ever heard of Swabian food? As Americans we have some idea of typical German food like potato salad, schnitzel, spaetzle, and pretzels, but each of these foods are unique to a particular region of Germany. You might have seen my post on what to eat in Hesse, which will be very similar to what you would eat in Baden-Wurrtemberg, but there are some foods that are uniquely Swabian that you have to have while you are in the south west of Germany. Here is my list of Swabian food and other German specialties you have to try in Baden-Würrtemberg.

Maultaschen

This is something I didn’t know of until my friend from Baden-Württemburg said that we had to make it during her time in the United States. It turns out that it is a very popular thing to make homemade in Germany, but it is very difficult. You have to make and cut the dough, create the meat and spinach filling, put it together, then fry it in egg and butter. We tried our best to make it then, but I didn’t really get to try the real thing until I visited her in Germany. Its safe to say they are very delicious and are something very uniquely Swabian, so you have to try them in Baden-Würrtemberg. I’d recommend, unless you know someone from Swabia, to order it in a restaurant instead of making it yourself.

Käsespätzle

You might have seen this in my food post for Hesse, Germany. Spätzle is pretty widely used in cuisine throughout Germany and Eastern Europe. This particular version with cheese is purely Swabian. It is essentially the German version of macaroni and cheese but I think its even better. First off it uses real cheese and butter. Second it has the caramelized onions. I love caramelized onions! It is one of my favorite things to cook at home and you can not to Germany without trying Käsespätzle.

Flammkuchen

Flammkuchen is another amazing German food I have talked about before. It comes from Southwestern Germany along the border with the German influenced region of France, Alsace. Even though it comes from this very specific region, it is still widely known and enjoyed by all Germans. While similar to a pizza, it really isn’t something you can recreate at home. You have to go to Germany to have the real thing. In the authentic version it has a special cracker thin crust, a white cream sauce of crème fraîche or fromage blanc, and then it is topped with onions and bacon lardons. It is one of my absolute favorites and I have eaten a few whole flammkuchen in my time in Germany.

Black Forest Cake

As Americans I think this is the most stereotypical food we think of from Baden-Württemburg and the Black Forest. I had to have the most authentic slice of this cake I could, so I had my first try of it in Freiburg. And yes, it is just as delicious as it sounds. It is essentially a layered chocolate cake with cherries, Kirsch (a type of cherry brandy), whipped cream, and dark choclate shavings. It is perfect for any cherry or chocolate lover!

Schnitzel

Schnitzel was my first introduction to German food almost 10 years ago. While it originated in Austria, it has become synonymous with German cuisine. Every German knows schnitzel and you’ll probably be able to find it anywhere in Germany, but given the south’s proximity to Austria, it will be the most authentic schnitzel experience. It is a breaded and fried piece of meat. I prefer a pork cutlet, but the more authentic version is made of veal. You can order it plain with just a lemon, which is how we eat it at home, or you can order “”jägerschnitzel” which I will explain in the next food to try!

Hunter’s Sauce

Jäger sauce or hunter’s sauce is a delicious mushroom sauce that actually comes from the French chasseur sauce. In Germany they have taken this classic sauce and made it their own. They eat it with schnitzel or other meats and spätzle just like in the picture above. The sauce is made up of mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, white wine, and herbs. Think of it as a brown gravy with mushrooms, but richer! That is the jäger sauce I love in Germany.

Sweet Rolls and Pastries

From cinnamon rolls, to franzbrötchen, to mohnschnecken, Germany has some of the best sweet rolls. Germany already has amazing bread, so add in the sweet factor and you get the best rolls in the world. Now what makes them just so good? I personally don’t like my rolls too sweet, which is why I make European style baked good for my baking business. They don’t add a ton of sugar into their sweets like we do in the United States. Now imagine a cinnamon roll focused on the flavor of the filling rather than the frosting. That is European baking!

Pretzels

Last but not least, German pretzels or brezel. You might think you have had pretzels before, but I promise if you eat a pretzel in Germany you will realized you never had, at least not until that moment. They are much softer and fresher. They are treated more as a bakery good than a stadium food like it is in the United States. With that being said, they are not served with nacho cheese. Instead you get the option of different butter and cream cheese fillings flavored with herbs. I loved the chive butter. They also are just great plain. Don’t go to southern Germany without trying a pretzel in its homeland!

That is my short and simple list of all the best authentic foods you have to eat in Baden-Würrtemberg. In my opinion, Germany has some of the best food in the world, so I hope this inspires your travels. Leave a comment of which of these you have had and those that are your favorite!