Himmel und Erde is a German dish featuring apples and potatoes, often served with meat or as a vegetarian option. Spices like nutmeg are added, and the two main elements are boiled separately to bring out their flavors. It can be served as a side dish or a full meal.
Himmel und Erde is a kind of interesting German delicacy popular in the Rhineland area, communities like Westphalia and Silesian regions. This simple yet distinctive dish features the inclusion of apples and potatoes. The contrast between where these two foods grow leads to the food’s German name: Himmel und Erde, or in English, “heaven and earth.”
Himmel and Erde’s basic ingredients are applesauce and mashed potatoes. These represent the two ideas explained above. Other items are often added, such as cooked onions and meat. The meats used in Himmel and Erde vary; some recipes call for “black pudding” or blood sausage preparations, while others are served with pork chops or bacon. Another type of recipe for this dish involves fried bologna, a German meat favorite. Conversely, vegetarian recipes for this dish do not include meat and may substitute other ingredients for butter, which is commonly used in traditional recipes.
Certain types of spices can also be added to different Himmel and Erde presentations. While this dish isn’t as heavy on spice as many other ethnic foods from around the world, some distinct tastes are presented in many traditional versions. Salt and pepper, staple spices in this food culture, are often added to the dish. Another signature spice that’s a frequent addition is nutmeg, which gives the dish a sweeter, stronger flavor.
Many presentations of Himmel and Erde depend on boiling the two main elements separately. The cooks say this brings out the two signature flavors, giving this dish more of what it’s traditionally known for. In many cases, cooks might add turnips to the potato dish to give that portion of the dish a “radical” or vegetable flavor.
As a versatile dish, Himmel and Erde can be presented as a simple side dish or as an appetizer. The full-meal version of this dish is usually presented with meat on a large platter, where the side dish may be served in a small bowl. Where the meat exists in smaller presentations, it is often crumbled or minced and placed on top of the plate, along with other side dishes.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
