In Bavaria, as in the rest of Germany, food is essential. You need fuel to put in a hard day’s work. And it would help if you had something to soak up the alcohol in the beer (which is legally bread in Germany, but that’s another story). Grabbing a slice of toast on your way out the door will not cut it. What you need is a second breakfast; what you really need is Brotzeit. What is Brotzeit? Brotzeit means Bread Time. And in Bavaria, Brotzeit is a time to sit down and have a little something (haha, little), a hearty snack, around 10 am. But Brotzeit can also mean a snack later in the day, say at a Biergarten when you are enjoying a few liters of beer in the afternoon sun with friends, and it’s good to have a base in your stomach.
Don’t confuse Brotzeit with Mahlzeit, which is mealtime. Brotzeit is snack, Mahlzeit is meal! Kaffeezeit is coffee in the afternoon. Abendbrot (what I grew up with) is Evening Bread, and Vesper is another between-meal snack/meal. One definition says Abendbrot comes AFTER 6 pm, and Vesper is BEFORE 6 pm, but after Mittagessen, the mid-day meal. (All these meals make me wonder if Tolkien got his idea for Hobbits from my family.)
But, right now, we are talking about Brotzeit.
What is Brotzeit
Brotzeit is two things.
1. Brotzeit comes in the morning, usually around 10 a.m. (right about the time that the Yogurt and Muesli you ate are wearing off).
2. Brotzeit is something you can order or serve in the afternoon when enjoying a Beer with friends, maybe in a Biergarten or on a weekend hike.
What you get to eat might vary a bit from person to person/place to place, but essentially you get a platter covered with delicious things… and some Rye Bread or a Pretzel (or TREE of Pretzels) to enjoy with it. Think a Charcuterie Board… but with a Bavarian Accent.
If all goes according to plan, you’ll also get beer. (Yes, even at 10 a.m.)
Make a Brotzeit Board or Platter
The board is usually a wood platter covered with delicious things. It’s served with a basket containing breads.
Instead of plates, it’s nice to have Brettchen (small boards) to make cutting sausages or tomatoes easier.
In the Bread Basket
Bread– (makes sense, it is BREAD time) Usually slices of a nice Rye Bread.
Pretzel (or Brezn’)– Big thick ones that can be spread with butter or cheese.
On the Brotzeit Board
Sausage– Sticks of Landjaeger, Slices of Salami or both
Smoked Meat– Schinken (Ham)
Cheese– Emmental , Almdammer, Butterkäse
Dips-
You want something creamy to dip or spread onto a pretzel or piece of bread.
Obatzda – a creamy cheese dip made with cheese and beer
Griebenschmalz- rendered pork fat with cracklings
Quark Dip– Quark (or plain Greek yogurt) mixed with Ricotta cheese, fine chopped fresh herbs & chopped green onion, salt and pepper.
Vegetables-
I can see some of you starting to panic. It’s just a few vegetables to make things crunchy. YOU CAN actually have vegetarian Brotzeit!
Radishes– small red ones whole – sprinkle with salt
Radi or Beer Radish – a spiral sliced Daikon Radish sprinkled with salt
Tomato– whole cherry tomato or sliced fresh Tomato (salt or Tomatensalz)
Pickles-
Pickled anything tastes good with a beer, doesn’t it?
Barrel pickles
Spicy Pickles
Mustard
Bavarian Sweet Mustard or your Favorite Other Mustard
Want more?
Hard Boiled Eggs
Slices of Roast Pork
House Made Liverwurst
Wurstsalat– Bavarian Sausage Salad
Chive Sandwiches – Slice of Rye bread spread thick with butter, then covered in Chopped Chives
Beer.
Yes, Beer.
Beer is perfectly acceptable as a morning Beverage. And in a Biergarten, it’s expected.
Order What You Need for Brotzeit
Need a spiral cutter for your Radi? How about some sausage?
Radimax Spiral CutterSchaller & Weber All Natural Landjaeger – 10 Ounce AverageSchaller & Weber Touristenwurst
Onion Schmalz with AppleGermanShop24Multi-grain breadGermanShop24
Get Ideas for a Unique for a Festive Platter
Veggie-Brotzeit: Aufstriche, Salate und Bratlinge für die besten Sandwiches (German Edition)BROTZEIT = die schönste Zeit!Brotzeit
I love Wurstsalad, but don’t care to make it with American bologna. Its to greasy for my taste, and gives me a greasy feel on the top of my mouth. Give me German made bologna and I will make the Wurstsalad in a heart beat. Like twice a week. I prefer the German bologna with a little garlic in it. When some of my friends find out that I made Wurstsalad, they invite themselfs. Never knew I had that many friends. Of course my big mouth daughter had to spread the word around. Her favorite saying is always the same. Mamma, guess who is coming to dinner. By now I’m prepared for that, and I make plenty one day ahead.
Do you have some links or ideas where to purchase Holzteller ( wooden plates /wooden boards) for Brotzeit? Thank you.
YES! check this –> https://germangirlinamerica.com/where-to-buy-german-sandwich-boards-for-abendbrot/