Currywurst- The History and How to Make It

The first time I was in Germany with an American friend, I suggested we grab a Currywurst for a quick dinner. His response, “What is Currywurst?”
Sigh…
Well… One of my favorite “Fast Food” meals in Germany is a Currywurst dish. Currywurst is a fabulous snack, a fun meal, a favorite dish for young and old, and very importantly a delicious late-night-after-going-to-bars-or-clubs way of soaking up alcohol. This special treat is found everywhere in Germany… and especially in Berlin, where Currywurst was invented. (Find the Best Currywurst In Berlin HERE). But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me explain and clarify for those of you (like my friend) who are unfamiliar with this cultural icon…

What is Currywurst?

Let’s start with the basics… what IS Currywurst? When I first heard about it, I thought the sausage itself had curry in it. Nope, it’s all about the Currysauce. Generally Currywurst is ordered from a little take-away stand (although you can get it in restaurants). It’s made from a bratwurst that’s been grilled, and then sliced into bite sized pieces then SMOTHERED in Curry Sauce. The curry sauce is not like an Indian curry… it’s more like curry added to a ketchup or tomato sauce base. Different places use more or less of a ketchup/tomato base. (Some add Worcestershire…. others have onion pureed into the sauce). My favorite places sprinkle the top with a bit of curry powder for extra flavor. You may be able to order mild or scharf (spicey).

In my opinion, the BEST way to have a Currywurst dish is with Pommes (French Fries). I love dipping the fries into the Curry Sauce…mmmmmmm.

Your portion will probably arrive on a rectangular paper tray, and you eat it all with a little fork.

September 4th is Currywurst Day!

A Little History

As the story goes, Herta Heuwer owned an Imbiss (small take away place) on the corner of Kant & Kaiser-Friedrich Straße. She was able to get some Ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce (although this ingredient is disputed…) and Curry Powder from some British Troops. She combined them, poured the sauce over a Bratwurst, and on September 4, 1949, served her first Currywurst. The combination was a huge hit! And Currywurst became the semi-official food of Berlin.

In fact, today it is estimated that of the 800 Million Currywursts eaten in Germany each YEAR, 70 million of those are eaten in Berlin. When you consider that Berlin has a population of 3.7 million, that’s a LOT of currywurst per captia (although, I’m sure the tourists do their part to boost the numbers!)

Now, of course, some food historians may argue that versions of Currywurst already existed around Germany… but the legend of Herta Heuwer lives on. And, on June 30, 2013, Google honored her 100th birthday with her very own Google Doodle.

Make Currywurst at Home

You don’t need a Recipe to make a Currywurst dish at home. Your favorite Sausage or Bratwurst, grilled, then topped with curry sauce is all it takes.

Knackwurst SCHALLER & WEBERigourmetBavarian Bratwurst HOWE’Sigourmet

Zeisner Curry Ketchup 17.5 ounceHela Sharp Ketchup Sauce, 13.53 OunceKnorr Fix curried sausage (Currywurst) (Pack of 4)Gmark Eco-Friendly 3.5