The first time I was in Germany with an American friend, I suggested we grab a Currywurst for a quick dinner. His response was, “What is Currywurst?”
Sigh…
One of my favorite “Fast Food” meals in Germany is Currywurst. Currywurst is a fabulous snack, a tasty 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, but especially in Berlin, where Currywurst was invented by Herta Heuwer in 1949. (Find the Best Currywurst In Berlin HERE). But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let me explain this cultural icon…
September 4th is Currywurst Day!
What is Currywurst?
Start with the basics… what IS Currywurst? Does the sausage itself have curry in it? Nope, it’s all about the Currysauce. Usually you order Currywurst 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 dusting of curry powder for extra flavor. You may be able to order Mild or Scharf (spicey).
The BEST way to have a Currywurst dish is with Pommes (French Fries). I love dipping the fries into the Curry Sauce…mmmmmmm. Ask for the Wurst and Sauce ON the Pommes for a flavor explosion!
At an Imbiß (quick take-away place) your portion will arrive on a rectangular paper tray, and you eat it all with a little fork. I love the little fork.
Herta Heuwer- The Inventor of Currywurst
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 Bratwurst, grilled, then topped with curry sauce is all it takes.
Zeisner Curry Ketchup 17.5 ounce
Hela Sharp Ketchup Sauce, 13.53 OunceKnorr Fix curried sausage (Currywurst) (Pack of 4)Gmark Eco-Friendly 3.5
You forgot to mention the pomme fritt sauce
When I lived in Germany in the 60’s and 70’s there were Schnell Imbiss everywhere – now they appear to have been taken over by kebabs and pizza outlets – such a shame. In England, we have managed to keep fish and chip shops – there must be room in Germany for more of its own best snack food!
I think it depends on where you are in Germany… I still see plenty of German food when I’m there. Still, tastes change.