German Kale with Sausage (Grünkohl mit Wurst)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

Updated on September 27, 2026

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Another traditional way to enjoy German kale is with fried eggs and potatoes.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, grünkohl is a favorite winter meal, often served with sausage or other smoked pork and potatoes. My version cooks the kale with bacon, onion, and smoked sausage for a hearty dinner, or serves it along side eggs as shown above.

You can start with fresh kale, as I do in the recipe below. Bring some potatoes to the table, and dinner’s ready!

It has an earthy taste that goes great with other hearty dishes. It just needs to be cooked properly!

It's great if you buy it canned or jarred. It's so easy to prepare then. If you have fresh kale, check below how to prepare and cook it. If it's not done properly, kale has a tendency to be tough and bitter. 

Since kale is such a nutritious and healthy vegetable, it's great to be able to cook it so the whole family will enjoy it. Shown above, it's served alongside some fried eggs. 

Below, I've made Kale Mash: cooked kale mixed with mashed potatoes. A super easy way to make a quick dinner and one that even the kids love.

Kale Mash -- super yummy!

Kale Trivia

• Kale has large stringy, curly leaves with a strong earthy taste and odor
• Kale tastes best after frost has hit the leaves, taste sweeting and more flavorful
• In northern Germany, "kale tours" are popular winter events for social clubs with meals of kale, Pinkel sausage, and kassler being served
• Kale is a great source of vitamin K, C, A, B6 and E, manganese; fiber, copper, tryptophan, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and omega 3 fats!
• Some varieties of kale can grow 6 - 7 feet high!

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Kale is often served alongside hearty meals. Sausage is a favorite, as is pork roast, as shown below. Served with mashed potatoes and gravy, this makes a hearty dinner!

Traditional kale with bacon

Print Recipe

German Kale with Sausage (Grünkohl mit Wurst)

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Grünkohl is a favorite winter meal, often served with sausage or other smoked pork and potatoes. My version cooks the kale with bacon, onion, and smoked sausage for a hearty dinner.

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cook Time:

1 hour

Total Time:

1 hour 20 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 pounds (900 g-1.4 kg) fresh kale
• ⅓ cup (75 g) lard, goose fat, or butter
• 1 onion, diced
• ½ pound (225 g) bacon, diced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound (454 g) sausage, smoked and pierced with a fork in several places
• 1 tablespoon (5 g) rolled oats or (8 g) cornstarch (to thicken)

Instructions:

1. Wash kale leaves well. Trim stalks and ribs from leaves.
2. Blanch by immersing leaves briefly in boiling water. Then, drain well.
3. Finely chop blanched kale. 
4. Melt lard, goose fat, or butter in a large saucepan.
5. Add onion and saute lightly. Add bacon and fry briefly.
6. Add kale, about ½ teaspoon salt, a little water and sausage.
7. Cover and cook on low heat about 1 hour for a traditional texture. Cook for shorter time if you prefer. Make sure it doesn't dry out - add more water as needed. Cook until kale is tender as you like. 
8. Stir in the rolled oats and simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Alternatively, dissolve the cornstarch in a little cold water, stir it into the kale, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
9. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. 

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Updated Sept 27, 2026

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Complete your set today - order now!

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.