Spice up your inbox with FREE German recipes and a free recipe ebook!
Spice up your inbox with FREE German recipes and a free recipe ebook!
What to Serve With Your favorite German Recipes
by: Lydia Fulson / Writer, Artist, Traveler, Granddaughter & Ever-Learning German Cook
Knowing what to serve with your favorite German meals can be quite the task. Not anymore! Here, you can learn what to serve with some of your all-time favorite German meals, such as the famous rouladen!
Scroll below to find some great traditional sides to make the perfect pairing to your German dish.
Whether that be schnitzel, rouladen, or pork of any kind, there are sides here for everything and everyone! Maybe you'll recognize some of these yummy German sides from growing up with your Mutti.
Knowing what to serve with your favorite German meals can be quite the task. Not anymore! Here, you can learn what to serve with some of your all-time favorite German meals.If you're from Northern Germany, like Oma, you may be looking for something like German cucumber salad made with cream to serve alongside your main.
You'll also find many different kinds of potatoes, seeing as Germany thrives on all sorts of fun and delicious potato recipes. Here's a sneak peek at some potato recipes you will see among these pages!
- Fächerkartoffeln - Hasselback Potatoes
- Kartoffelklöße - Potato dumplings (Of course!)
- Luftfritteuse Süßkartoffeln - Air Fried sweet potatoes
- Kartoffelsalat - Potato Salad
When it comes to the vegetable dishes, you'll find a wide variety too. Oma always has more than one veggie served with dinner whenever we have family get-togethers. Variety is always welcome at Oma's dinner table. But the one veggie that is an absolute must for us, is her red cabbage recipe!
What to Consider When choosing a Side
This may seem like a no-brainer when you're prepping big meal plans for a special occasion or just for a simple weeknight dinner.
The main dish is always thought of ahead of time, and the sides tend to be thought of last ... But there are definitely things to be considered when choosing the right sides for you!
Sides should feel like a thought-out part of the meal as well! So to help you out, consider these steps in finding which side fits with what you'll be serving.
1. The Ease of Preparation
Think: Do I want to spend hours making something that takes hours of steps and preparation?
Keep into account, thawing, peeling, washing, chopping, etc. It all adds up, and can be exhausting if you have already spent so long making your main dish.
You want something to take a load off!
2. Cooking Time
If you already have the main dish in the oven and have extra time before it will be ready, take that time to get a side ready that fits within the time you have left.
For example, if your pork hocks are done in 20 minutes, choose a side like jarred red cabbage that can be warmed up in a pot on the stove in 15 minutes.
Or, have something made ahead of time that can/needs to sit in the fridge for a while, such as a bean salad! (One of my favorites!)
3. Contrast of Textures/ Color
This is something that not everyone will worry about when choosing a side.
But for me, it is important. For example, if I am serving rouladen, then I won't pair it with all brown sides. I like to strive for a bold pop of color on my plate.
When Oma makes rouladen, she'll often serve it with mashed potatoes and gravy with red cabbage. They play off each other greatly, and the cabbage gives that pop of color!
From Oma's heart to your table
Complete your set today - order now!
These recipes have been paired with the best of the best. To me, they are all worth trying. But since it would be a bit of a stretch to try them all at once.. make one or two, then next time, try something different from the list. :)
There are so many wunderbar options for you to choose from! We hope you find something you like and maybe we'll even bring back some of your favorite memories of cooking in the kitchen with your Mutti.
Check Out These 'What to serve With' Pages:
You might like these
What to Eat With Hummus: 25+ Delicious Ideas.*
It may be odd to have a page "what to eat with hummus" on a German recipe site, but hummus is gaining in popularity worldwide, including Germany, why not make it a part of your diet?
What To Serve With Pork Chops – Oma's Classic Side Dishes For Chops.*
Looking for side ideas to serve with your favorite pork chop recipe? Have no fear! Here, you can find tons of great German sides, traditional and delicious!
What To Serve With Chicken – Top German Side Dishes For Chicken.*
Here you can find loads of side ideas for what to serve with chicken. Chicken is a classic main meat, and finding the right sides to pair can be a challenge. Not anymore!
What To Serve With Salmon – Oma's Top German Side Dishes for Salmon.*
Enjoy these lecker side dishes to serve with salmon. Salmon deserves something delicious to accompany its great taste. These sides are full of delicious potential!
What To Serve With Burgers – Oma's Classic Sides For Hamburgers.
Need ideas for what to serve with burgers? Everyone loves a lecker hamburger done on the summer BBQ. But what to serve alongside? Check out these great options!
What To Serve With Twice Baked Potatoes – Oma's Top Dishes.
Find German sides and mains to serve with twice baked potatoes! There are so many great recipes that make the ultimate pairing to these deliciously cheesy potatoes.
Comments? Questions?
You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...
Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.
Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.
Recent Articles
-
Traditional German Red Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Rotkohl Rezept
Apr 30, 25 08:54 PM
The red cabbage recipe (rotkohl) is sweet, tangy, and easy to make. A German classic with big flavor and little fuss—just how Oma likes it! -
Southern German Cucumber Salad – Oma's Süddeutscher Gurkensalat Rezept
Apr 30, 25 07:12 PM
German cucumber salad (gurkensalat) is one of my go-to sides. Light, tangy, and always so refreshing with any meal. -
German Pancake Soup Recipe – Oma's Flädlesuppe Rezept
Apr 30, 25 02:13 PM
German pancake soup (flädlesuppe) is SO simple and SO good. I didn’t grow up with it, but once I tried it, I was hooked!
Make every day a THANKFUL day!
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
Let's connect...
From Oma's heart
to your table
Complete your set today - order now!
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.
What others are saying about Oma's cookbooks
As a German-American that is a bit culinarily challenged, this book is a true blessing...
This classic cookbook (German Meals at Oma's) has not only a variety of different recipes, but also key notes to help even those with little experience in the kitchen learn to make excellent German cuisine.
Erika Neumayer Ehrat, Owner & designer of Rare Dirndl
Across media platforms, Just Like Oma is celebrated for making German cooking simple, fast, and fun for everyone!
Copyright © | Quick German Recipes (Just like Oma) | All Rights Reserved
Powered by: Make Your Knowledge Sell!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Quick German Recipes participates in various affiliate advertising to provide a means to earn advertising fees by linking to retail websites. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. I will not promote products I do not own or would not buy myself. My goal is to provide you with product information and my own personal opinions or ideas. At times, I will showcase services, programs, and products. I aim to highlight ones that you might find interesting, and if you buy future items from those companies, I may get a small share of the revenue from the sale. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Throughout my site, you'll find mostly photos that I've taken in my kitchen. I also feature some reader-contributed images and curated stock IMAGES BY Deposit Photos and others, offering further perspectives on recipes and all things German.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE.
Quick-German-recipes.com does not sell any personal information
