German Cooking in Los Angeles

Tuna Egg Sandwich

In Germany we actually are not eating the sandwiches as it is common in America. The German way is to take a slice of bread and add whatever you like on top. There is no other slice of bread on top of it. It is like the Danish way to decorate their bread. But I will call it “sandwich” so we are all on the same page. It is a great snack and much better than fastfood!

Ingredients (for 2 people)
1 small-medium can white tuna (in water)
2 tbsp mayonaise
1tsp Dijon mustard
2-3 pickles (I prefer cornichons or small cucumbers from Hengstenberg)
1-2 green onions
2 leaves lettuce
pepper, salt, hint of nutmeg
1tbsp olive oil and 1tsp white wine vinegar
1 hard boiled egg
1-2 tomatoes or 1-2 red radices
2 slices of German rye or wheat bread

How you’ll make it
- Chop pickles in small cubes; cut green onion in small slices; wash lettuce and dry them on  a paper towel
- Mix tuna in a bowl with mayonaise, mustard, pickles, salt, pepper, oil and vinegar
- Spread some butter on a slice of bread, put lettuce leave on top
- Spread the tuna mix evenly over the whole slice
- Peel the egg and cut it in thin slices (use an egg slicer if you have one, cuts them really thin)
- Cut tomato or radices in thin slices (use firm tomatoes)
-Add eggs and tomatoes on top and decorate with some parsely or chives or just eat it right away because you are hungry!!.

German Buns

No German breakfast is without buns, but we are talking about the typical and unique German buns. They have a  light brown crust and are soft inside. When you cut them in half you make a mess – these are the right buns. You can put different seeds on top: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds and so on. Be creative!

Ingredients
500 g wheat flour
• 1 sachet dry yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/8 l luke warm water; some milk or water for spreading

How you’ll make them
-Preheat oven to 200 degrees C;
- Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a bowl,  knead it with a mixer and dough hooks, add the warm water and knead it until you get a smooth dough.
- Form small balls or make a loaf as you like, and put it on a tray with parchment paper
(dont let the dough rise)
- With a brush spread water or milk on top
- Bake it right away in the oven for 30 minutes; check now and then to see how brown the bread or buns are.

You can be really creative! Make a sun out of 7 little dough balls or create a flat bread.
Put some flour on your hands when forming the dough, it’s easier.
Add different seeds on the top after milk had been brushed on (sesame, poppy seeds or grated cheese)

Enjoy your breakfast!

minced meat stew

This recipe is for busy people who don’t want to spent too much time in the kitchen. But the dish is good and easy to make. You would serve it with steamed rice or pasta. Tip: Make a big portion and freeze the rest, but without the sour cream.

Ingredients
2 medium sized onions
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp butter
500 g minced beef
1 leek
5 tbsp tomato puree
1/4 l broth
1 tbsp mustard
1tsp red pepper (paprika)
1 tsp salt
sour cream

How you’ll make it
- Chop onions and fry them briefly in oil and butter
- Increase heat , add minced meat and fry it until it is slightly brown
- Wash and cut leek in small pieces or slices
- Reduce heat and add leek, tomato puree, broth, mustard, salt and paprika
- On low heat let it cook for about 15 minutes and stir frequently
- Add sour cream before serving

Walnut Cookies

These cookies are not only good at Christmas. Try them and you will see.

Ingredients
Dough:
150 g margarine
100 powdered sugar
6 egg yolks
1 egg
1 sachet vanilla sugar
1 pinch salt
50 ground walnuts
350 g flour
Glaze
2 tbsp apricot jam
100 g powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp warm water
halves of walnuts for decoration

How you’ll make it
- Whisk margarine with powdered sugar, egg yolks, egg, vanilla sugar and salt until foamy
- Add walnuts and mix in flour
- Make balls of walnut size and put them on a greased baking tray
- Bake them in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes at 150-175 degrees C

- Press apricot jam through a sieve and with a brush or a small spoon spread it over the cookies when they are still warm
- Mix powdered sugar with water and also with a brush add it on the cookies after the apricot jam is dry
- Place half of a walnut on top (it should stick)