The German Table

Pork is typically served with cabbage at the German table. Use red cabbage, if you like, for slightly sweeter flavor. You can prepare the dish a day ahead, chill overnight, and reheat in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Recipe:Pork Loin Braised with Cabbage

Learn to cook German egg noodles in this modern-twist casserole. In Southern regions of Germany and Austria, Spaetzle traditionally served alongside meat main dishes to soak up rich gravy. Give them a try in this satisfying main-dish casserole. Recipe:Spaetzle Baked with Ham and Gruyere

Considered one of the most popular and traditional German recipes, Sauerbraten is beef marinated in vinegar (or in this case, pickling juice) then braised until melt-in-your mouth tender. Guten Appetit!Recipe:Sauerbraten

Hearty breads like rye and pumpernickel are German culinary standards. This version uses stone-ground rye flour and caraway seeds, a favorite spice in German cooking. Recipe:Brown Beer Rye Bread

This recipe is perfect for hearty dinners and Oktoberfest celebrations. Simmer fully cooked sausages in stout or a dark beer with caramelized onions, and roast in the oven until heated through. Served with creamy mashed potatoes. Recipe:Roasted Sausages with Beer-braised Onions

Authentic German potato salad gets its flavor from vinegar rather than mayonnaise. In this version, red potatoes are mixed with bacon, cider vinegar, onions, and red bell pepper.Recipe:German-Style Potato Salad

Pronounced FEHF-fuhr-noos, this spice cookie is served at Christmastime in Germany. It's full of holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and pecans add crunch. Recipe:Pfeffernüsse

This is a version of heringsalat (herring salad), which is traditionally prepared with herring, apples, and raw onions. You can substitute smoked trout for herring. Serve with a well-chilled lager and rye bread. Garnish with dill sprigs.Recipe:Herring and Apple Salad

This lightly spiced coffeecake with a streusel topping may be the most familiar kuchen to Americans. Kuchen is a general German term for "cake" and is applied to many types of pastries. Enjoy this sweet treat for breakfast or dessert. Recipe:Dried-Cherry Streusel Kuchen