7 Traditional German Recipes Without the Meat, From Sausages to Schnitzel

Sausages have long been a staple of American cuisine, enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner by nearly 90 percent of people in the US. Yet, these savory favorites are not originally American. Sausages were first introduced to the US in the 19th century by German immigrants, who brought a rich tradition of hearty, meaty dishes. But classic German dishes don’t have to be limited to meat. Below, we share some of our favorite German-inspired recipes—sausages, schnitzel, spaetzle, and more—that are deliciously satisfying and 100 percent vegan.

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What is traditional German food?

From bratwurst to frankfurters, German cuisine has given the world many different types of sausages—not just in the US, but all over. In fact, the entire global sausage market is worth more than $116 billion. But while the processed meat is one of its most popular dishes, German cuisine is so much more than sausage. Traditional German food reflects the country’s regional diversity, with hearty, flavorful dishes often centered around meat, as well as potatoes, bread, and seasonal vegetables.

Schnitzel, for example, features fried cutlets of pork or veal and is often served with creamy mushroom sauce. Spaetzle egg noodles are often served with cheese, and crispy potato pancakes are often served with applesauce.

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RELATED: 5 Meatless Duck Substitutes, From Seitan to Jackfruit

Traditionally, German cuisine is meat- and dairy-heavy. But the country is changing. In the capital of Berlin, for example, restaurant and travel platform HappyCow reports that there are more than 1200 vegan-friendly restaurants across the city. Hamburg, a popular northern German city, is home to nearly 670 vegan-friendly eateries, while Frankfurt (where the iconic sausage is rumored to have come from) is home to more than 300.

But, of course, you don’t have to go to Germany to enjoy vegan German food. Instead, you can make it from scratch at home.

7 meatless German recipes

Below, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite vegan German recipes. From bratwurst to schnitzel to duck legs (yes, duck legs), there is something for everyone.

Vegan Punks

1 Vegan Currywurst With Curry Ketchup

Originally from Berlin, currywurst is an iconic German street food that combines bratwurst sausages with a curry-spiced tomato sauce. Usually, it’s made with pork sausage, but in this recipe from Vegan Punks, you’ll learn how to make the German favorite with plant-based ingredients instead. “It’s so quick to throw together a simple curry ketchup using basic ingredients,” say recipe developers Jess and Dan Saunders. “Plus, you’ll just need to cook pre-bought vegan sausages. You can’t get much simpler—it’s a bit of a cheat’s recipe, but that’s why we love this vegan currywurst so much.”
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PlantYou

2 Vegan Schnitzel

Schnitzel was actually invented in Austria, but over the years it has firmly become a staple in German households. It’s often made with pork or veal, but as this recipe from PlantYou proves, it’s just as tasty when it’s made with tofu. “I am salivating even thinking about this recipe,” says recipe developer Carleigh Bodrug.
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Bianca Zapatka

3 German Cheese Spaetzle

Spaetzle originated in Swabia in southwestern Germany, but it’s popular all over the country. It’s often made with egg noodles, but this ingredient can easily be swapped out for an animal-free alternative. In this recipe, Bianca Zapatka swaps in egg-free noodles and vegan cheese sauce with delicious results. The best part is everything comes together in less than 15 minutes.
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Connoisseurus Veg

4 Vegan German Meatballs and Cabbage

Meatballs are another meaty German staple, but in this German-inspired recipe from Connoisseurus Veg, they get a tasty plant-based makeover thanks to ingredients like tofu, liquid smoke, and sunflower seeds. For serving, cabbage and sauerkraut are a must.
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

5 Vegan Duck Legs With Dumplings and Red Cabbage

As well as pork, duck is a popular type of meat in Germany. In fact, one survey by Civey found that 80 percent of young people eat chicken, duck, or turkey once a week. But you don’t need to eat real duck to get all the flavor and texture. For proof, just look at this mouthwatering recipe from Zucker & Jagdwurst, which transforms jackfruit and seitan into a tasty, tender duck-free centerpiece.
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

6 Vegan German Potato Pancakes With Applesauce

Another delicious dish from Zucker & Jagdwurst, this recipe will show you how to make iconic German potato pancakes with simple plant-based ingredients, including chickpea flour, rice flour, and vegan butter. “Contrary to what you might think, making potato pancakes is incredibly easy,” says recipe developer Isa Zucker.
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

7 Vegan Sauerbraten

In this recipe, Zucker of Zucker & Jagdwurst will walk you through how to make a plant-based version of Germany’s national dish: sauerbraten. Usually, it consists of slow-cooked meat, but in this recipe, Zucker once again swaps in seitan with super tasty results.
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