Is there a standard Nudelsalat in Germany?
How would it compare to a 'merkin pasta salad or macaroni salad?
Someone in another group was inquiring and I saId I'd ask you because
you're my German food expert.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
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Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> Is there a standard Nudelsalat in Germany?
> How would it compare to a 'merkin pasta salad or macaroni salad?
> Someone in another group was inquiring and I saId I'd ask you because
> you're my German food expert.

As far as I am concerned, any kind of pasta salad is an atrocity. So
much for being an expert.

In Germany, while pasta salads are certainly known well enough, they are
not really very popular and there is also no really "standard" version.
There are any number of variations, but none are remotely traditional.
Commercial pasta salads are sometimes dressed with mayonnaise; home-made
ones more ofen with vegetable oil. A relatively well-known pasta
version contains pieces of Fleischwurst (a fine-textured flavourful
sausage distantly resembling good quality American bologna). Some pasta
salads are made with Mozzarella or other cheeses. Some are made with
vegetables and mushrooms. Some with some kind of pickles. Some with a
mixture of all of the above. Nothing really definite there.

Bubba Vic

Victor Sack wrote:

> As far as I am concerned, any kind of pasta salad is an atrocity. So
> much for being an expert.
>
> In Germany, while pasta salads are certainly known well enough, they are
> not really very popular and there is also no really "standard" version.

Yeah, I don't recall ever seeing any when I lived there.
But now that I've got you here.. I used to eat the most marvelous cheese
and onion spread there that I've never been able to duplicate decently.
I usually had it when at Bundeswehr receptions and it was always
wonderful. Do you have any recipe specifics or cheese recommendations so
I can recreate this at home?

Goomba38 > wrote:

> Yeah, I don't recall ever seeing any when I lived there.
> But now that I've got you here.. I used to eat the most marvelous cheese
> and onion spread there that I've never been able to duplicate decently.
> I usually had it when at Bundeswehr receptions and it was always
> wonderful. Do you have any recipe specifics or cheese recommendations so
> I can recreate this at home?

Where in Germany? In case it was Bavaria, it sounds like it could have
been Obatzda (spelling varies). Recipes vary, too. Here is one
version:

Obatzda
for 4 persons

1 small onion
1/2 bunch chives
250 g (9 oz) ripe Bavarian Camembert
1 tablespoon softened butter
1 tablespoon beer or sour cream
1 teaspoon paprika ("noble sweet")
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
salt
black pepper

Peel and finely chop the onion. Wash, dry and finely chop the chives.
Mash the Camembert with a fork and mix in the butter and beer or sour
cream. Mix in the onions, paprika, caraway seeds, a generous pinch of
pepper and a bit of salt. The riper the Camembert, the saltier it
tastes. Arrange the Camembert spread on a plate, sprinkle with the
chives and serve, perhaps with some crusty bread, radishes and boiled
potatoes.

Victor

Victor Sack wrote:
>
> In Germany, while pasta salads are certainly known well enough, they are
> not really very popular and there is also no really "standard" version.

The standard "German pasta salad" in North America
has brown sugar, mustard, celery or caraway seeds,
carrots, cabbage, cheese, and meat. In addition
to pasta, vegetable oil, and vinegar, of course.

http://www.astray.com/recipes/?show=Mr.%20food's%20german%20pasta%20salad
http://www.therecipebox.com/members/...ad/sal0060.htm
http://www.radiowcpr.com/cafe/tfc-sa...rmanpasta.html

Whether or not any of these recipes derive from
a German (as in Deutschland) original is unknown
to me. I find the notion of brown sugar in a salad
quite off-putting.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Victor Sack wrote:
>> In Germany, while pasta salads are certainly known well enough, they are
>> not really very popular and there is also no really "standard" version.
>
> The standard "German pasta salad" in North America
> has brown sugar, mustard, celery or caraway seeds,
> carrots, cabbage, cheese, and meat. In addition
> to pasta, vegetable oil, and vinegar, of course.
>
Thankfully.. I've never once stumbled on to a "German Pasta Salad" if
that is what they are like.
I think I'll survive. <shiver>

Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Whether or not any of these recipes derive from
> a German (as in Deutschland) original is unknown
> to me. I find the notion of brown sugar in a salad
> quite off-putting.

No such thing as any kind of salad with brown sugar in Germany.

Victor

Victor Sack wrote:
>
> Mark Thorson > wrote:
>
> > Whether or not any of these recipes derive from
> > a German (as in Deutschland) original is unknown
> > to me. I find the notion of brown sugar in a salad
> > quite off-putting.
>
> No such thing as any kind of salad with brown sugar in Germany.
>
> Victor

You're referring only to pasta salads, right?

German potato salad often has brown sugar in it.

http://www.suntimes.com/recipes/sala...npotsal.recipe
http://www.potatoes.com/RecipesAndCooking.cfm?CNum=608
http://www.customcatering.net/Rec_Vege/germanps.html

Mark Thorson wrote:

>> No such thing as any kind of salad with brown sugar in Germany.
>>
>> Victor
>
> You're referring only to pasta salads, right?
>
> German potato salad often has brown sugar in it.
>
> http://www.suntimes.com/recipes/sala...npotsal.recipe
> http://www.potatoes.com/RecipesAndCooking.cfm?CNum=608
> http://www.customcatering.net/Rec_Vege/germanps.html

I don't recall having anything like that though when I actually lived in
Germany. Have they been Americanized or something?
Heck.. I can't recall seeing brown sugar for sale even?

>
> German potato salad often has brown sugar in it.

maybe what is called `German' potato salad in the States -- brown
sugar hasn't made it into my parents' place and they've made many
potato salads.

--Stephanie (from Cologne but now Colorado)

Mark Thorson > wrote:

> German potato salad often has brown sugar in it.

Not in Germany. None of the regional versions I know has it.

Victor