Mecklenburg cuisine

Mecklenburg cuisine is typically northeast German. Many dishes in the region today, whilst retaining their original characteristics, frequently add new facets, whilst old dishes are being rediscovered and combined with current recipes.

Contents

• Fish
• Pork and beef
• Stews vegetable and potato dishes
• Puddings
• Christmas dishes
• Drink
• Beers
• Gourmet food
• Literature
• References

Mecklenburg food has traditionally been considered as rather down-to-earth and hearty. It reflects, on the one hand, the simple life of the region of Mecklenburg, long dominated by agriculture, and on the other hand, its long Baltic coastline and the abundance of its inland waters. In addition, its vast forests produce a wealth of game. Potatoes, known locally as Tüften, play a particularly important role in the region also, as evinced by the existence of a potato museum (the Vorpommersches Kartoffelmuseum) in neighbouring West Pomerania), and a variety of cooking methods are used to prepare them. Other staples are kale, known as Grünkohl and a sweet-and-sour flavour produced, for example, by using dried fruit. Although Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania have both had long, independent histories, the similarity in living conditions and landscapes in both regions has resulted in both populations having similar eating habits.

Carl Julius Weber reported in the 18th century on the eating habits of the Mecklenburgers:

"The people live mainly off potatoes, dried fruit, white cabbage, turnips and broad beans." ("Das Volk lebt meist von Kartoffeln, von dürrem Obst, von Weißkraut, Rüben und Pferdebohnen")

.