O’zapft Is: Enjoy an Authentic German Oktoberfest Menu

It is the same every year.

Millions of visitors, locals and tourists alike, make their way to Munich each year to celebrate one of Germany’s biggest fairs…

It’s time for Oktoberfest!

It’s time to celebrate German Oktoberfest. The world’s most well-known fair has come – and with it, lots of savory specialties to enjoy. Foodal provides you with everything you need to know about the most traditional foods. Read on for a classic collection of proven festival recipes to awake the Bavarian inside you.

It is a great feast, and during the festival season, grocery stores offer lots of typical foods, decorations and beer – although the festivities do not affect the whole country.

Nevertheless, the prestigious event has become a global tourist magnet.

Of course, there are lots of traditional things around this celebration. Beers are served in liters while leather pants and dirndl dresses dominate the scene. The Wiesn dress code is like an unwritten law.

The Traditional German Foods of Oktoberfest | Foodal.com
Beer, Pretzels, and Sausage…the three basic food groups as defined by men everywhere. Photo credits: Shutterstock.

And where there is beer, food is not far away.

The most popular Schmankerl or delicacies at Oktoberfest are all hearty and hefty: grilled chicken, lye pretzels, Weisswurst, cheesy Obatzda dip, pork knuckle, onion tart, radish, coleslaw, potato salad, and bread dumplings are all favorites.

There’s also nothing like the perfect cheese pairing with your favorite Oktoberfest beer.

Food for Oktoberfest: lye pretzels and weisswurst | Foodal.com
Food for Oktoberfest – lye pretzels and weisswurst are staples. Photo credits: Shutterstock.

So, to allow those of you who are not able to visit Munich this year (including myself), I put together some famous recipes so that we all can enjoy a little Bavarian coziness wherever we are.

Don’t forget to make it authentic with the correct saying: An Guàdn! (or simply stay with “Cheers!”)

Obatzda – Creamy Cheese Dip

Obatzda is a classic Bavarian dish, often served as a light snack in between meals. It is a savory, creamy cheese that is usually eaten with a slice of dark rye bread or pretzels, and a cold beer.

Looking for a tasty dip to serve on game day, or to round out your Oktoberfest celebration? Try our recipe for Obatzda, a Bavarian-style cheese dip: https://foodal.com/holidays/oktoberfest/obatzda/

Originally, the dish was developed to use up leftover cheese. Although this is not the main reason for its preparation today, the recipe hasn’t changed a lot.

Keep in mind:

Obatzda should be consumed on the day of preparation, because the onions can infuse the spread with a bitter flavor after awhile.

Obatzda Cheese Dip and Pretzels | Foodal.com

Obatzda Cheese Dip – Get the Recipe Now!
It’s not impossible to make ahead, though – and I share my tips along with the recipe here.

Cabbage Salad with Warm Bacon

A savory bacon-enhanced white cabbage salad is another typical recipe to make your Bavarian experience more authentic.

Try this delicious German version of coleslaw with a vinegar dressing. Topped with crispy bacon, it will soon become one of your favs! Get the recipe here: https://foodal.com/holidays/oktoberfest/cabbage-salad-bacon/

The original dish is made of only a few ingredients with a subtle marinade of just salt, pepper, oil and vinegar. Plus, you wouldn’t want to forget about that special something, the caraway seeds.

They not only provide the characteristic flavor but also promote digestion (which can be quite useful if you think about all the other rich and hearty meals around at this time of year).

Bavarian Cabbage Salad with Bacon Recipe - Cover | Foodal.com

Bavarian Cabbage Salad with Bacon – Get the Recipe Now!

Enjoy it with some warm and crispy bacon on top as a wonderful easy meal.

Classic Bread Dumplings

These dumplings are a popular side dish to serve with savory meat dishes. They are easy to prepare and a nice idea for using up older buns or slices of white bread.

While dumplings are classically savory masterpieces of baking, southern Germany does have a sweeter dumpling more geared for dessert: the sweet Dampfnudel yeast dumpling, which pairs excellently and traditionally with a creamy vanilla sauce topping.

Use up your old bread with this German Bread Dumpling recipe. Add some onions, eggs, milk and parsley and you can create and tasty treat in minutes! Get the recipe now! https://foodal.com/holidays/oktoberfest/german-bread-dumplings/

Whether intentionally or because you couldn’t manage to eat them all on one day, here is a great way to jazz them up the next day:

Just cut into slices and fry in a pan with some butter until crispy. Really tasty!

Classic Southern German Bread Dumplings | Foodal.com

Classic German Bread Dumplings – Get the Recipe Now!

The only thing you should not do is try to heat them up in your microwave, because it extracts all the moisture and makes the dumplings dry and flavorless.

Did you enjoy these authentic recipes? Get more Oktoberfest ideas now.

Photos by Nina-Kristin Isensee unless otherwise noted, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Cover and title photo via Shutterstock.

About Nina-Kristin Isensee

Nina lives in Iserlohn, Germany and holds an MA in Art History (Medieval and Renaissance Studies). She is currently working as a freelance writer in various fields. She enjoys travel, photography, cooking, and baking. Nina tries to cook from scratch every day when she has the time and enjoys trying out new spices and ingredients, as well as surprising her family with new cake creations.

3 thoughts on “O’zapft Is: Enjoy an Authentic German Oktoberfest Menu”

  1. Yum. My husband has been sampling a variety of Oktoberfest beers, so now I’ll have some ideas for what to pair them with as he explores. It’s as good an excuse as any to sample some of these delicious recipes, ha ha. I noticed some of these earlier, and I will be back to make a copy so I can give them a try. Kidding aside, I think this will make a nice surprise for him the next time he wants to try a new variety.

    Great photos and tips, as usual. Thanks for all these great ideas. This is going to be fun.

    Reply
  2. I am looking for an Oktoberfest mustard recipe. Schneider used to make one that I loved. But no more. Please send me one if you have it. Thks. Karin Ott

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.