It seems you can’t find a place to hide from so-called “fusion” cuisine these days, much of it coming from chefs forcing shotgun weddings of food cultures in an effort to be original. But there are stories of unlikely true love springing out of hardship and despair, and Currywurst is one of them.
Rebuilding Germany after WWII required a lot of labor, and workers were an extremely scarce resource. So the country invited in Gastarbeiter, or guest workers, many of whom came from Turkey. It was only inevitable that iconic tastes from each of these very different cultures would hook up. Food will find a way. The currywurst has become a food stand staple and favorite throughout Germany. Serve with slaw and french fries or roasted new potatoes for a fine informal meal.
To be truly German about this, make sure to eat everything with a fork and knife, even fries. Food stands will always give you a miniature wooden fork with your basket of Currywurst and pommes frites and consider eating with your fingers to be disgusting. Fork stays in the left hand, no switching! Beethoven would never have switched hands with his baton any more than he would have used margarine.
Equipment and Supplies
- 12" skillet
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds bratwurst
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 red onion, diced
- ⅓ cup beer
- 28 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons curry powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
- ¼ cup turbinado
Method
- Grill or fry bratwurst.1½ pounds bratwurst
- Melt butter in a 12” frying pan over medium-low heat. Add onion and sauté until just beginning to caramelize.3 tablespoons butter, 1 red onion
- Pour in beer and deglaze the pan with a spatula.⅓ cup beer
- Add tomato sauce. Stir in spices and turbinado, simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.28 ounces tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons curry powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, ¼ cup turbinado, 1 teaspoon turmeric
- To serve, cut bratwurst into circles on each plate and cover with curry sauce. Sprinkle additional curry powder on top if desired.