want a change from pasta, you got options (in Italy)
.. and so continues the epic voyage of curry. In past posts (Curry – A World Traveler, Britain’s National Dish Is…, Curry Leaves, Curry Powder, and Asian Curry – Japan) I touched on curry and some of the roads its taken and, having been hit across the head recently with currywurst, thought it time to check this side trip out.
Curry What?
Currywurst is a German fast food riff on curry that consist of hot pork sausage (the Wurst, or the best if you like German sausage (sorry, pun intended) sliced and liberally doused with curry ketchup, that primarily consists of regular tomato ketchup or tomato paste blended with generous quantities of curry powder. If you know where to look, there are ready made curry ketchups to be found. This dish is frequently found in German fast food stalls and and food trucks throughout Germany, and the rest of the world for that matter.
Is it popular?
Does the sun rise in the East and set in the West? You bet. If you are in Berlin, it is so popular, that every mayoral candidate gets their picture taken at a currywurst stand.
Its a food with its own dedicated museum.
The perfect Currywurst – Die perfekte Currywurst from Oliver Multhaup on Vimeo.
How Did It Come to Be?
The invention of currywurst is attributed to Herta Heuwer in Berlin after World War II (although there are some claims that this dish also started in Hamburg about this time). Like many Germans they saw Americans eating meat with ketchup and decided to try to replicate the ketchup, especially as meat was harder to come by. She bartered with someone in the British sector where she obtained some of the key ingredients such as ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and curry powder. She mixed these ingredients with other spices and poured it over grilled pork sausage.
Herta quickly realized she was on to something and being very resourceful began selling the cheap but filling snack in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin where it became popular with construction workers rebuilding the devastated city. It became one of the great egalitarian dishes, and now people from all walks of life are content to eat it standing with paper plates and disposable silverware. Not to mention it is a multicultural dish at that being made of sausage (German), ketchup (American), curry powder (England by way of India), plus other special and often secret ingredients.
Fast Forward to Today
Currywurst is found and craved far beyond the German borders, as evidenced by the first photo taken in Italy. A Yelp review shows possible options and opinions for currywurst here in San Francisco. Still not convinced? I give you Herman ze German in London (the shop was presumably named after Herman Rarebell, the former Scorpions drummer), and Currywurst Brothers in New York.
Today, currywurst remains a fast favorite as a street food, Schnellimbisse (snacks), at diners, and at home. It is frequently paired with french fries or bread rolls (brötchen), and is popular all over Germany but particularly popular in the metropolitan areas of Berlin, Hamburg and the Ruhr Area. As you might imagine, variations have developed both in the type of sausage used and the ingredients of the sauce occurs between these areas, such as the addition of paprika or chopped onions.
According to the New York Times, 82 million people living in Germany, eat 800 million curry sausages a year. With numbers like that you have to be onto something special.
I thought the video, linked below was just plain fun, but see for yourself.
AEG Perfunkt — Berlin Currywurst from The D4D on Vimeo.
So, have you ever had currywurst, and are you craving some now?
Still Can’t Get Enough?
Travels Through Germany – Currywurst
Best of the Wurst – a short film about Berlin and its favorite snack
BBC – Close Up, Berlin’s Obsession with Currywurst
A lovely article! I’ve heard so much about currywurst. You nearly cannot watch one German movie without seeing them eating that treat… ,-P
Cheers,
Rosa
Although German cuisine is in our top 5, maybe top 3, I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never had a currywurst! I always get sucked into the brats when we are anywhere near Austria or Germany because they are so different than what we get the States. You’ve inspired me though. Next chance for a currywurst and it’s mine!
I don’t want to sound like the grinch here, but I am not a sausage or hotdog person; although I would not mind some boudin blanc once in a while or merguez. I love curry and honestly I should go check out Berlin (friends in Lebanon are saying to go invest in real estate there) and taste this at least once. Enjoyed the clip!
I have been trying to do this ever since I saw Bourdain rhapsodize about it on an episode of “No Reservations.”
Rosa – Glad you liked it. I know what you mean, I just watched a movie and you’ll never guess what they ate =)
Lori – I cannot believe it, you need to remedy this fast!
ToB – I know what you mean in general, but German sausage has a special place in my heart.
Carolyn – Me too!
Cool! It doesn’t sound too strange. I’m actually surprised that such a popular dish hasn’t made it over here yet. Coincidentally, I just learned about Suppenküche (one of the restaurants listed in the Yelp review) from one of my friends. It must be a sign that I should try it!
Minnesota is definitely missing something. I need to try this – by way of making my own. But who knows? Maybe I’ll come across a stand in Italy? Lived in Austria for six months and this passed me by. Fun clip!
I want to love currywurst but I have to admit that the images of the guy making the wurst sort of repulsed me. I think that I’ve given up meat for too long now. In the old days I’d have been all over this.
It is sort of fascinating how Germany took curry and made it its own. I suppose every nation or even region does that with food from elsewhere.
One of the most popular street foods over here in Germany
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I never had currywurst and from your description…yes I’d love to try it. Thanks for the information, so interesting.
Hope you are having a great week
I’m so proud of myself that I got to try currywurst.
I actually reviewed the first currywurst place in L.A. for my school, too.
I first learned of currywurst from a No Reservations episode. I have to say, it didn’t appeal to me, but then I don’t eat a lot of meat. I’m curious about curry flavors in ketchup though. That I would like to try!
Never heard of it. Amazed at the stuff you know…thanks for sharing your vast knowledge.
I love curry wurst……..and discovered the institution it was when we went to Berlin earlier on in the year! The world and its sausages….
We eat a lot of German sausages in Milwaukee, but this has never made it here. Too bad since it sounds amazing!
Sign me up for some currywurst. Very cool. I am all about sausage these days after just coming back from Chicago. Hot Doug’s the sausage emporium was sublime. I think Doug should add this currywurst to the docket.
Engaging read.
have had currywurst many times in Germany. meh… I don’t get the appeal. It was just a sausage with red curry ketchup.
Kitchen M – someone is definitely talking to you. Enjoy Suppenkuche
Claudia – You might get it in the northern part of Italy where they still serve more German/Austrian foods than what we think of as Italian – have a blast!
Stevie – I bet if you are a vegetarian it does not have the same appeal. You’re right about the cultural adoptation, how Japanese took on curry has an equally interesting story.
Angie – Really? =)
Juliana – Having a good but hectic week. Hope you are having a relaxing one.
Sophia – So did you like it?
Lisa – Yep, I see some possibilities with the curry ketchup, intriguing now that ketchup seems to be the “new” designer ingredient.
Wizzy – I bet you have me beat in the new department, sometime I would love to compare notes.
Kitchen B – You are so right, the world and its sausages
I Wilkerson – Maybe you should try making your own. Start a new trend in Milwaukee. If I ever see that this becomes the big thing there, I’ll know who started the trend!
Laz – I think he should and so happy to hear you had a good trip.
Sophia – If not currywurst, what did it for you? Any cravings? How about the other types of sausages?