Eintopf
|
A typical Eintopf: vegetable soup with small meat balls | |
| Type | Stew |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Germany |
 Cookbook: Eintopf  Media: Eintopf | |
Eintopf is a traditional type of German stew which can consist of a great number of ingredients. Technically, the term refers to a way of cooking the ingredients in one pot, not to any specific recipe.
Many different regional specialty recipes for Eintopf are known in Germany; for example, the Kassel area has a type called Lumpen und Fleeh ("rags and fleas" in the local dialect), which is quite similar to Irish stew.
Preparation
Eintopf contains 3-4 basic ingredients:
- broth
- (green) vegetables
- a carbohydrate-rich component, usually potatoes or pulses, less often noodles or rice
- (optional) meat or sausage.
Beef stock, chicken broth or vegetable stock are often used as a foundation, to which the other ingredients are gradually added. These are usually cooked until soft but not mushy, resulting on average in a less homogenous consistency than an English-type stew or a gumbo, somewhat between those and the Japanese nabemono. There are thicker German stews like Hasenpfeffer or Labskaus; these would not usually be considered an Eintopf, though the technical difference is minor (longer cooking times and fewer vegetables).
Most commonly, ingredients include pork, beef or chicken along with a variety of vegetables such as carrots, peas, beans, lentil, potatoes, cauliflower, kale, celery, onions, asparagus, or garlic. Fish is also sometimes used. To bring out the flavor of these ingredients, kitchen herbs like parsley, lovage or chive may be added, as well as salt, pepper and other spices.
History
Eintopf lunches were obligatory during some days:
- Eintopfsonntag - the first sunday of a month from October till March in Nazi Germany as part of the Winterhilfe.
Examples
- Gaisburger Marsch
- German pea soup (Erbsensuppe)
- Linseneintopf ("lentil stew")
- Lübecker National
- Moppelkotze
- Pichelsteiner