Thanks for stopping by! We have our best German Soups here to inspire your next meal! When you’re looking for the best recipe ideas around, this epic list of soups will get you started in the right direction!
When we think of German cuisines, what comes first into our minds are famed dishes such as sauerkraut (fermented raw cabbage), wurst (German sausage), schnitzels (breaded meat cutlets), and German beers.
However, these food items are not representative of all German cuisines, mainly due to the vast number of dishes that emerged from the different states in Germany – a reflection of the country’s structure as a federal republic.
Thus, traveling to Germany also involves an exploration of their regional cuisines.
Nonetheless, German cuisine has stood the test of time, even amid its worst historical periods and the wall that tore the nation apart for decades.
German soups, locally known as suppe, are a common sight in their everyday cuisine and are often served as either hot or cold and as an appetizer or main course.
Their soups are often made from parts of meat and meat broth, dumplings, seafood, and vegetables.
Some unique soup dishes have also emerged through the years, such as soups made from beer (Biersuppe) and bread (Brotsuppe) – two ingredients that have been a staple on German dining tables.
Apart from these, roux, a mixture of fat and flour, is often used for the thicker consistency of their soups.
However, German suppe varies from one region to another, and travelers and food enthusiasts could have difficulty deciding on the best soup dishes to try out.
There’s no need to worry, though, as we have listed 17 of Germany’s best soups!
We have already mentioned #1 and #2, but #15 is also interesting as it is tied to Germany’s religious customs.
Here are 17 soup dishes or suppe that best define German cuisine!
Starting with the most unique German soup on this list, Biersuppe uses beer as its main ingredient.
Besides beer, cheese is also added to bring extra creaminess to this thick soup dish.
This dish is best served as a breakfast meal and can also be paired with bread.
This is also a highly popular soup dish during the famed German beer festival known as “Oktoberfest.”
Speaking of bread, Germans have also crafted their “bread soup,” locally known as Brotsuppe.
This dish consists of small slices of bread covered in a mixture of cream, beef stock, flour, butter, nutmeg, and other spices.
Germans typically use stale bread for this soup recipe, which is mainly a plus for those who have yet to consume their old stock bread before reaching the “best before” date.
Another popular Oktoberfest soup dish, Erbsensuppe, is Germany’s version of the split pea soup.
For this Berlin-style recipe, you can add certain meats such as diced pork chops and steamed Frankfurters (German pork sausage in sheep’s casing) to bring an extra bite to this hot and delicious soup.
However, patience is needed in preparing this dish as it requires slow cooking to perfection.
Germany’s pancake soup, locally known as Flädlesuppe, is similar to Brotsuppe in its main component: bread.
In this case, the Flädlesuppe mainly uses pancake strips, carrots, milk, eggs, and vegetable broth.
This dish is mainly popular in the Swabian region in Southwestern Germany.
However, its unique yet easy-to-prepare recipe makes it highly recommended for those who want a light soup dish for rainy days and cold nights!
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Goulash is a kind of meat and vegetable stew associated with Hungarian cuisine, even recognized as one of Hungary’s national dishes.
However, the influence of this dish extends to other European countries, such as Germany, where it is called gulasch.
There are many variations of the German Goulash, depending on the kind of meats, pasta, and other ingredients used.
Nonetheless, the Gulaschsuppe is best served alongside bread.
Suppe does not need to be served hot.
This German cucumber soup recipe known as Kalte Gurkensuppe has been one of their famous soup staples during hot periods.
This dish also features unique flavors brought from the combination of cucumber slices and yogurt.
This soup treat can be served with side prawns and fish meat or even with a slice of your favorite bread, such as a baguette.
Potato soup is a popular soup dish that is also one of the many crowd favorites, mainly due to the rich flavor and creamy texture in every bowl of this dish.
Kartoffelsuppe is no exception, as this German version of the famed potato soup retains all the great qualities that make this dish appealing.
However, this German recipe adds the tangy taste of lemon juice, bringing a unique spin to the already delicious soup dish.
Chervil is a kind of herb spice that is related to parsley and often has a milder taste but is still comparable to anise.
This herb is also primarily used in this German Cream of Chervil Soup, locally known as Kerbelsuppe.
While you may not find its green appearance enticing, the distinct taste of chervil and the thick consistency brought by heavy cream will make you want more of this dish!
Like the Griessnockerlsuppe, Knoephlasuppe is another dumpling soup with potato-based Knoephla, a famed German dumpling.
However, the potato dumplings are not the only highlight of this dish, as the soup is creamy, milky, meaty, and filled with lots of veggies that could make your stomach full during the whole course!
You may have noticed that some dishes featured in this list have distinctively German ingredients, and this one is no exception.
Now, this soup dish contains Kohlrabi, a German turnip related to cabbages and kale.
In terms of flavor, this soup dish blends the sweet-spicy taste of Kohlrabi and the milky texture of cream cheese.
This combination of flavors will ensure that this dish will leave a lasting impression on your palate!
As the name suggests, this German Liver Dumpling Soup features dumplings made from ground beef liver, which brings a unique earthy flavor.
However, these liver dumplings are best served with beef broth, which is the other half of this German soup recipe.
A traditional Bavarian recipe, this dish has stood the test of time, and for a good reason – it is indeed easy to prepare!
This German oxtail recipe’s main highlight is, you guessed it, oxtails!
Oxtails are what it is – the fatty and meaty tail part of oxen.
Yet, you can use tail meats of beef and veal for this recipe too!
However, this stew soup dish is also hearty and can make your stomach full with the inclusion of celery, carrots, and leeks.
As well as spices such as corn starch, lemon juice, and cinnamon that provide a rich taste to this dish.
Of course, when we talk about German cuisine, sauerkraut shouldn’t be left behind.
These fermented raw cabbages are mixed with tomato sauce and potatoes for this dish.
This results in a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and salty flavors that could attract even those who haven’t tasted sauerkraut!
Siebenkräutersuppe, known as the German Seven Herb Soup, is a staple during the Lenten season, particularly on Maundy Thursday or the Thursday before Easter Sunday.
Given its connection with this religious observance, the Seven Herb Soup suits well as it is mainly a herbal soup without meat.
Its green appearance is mainly brought from several herbs, including chives, dandelion greens, dill, leek, sorrel, spinach, and watercress.
White asparagus is different from the green asparagus vegetables we’re familiar with.
White asparagus is first boiled before adding flour, cream, butter, and lemon juice to this recipe.
Typically, white asparagus has a sweet and bitter taste.
Pair that with the creamy and tangy tastes of the other ingredients in this dish, and you already have this tasty German Spargelsuppe!
Zwiebelsuppe is Germany’s answer to the famed French Onion Soup.
However, unlike the latter, which uses beef bouillon or broth, this recipe uses chicken or vegetable broth instead.
What makes this soup unique is its presentation, particularly with the placement of bread and cheese on top of the soup, making the whole dish more enticing than ever!
The bottom line
German soup dishes, much like German cuisine in general, are wide-ranging as variations of these dishes exist from one region to another.
However, we could make some generalizations with regards to their wonderful soups.
As we have noticed throughout this list, most German suppes often use potatoes, meat, dumplings, vegetables, and beer in a distinctively German fashion!
Nonetheless, German soups are perfect for travelers and soup enthusiasts who are content to look for easy recipes in the comfort of their homes.
Due to the different variations of their dishes, it’s possible to discover more of their food items than we expect!
Still, we could say that their soups, and their cuisine in general, is a perfect snapshot of the geographical and cultural differences of every region in Germany and their ability to be in unison in their identities despite such differences!
Looking for more German food options, we’ve compiled lists of 25 Best German Appetizers, 25 Best German Side Dishes, 30 German Desserts, and 25 German Cookies that you should definitely check out.
Top 17 Best German Soups 🍲
Here are 17 of the best German Soups or suppe that best define German cuisine!
Ingredients
- Biersuppe (Beer Soup)
- Brotsuppe (Bread Soup)
- Erbsensuppe (German Pea Soup)
- Flädlesuppe (Pancake Soup)
- Griessnockerlsuppe (Semolina Dumpling Soup)
- Gulaschsuppe (Goulash Soup)
- Kalte Gurkensuppe (Cold Cucumber Soup)
- Kartoffelsuppe (Potato Soup)
- Kerbelsuppe (Cream Of Chervil Soup)
- Knoephlasuppe (Knoephla Soup)
- Kohlrabisuppe (Kohlrabi Soup)
- Leberknödelsuppe (Liver Dumpling Soup)
- Ochsenschwanzsuppe (German-Style Oxtail Soup)
- Sauerkrautsuppe (Sauerkraut Soup)
- Siebenkräutersuppe (Seven Herb Soup)
- Spargelsuppe (White Asparagus Soup)
- Zwiebelsuppe (Onion Soup)
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of German Soups.
- Choose the dish you want to recreate.
- Start cooking your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page!