The German in Schaschlik

Turn on some Oktoberfest Music

Pork Schaschlik

An Oktoberfest favorite,
and
I hope it becomes one of yours also!

A Celebration of Cultures

Maybe you don't picture your grandma making this dish in Germany.
But if my German grandma was alive she would certainly have enjoyed this.

As my grandma sailed with her brother and sister and many others to America from Germany,
So did many others left their home land with their cultures and food ways and came to our Fatherland.

Many of the iconic German recipes came from other cultures as well.

The beloved
Sauerbraten was influenced much by the Romans,

Schnitzel from Italy,

Goulash from Hungary

Cookie Spices
for cookies and pastries came from the traders coming into
Nuremberg on the spice trade route.

When I think of Schaschlik I think about the spices in my grandma's
Sauerbraten, Goulash, Pfeffernusse, and
Lebkuchen and when others say German cooking is sauerkraut and sausages
I say,

hmmmm have you ever had a German Schaschlik?

2 Distinct Styles

While both styles of Schaschlik are marinated,
in sweet, and tangy spices
one is bbqued and served right off the grill,
and one is braised like a Goulash.

You can bbq them separating the meat on one skewer
and the vegetables on the other,
or
alternate meat and vegetables
serve them as is

or top them with
Schaschlik sauce.

About the Marinade

A common marinades like teriyaki, or Lemon Pepper, Wine,
but a Schaschlik, has a tomato sauce base.
I have ever heard of using a tomato sauce as a marinade.

Spices are similar to the middle eastern kebabs but
A German style I like is a bit different, using a tomato base in the marinade.

What I really love about Sauerbraten is using the sweet spice, cloves,
Bay leaf, along with sweet and sour.

Then that wonderful gravy with the sour red wine vinegar and Gingersnaps
to thicken it with.

Schaschlik also uses sweet spices in it and seems like it is in the same vein
as a currywurst sauce in that it is tomato base and can be used for a topping
and finished with a sprinkle of paprika.

Oil in the Marinade?

It also uses oil in the marinade. I always have wondered what the purpose of oil is
in a marinade.

Here is a breakdown of what ingredeints in a marinade accomplish;

Salt penetrates the meat and helps to add flavor to all the cells. Soy Sauce does as well.

Acids like lemon, lime or vinegar and wine will help break down the tissues in the meat
and tenderize.

Sweet ingredients like Sugar or honey helps to add balance to the acidity.

Oil helps to bring the fat soluable ingredients like herbs and spices to get better
contact with the meat and absorb the flavors.

Choice of Skewers

Metal or Bamboo ?

It is obvious that metal are going to be cheaper in the long run, if you are
using them a lot. You also have the clean up.

For this dish, in Germany they use a cheap bamboo so you can cut it in half
making it easier to pick up and eat like an ear of corn.

Flat or Round?

I like the flat if I am BBQIng on a grill, because they don't spin around when you go to turn
the Kebab.
I use the round bamboo ones if I am braising the
schaschlik, like beef ones as it doesn't matter if I am turning them. Also
you can cut it in half easy.

This Video below shows the Schaschlik -Dehner Food Stall
at the Munich Oktoberfest
where it got an award.

Play the video and get a good feel for Schaschlik at the festival.

Now that it is Oktoberfest season this might be a good choice!
for a get together.

Schaschlik Dehner served at the Oktoberfest Munich 2019