Have you ever heard about the popular German dish Currywurst? For most Indians, "curry" reminds of bubbling pot of gravied goodness with homemade spice blends and may be a side of jeera rice. This inevitably makes you pause and ask, "wait, curry in Germany?" But let us tell you, the dish has nothing to do with Indian gravy. At first glance, currywurst looks simple: pork sausage sliced into rounds, drenched in a sweet-and-spicy tomato-based sauce, dusted with spice mix. Served hot with fries or a crusty bread roll, it is smoky, saucy, and unapologetically comforting. But like all most of the popular street foods, what lies underneath is far more layered - a tale of post-war grit and inventive street-side spirit.
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The Interesting Origin Of Currywurst In Germany:
It was Berlin, 1949. The city was rebuilding itself from the aftermath of World War II. Amidst, stood Herta Heuwer, a woman with a food cart in Charlottenburg and a knack for improvisation. Thanks to a barter with British soldiers, Heuwer got her hands on some foreign luxuries, including ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and that mystical yellow coloured spice mix, called curry powder.
She mixed them into a sauce, grilled pork sausages, sliced them up, and served the dish to hungry construction workers. It was an instant hit. So much so that Heuwer patented her sauce under the name "Chillup" in 1951. At her peak, she was reportedly serving up to 10,000 currywursts a week.
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A Nation-Wide Love Affair:
From that humble cart, currywurst spread like wildfire across Germany. Today, it is everywhere, from food trucks, supermarket shelves, factory canteens, and even souvenir shops. Reportedly, more than 800 million currywursts are eaten in Germany every year, with 70 million in Berlin alone.
You will also find regional takes on the dish. Berlin prefers its sausage without casing, called ohne Darm, while Hamburg loves it grilled and crispy. Some sauces include paprika, others Coca-Cola - yes, you heard that! In fact, there is even an official currywurst-themed commemorative coin minted in Germany.
Does This Dish Has Anything To Do With Indian Curry?
Currywurst is not an Indian curry by any stretch, but it does carry the fragrance of the subcontinent. In German kitchens, "curry" usually means a mild spice blend made with turmeric, cumin, coriander etc. In fact, the currywurst sauce itself is a ketchup base with hints of tang and warmth from curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and sometimes sugar.
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Final Bite:
If you ever land in Berlin, check out Curry 36 or Konnopke's Imbiss. As per National Geography, these places are local legends. Order your wurst "mit Pommes" (with fries), sprinkle on extra curry powder, and eat it with a tiny wooden fork straight off a paper plate. Add a cold beer, and it's Berlin in a bite.