Glossary of German Cooking Terms

What's more authentic than learning to cool a German Chocolate Cake using a recipe written in German? Cooks and bakers can use this German-English glossary that focuses on terms found in recipes and food preparation. It includes terms for instructions and measures as well as ingredients. If you are exploring a German recipe, you should keep this handy to interpret ingredients and measures into English.

Kochglossar (Cooking Glossary)

Key:

Noun gender: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), or s (das, neu.)

adj. = adjective, v. = verb

A

abkühlen v. cool off, cool down

abseihen v. strain, sieve (Aus., S. Ger.)

s Auftragen serving (up)

vor dem Auftragen before serving

aufkochen v. bring to a boil

aufschlagen v. beat, whip

(aus)quellen lassen v. let expand, rise

ausrollen v. roll out (dough)

ausstechen v. cut/press out (with a cookie cutter)

B

s Backfett / Pflanzenfett shortening

e Backform baking dish, tin

r Backofen (baking) oven

im vorgeheizten Backofen in a preheated oven

s Backpulver baking powder, baking soda (s Natron)

s Backrohr oven

bei 180 Grad at 180 degrees (Celsius, 356 degrees Fahrenheit)

bestreuen v. sprinkle (on)

Blätter slices (nuts, etc.; Mandelblätter = sliced almonds)

s Blech/Backblech baking tray, pan

r Brösel / r Semmelbrösel breading, crumbs

C

r Champignon mushroom (for cooking)

s Chinin quinine

e Creme cream, mousse, sauce

e Cremetorte cream cake

cremig creamy

etw cremig rühren / schlagen to stir/beat until creamy

D

s Dekagramm decagram, 10 grams (Austria)

direkt gepresst (Orangensaft) fresh-squeezed (orange juice)

direkt gepresster Orangensaft fresh-squeezed orange juice

r Direktsaft fresh-squeezed (orange) juice

E

s Eigelb egg yolk

drei Eigelb the yolks of three eggs

s Eiklar egg white

s Eiweiß egg white

drei Eiweiß / Eiklar the whites of three eggs

EL = tablespoon (see below)

r Esslöffel (EL) tablespoon

gestrichener Esslöffel level tablespoon

gehäufter Esslöffel heaped/heaping tablespoon

r Estragon tarragon

F

e Flüßigkeit liquid, fluid

e Fritteuse deep fryer

frittieren to deep fry

e Frittüre deep fryer

G

s Gefäß vessel, bowl, container

gemahlen adj ground (up) - mahlen = to grind

gerieben adj. grated

abgeriebene Schale einer Zitrone grated lemon peel

geriebener Käse grated cheese

geschält adj. peeled

gestrichen level(ed)

gestrichener Esslöffel level tablespoon

s Gewürz (-e) seasoning(s), spice(s)

Estragon tarragon

Knoblauch garlic

Kümmel caraway

Lorbeerblatt bay leaf

Schnittlauch chives

e Gewürznelke(n)/Nelke(n) clove(s)

e Glasur glazing, icing

r Grad degree(s)

s Gramm gram

250 Gramm Mehl 250 grams of flour

r Guss (Zuckerguss) (sugar) glazing, icing

H

e Hälfte half (of)

heiß hot

r Herd range, stove (cooking)

Elektroherd electric stove

Gasherd gas stove

I

r Ingwer ginger (spice)

K

kalt cold

r Kardamom cardamom, cardamon (a type of ginger spice)

kneten v. knead (dough)

kochen v. boil, cook

s Kochbuch cook book

r Kochlöffel wooden spoon

r Koriander coriander, cilantro, Chinese parsley (seasoning)

e Kuvertüre (chocolate) covering, icing

L

s Lachsmesser (smoked) salmon knife

e Lachsmousse salmon mousse

lieblich moderately sweet (wine)

r Löffel spoon

r Lorbeer bay leaf (seasoning) 

M

die Mandel (Mandeln) almond(s)

Mandelblätter sliced almonds

mahlen v. grind

fein / grob mahlen grind finely / coarsely

gemahlen (adj) ground

e Masse mixture

s Mehl flour

e Messerspitze (Msp.) knife tip, a pinch of...

Msp. knife tip, a pinch of...

r Muskat nutmeg

N

s Natron baking soda, bicarbonate of soda

e Nelke(n) / Gewürznelke(n) clove(s)

O

e Oblate (-n) wafer

s Öl (-e) oil (s Olivenöl = olive oil)

s Orangeat (-e) candied orange peel

P

Palmin Soft™ (brand name) a Crisco-like shortening

e Panade coating of breadcrumbs (for frying)

panieren to bread (for frying)

paniert breaded

s Paniermehl breading, bread crumbs

s Pektin pectin

s Pflanzenfett / Backfett shortening

s Pfund pound (metric: 500 g, 1.1 U.S. pounds)

zwei Pfund Kartoffeln two pounds (1kg) of potatoes

e Prise dash (approx. 1 gram)

eine Prise Salz a dash of salt

r Puderzucker powdered sugar

R

rühren v. stir, mix

s Rührgerät mixer, mixing machine

S

r Saft juice

e Schale peel (orange, lemon)

r Schnee meringue (e Meringe)

r Schneebesen whisk

verquirlen v. to whisk, beat

seihen v. to strain, sieve (Austria, S. Ger.)

r Seiher sieve, strainer, colander (Austria, S. Ger.)

Semmelbrösel (pl.) breading, crumbs (Austria, S. Ger.)

s Sieb sieve, sifter, strainer, colander

durch ein Sieb streichen strain, sift, press through a sieve

sieben to sift, strain

e Speisestärke cornstarch, cornflour, thickening agent

s Stärkemehl cornstarch, cornflour

r Stärkezucker glucose

streichen v. press, rub; spread (butter, etc.)

T

r Teelöffel teaspoon

gestrichener Teelöffel level teaspoon

gehäufter Teelöffel heaped/heaping teaspoon

r Teig dough, mixture

der Germteig yeast dough (Austria)

der Hefeteig yeast dough

den Teig gehen lassen let the dough rise

e Terrine terrine, soup tureen

TL = teaspoon (see above)

U

überbacken au gratin ("baked over")

unbehandelt natural, organic

eine unbehandelte Limette a natural lime (untreated with pesticides, etc.)

unterheben to fold in (ingredients)

unter Zugabe von... while adding...

V

e Vanillestange vanilla pod

r Vanillezucker vanilla-flavored sugar

verfeinern v. refine

verquirlen v. to whisk, beat until foamy

vorgeheizt preheated

im vorgeheizten Backofen in a preheated oven

W

s Wasserbad double boiler

im Wasserbad in a double boiler

wiegen, abwiegen v. weigh

würzen v. season, add seasoning/spices

Z

ziehen v. steep, simmer, marinade

s Ziehfett/Pflanzenfett shortening (Crisco = Palmin Soft)

r Zimt cinnamon

e Zitrone (-n) lemon(s)

s Zitronat (-e) candied lemon peel, citron

e Zubereitung preparation (directions)

zusetzen v. add (to)

e Zutat (Zutaten) ingredient(s)