German fries (also referred to as German fried potatoes) is a dish consisting of thinly sliced raw or cooked potatoes fried in fat like lard, butter or vegetable oils. Bacon and onion slices are common additional ingredients. Salt and pepper are always used for seasoning, while

caraway Caraway, also known as meridian fennel and Persian cumin (''Carum carvi''), is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to western Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Etymology The etymology of "caraway" is unclear. Caraway has been ...

marjoram Marjoram (; ''Origanum majorana'') is a cold-sensitive perennial herb or undershrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. In some Middle Eastern countries, marjoram is synonymous with oregano, and there the names sweet marjoram and knotted marj ...

rosemary ''Salvia rosmarinus'' (), commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was known by the scientific name ''Rosmar ...

and garlic are optional. By the 1870s, dishes under these names were listed in American and British cookbooks. In German, they are called ''Bratkartoffeln'' (, literally ''fry-potatoes'').

In the United States

During World War I in the United States, due to Germany being an enemy of the United States, "German" place names (such as Berlin, Ohio) and the adjective "German" were often expunged from the American language; by 1918, " French fries", shortened to "fries", had won the name game in the United States and Canada". During this time, the dish was sometimes referred to as "American fries", due to U.S. opposition to Germany during this time.

Preparation

Preparation may involve pan-frying or deep-frying the potatoes and the addition of ingredients such as cooked bacon, onion and green pepper. Some versions may use thinly sliced potatoes. Paprika may be added for flavor. Whether raw or cooked potatoes are to be used, the latter either fresh or stored for some days and used only after ageing, remains a question of discussion, depending on personal taste, as well as regional influences. German fries may be served with

schnitzel A schnitzel is a thin slice of meat. The meat is usually thinned by pounding with a meat tenderizer. Most commonly, the meat is breaded before frying. Breaded schnitzel is popular in many countries and is made using veal, pork, chicken, mutt ...

, or as an accompaniment to sausages, such as bauernwurst. Some restaurants serve them as a

side dish A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.Bauernfrühstück *

Fried potatoes Fried potatoes are a dish or a component of other dishes (such as ''Bauernfrühstück'') essentially consisting of potatoes which have been fried or deep-fried in hot cooking oil often with the addition of salt and other seasonings. They are oft ...

* German cuisine *

Home fries Home fries (US, Canada), house fries (US), American fries (US), fried potatoes (UK, Canada and regional US), Bratkartoffeln (German), bistro potatoes (southeastern US), or peasant potatoes are a type of basic potato dish made by pan- or skillet ...

* List of deep-fried foods * List of German dishes *

List of potato dishes The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following rice, wheat and corn. The annual diet of an average global citizen in the first decade of the 21st century included about of potato. The potato was fir ...

References

{{Potato dishes Potato dishes German cuisine