Where does Maultaschen come from?

Maultaschen — country of origin: Germany.

What is Maultaschen made of?

Pasta dough, minced pork, minced veal, spinach, onion, breadcrumbs, nutmeg.

Which allergens does Maultaschen contain?

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains eggs and egg products.

How do you pronounce Maultaschen?

Maultaschen (German) is pronounced /ˈmaʊ̯lˌtaʃn̩/.

Maultaschen

Pronunciation (IPA) /ˈmaʊ̯lˌtaʃn̩/

Large Swabian pasta pockets filled with minced meat, spinach and herbs — served in broth, pan-fried, or sliced with browned onions.

Also known as: Swabian pockets · Herrgottsbscheißerle

Allergens & declarations

Contains

Cereals (gluten)

Wheat

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products

Egg

Contains eggs and egg products

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Maultaschen are large Swabian pasta pockets filled with minced meat, spinach and herbs. They are a signature dish of south-west Germany and much bigger than Italian ravioli — one is roughly the size of a palm, and three or four make a meal.

What it actually is

A thin egg-pasta dough is wrapped around a filling of minced pork and veal, spinach, softened onion, soaked breadcrumbs and herbs, seasoned with nutmeg and parsley. The parcels are simmered gently rather than boiled hard, so they hold together.

Schwäbische Maultaschen carry an EU protected geographical indication. Their nickname, Herrgottsbscheißerle — "little God-cheaters" — comes from a folk story about monks hiding meat inside the dough so it went unseen during Lent.

How it's served

In der Brühe — floating whole in a clear beef broth, with chives.
Geröstet — sliced and pan-fried, often with beaten egg and onions.
Geschmälzt — served whole with browned butter and caramelised onions, with potato salad on the side.

Say which preparation you serve — broth, pan-fried or with onions. They eat completely differently.
State the filling; a vegetarian version with spinach and cheese is common and worth listing separately.
Give the count per portion (usually two to four) so guests can judge the size.

Typical ingredients

Put it on your menu with Menuella

Frequently asked questions

What is Maultaschen?: Large Swabian pasta pockets filled with minced meat, spinach and herbs — served in broth, pan-fried, or sliced with browned onions.
Where does Maultaschen come from?: Maultaschen — country of origin: Germany.
What is Maultaschen made of?: Pasta dough, minced pork, minced veal, spinach, onion, breadcrumbs, nutmeg.
Which allergens does Maultaschen contain?: Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains eggs and egg products.
What is Maultaschen also known as?: Swabian pockets, Herrgottsbscheißerle.
How do you pronounce Maultaschen?: Maultaschen (German) is pronounced /ˈmaʊ̯lˌtaʃn̩/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.