There’s nothing quite like the rich and comforting flavors of German soups and stews. For Germans, food is more than just sustenance; it’s a celebration of tradition, family, and seasonal harvests.

While many traditional German recipes require many hours to prepare and cook, most German soups & stews can be made quickly and easily. However, for those of us living abroad, it can be challenging when a recipe calls for specific ingredients not commonly found outside of Germany.

This was the challenge Mutti faced when we immigrated to Canada in the 1950s. She had to experiment with ingredients that were foreign to her to try and capture that real authentic German flavor. Thankfully, her creativity and resourcefulness won out and we got to experience traditional German cuisine, including so many delicious soups and stews.

Growing up in northern Ontario, Canada, we sure appreciated a hot bowl of soup, especially during those long cold winter months! Among my absolute favorites are Mutti’s linsensuppe (lentil soup) and kartoffelsuppe (potato soup). They always bring back such wonderful memories of her kitchen.

It was there, by her side, that I learned to cook. Things like making chicken broth/stock from scratch:

As always, be sure to check out Oma’s Ecke (Grandma’s Corner) at the bottom of most recipes, where you’ll find plenty of ideas on how to make changes to suit your tastes. You’ll find many substitutes and variations that’ll give you an assortment of soups to impress your family and friends alike.

Plus, with more and more people adopting a plant-based diet, I’ve added a new section titled Sylvie’s Ecke. Sylvie is my vegan daughter-in-law, and she will share her insights on whether a recipe can be made vegetarian or vegan, with tips and suggestions on how to do so.
As a matter of fact, many German soups are naturally vegetarian or vegan, or can be easily changed to vegetarian or vegan with some simple substitutions.

Each of these wunderbar recipes has a full-color photo and is filled with tips and tricks, right from my kitchen. Many can be made vegetarian or vegan by following the suggestions given by Sylvie. 

And to make it easier for everyone, I’ve adjusted these recipes to also include standard US measurements instead of weighing the ingredients, which is the norm in Germany. Yes, weighing is more accurate; however, I think you’ll find the recipes included here work just as well when made with cups and measuring spoons.

Here’s your chance to get Soups & Stews Just Like Oma for yourself and for everyone on your gift-giving list! Pass on your German culture to your children and grandchildren. Share your love for German cooking with your friends and neighbors.

Get Oma's paperback Soups & Stews Just Like Oma asap. 

I've re-created those traditional German foods, that you recall your Oma making, by using easily available ingredients.

Quick and easy. That's my motto. Mega lecker food. That's the result.

---

Here are more of Oma's cookbooks!