One of the reasons I felt so nostalgic while eating Himmel und Erde is because you can only find it in the Rhineland region of Germany, although it is especially popular in Cologne. However, I haven't been able to find it at any restaurants anywhere in Mainz!
This dish has three main parts, which are the black pudding, the potatoes and the apple compote.
Black pudding isn't what Americans think of as pudding at all. It is savory, not sweet. It is made by collecting pork blood and filling it into a casing with fat, oats and barley to thicken it. This is then boiled, and when it is ready, the casing can be removed and the pudding can be eaten.
Mashed potatoes are very easy to make. First, raw potatoes must be peeled and cut. Then, after boiling them to make them soft, you can mash them!
Apple compote is also very easy to make. It is just like applesauce, but a little bit thicker and chunkier. This is because you don't have to mash the apples at all. All you have to do is cut them into little pieces, add sugar and water, then cook it all over a low heat until the apples dissolve!
Once all of these foods are separately made, you can put them into the same dish along with some fried onion and serve it. The unique combination of flavors is what makes Himmel und Erde so amazing!
Himmel und Erde is connected to the environment in two different ways. Firstly, it is a regional dish that has been popular in the Rhineland, the western part of Germany that surrounds the Rhine River, ever since the 18th century. It isn't often eaten outside of this area.
