Schwäbische Maultaschen

Originating from Swabia in eastern Baden-Württemberg, Schwäbische Maultaschen are traditional, savory dumplings filled with ground meat, onions, spinach, and bread. This hearty dish is ideal for cold winter months and can be prepared in three ways: sliced and fried with eggs, simmered in broth, or topped with onions and butter. Originally, the dish was invented by Cistercian monks from the Maulbronn Monastery in the 1600s. Since meat was forbidden during Lent, the monks chopped the meat and combined it with spinach and herbs to hide it, while the dough was used as another layer of disguise for the meat. Today, the dish is so popular that there is an annual Maultaschen Festival held every autumn in Freiberg am Neckar.