Maultasche

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Maultaschen in a clear vegetable soup
Maultaschen in a clear vegetable soup

Maultaschen (lit. muzzle bags, sg. Maultasche (help·info)) are a Swabian (Baden-Württemberg) specialty food, consisting of an outer layer of pasta dough with a filling traditionally made of minced meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions and flavored with various spices. Their appearance is similar to Italian ravioli, but larger, each Maultasche being about 8-12cm across.

Maultaschen are rumored to have been invented by monks of the Maulbronn monastery to conceal the fact that they were eating meat during lent. This is reflected in the semi-humorous alternative Swabian name "Herrgottsbscheißerle" (roughly: little ones who cheat the Lord).

Maultaschen are traditionally eaten either "geröstet" (cut into thin slices, then fried with onions and eggs) or "in der Brühe" (simmered in vegetable broth), usually with potato salad.

While home-made Maultaschen are often prepared according to the family's traditional recipe, Maultaschen are also available in stores. There, they are offered with a wide variety of fillings, ranging from traditional over salmon to vegetarian versions.

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