Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth)

🧂 Ingredients

• 500 g Potatoes(Waxy varieties like Yukon Gold or Desiree work well.)
• 500 g Apples(Tart and firm varieties such as Boskoop, Elstar, or Granny Smith are recommended.)
• 4 pieces Blood sausage (Blutwurst)(About 100-150g per piece.)
• 2 medium Onions(Yellow or white onions.)
• 100 g Bacon(Smoked streaky bacon, diced.)
• 2 tbsp Butter(For mashing and frying.)
• 50-100 ml Milk or Cream(Optional, for a creamier mash.)
• to taste Salt
• to taste Black Pepper
• pinch Nutmeg(Freshly grated if possible.)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the potatoes and apples: Peel the potatoes and cut them into roughly equal-sized chunks. Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Place both in a large pot, cover with cold water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain thoroughly.

   ⏱️ 25 minutes
2. 2

   Mash the potatoes and apples: Return the drained potatoes and apples to the warm pot. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Mash them together until mostly smooth but with a few small chunks remaining for texture. Stir in milk or cream (if using) until desired consistency is reached. Season generously with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Keep warm.

   ⏱️ 10 minutes
3. 3

   Cook the bacon and onions: While the potatoes and apples are cooking, dice the bacon. Peel and finely chop the onions. In a large skillet, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet. Add the chopped onions to the bacon fat and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. If the pan becomes too dry, add a little more butter or oil.

   ⏱️ 20 minutes
4. 4

   Fry the blood sausage: Slice the blood sausage into 1-inch thick rounds. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to a separate skillet (or wipe out the onion skillet if preferred) and heat over medium heat. Gently fry the blood sausage slices for about 3-4 minutes per side, until heated through and slightly crisped on the outside. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become dry.

   ⏱️ 8 minutes
5. 5

   Assemble and serve: Spoon a generous portion of the warm Himmel und Erde mash onto each plate. Top with 1-2 slices of fried blood sausage. Scatter the crispy bacon bits and caramelized onions over the top. Serve immediately.

   ⏱️ 2 minutes

💡 Pro Tips

• ✓The name 'Himmel und Erde' (Heaven and Earth) refers to the sweet apples (heaven) and the earthy potatoes (earth).
• ✓This is a classic dish from the Rhineland region of Germany.
• ✓The combination of sweet apples, savory potatoes, rich blood sausage, and smoky bacon creates a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
• ✓For a smoother mash, you can use a potato ricer or food mill.
• ✓Ensure the blood sausage is cooked gently to avoid it breaking apart.

🔄 Variations

• For a lighter version, use less bacon fat for caramelizing the onions.
• Some recipes include a touch of apple cider vinegar in the mash for added brightness.
• If blood sausage is unavailable or not preferred, pan-fried liver sausage (Leberwurst) or even pan-fried pork chops can be substituted, though this will alter the traditional flavor.
• A dollop of sour cream or unsweetened applesauce can be served alongside.

🥗 Nutrition

Per serving