Himmel und Erde
Mashed Potatoes and
Apples topped with Caramelized Onions
A classic Rhineland comfort dish of apples, potatoes, and onions
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A Little Background
“Himmel und Erde” — Heaven and Earth — gets its poetic name from the two worlds on the plate: apples from the trees (heaven) and potatoes from the soil (earth). While in most of Germany potatoes are called Kartoffel, they are also called “Erdapfel” or earth apple. The french do the same calling apples “Pomme de Terre” (apples of the earrth).
It’s been a beloved German comfort food for centuries, especially in the Rhineland, where it’s often served with bratwurst or blood sausage. The magic is in the sweet‑savory contrast: soft apples, buttery potatoes, and deeply browned onions all mingling together.
My friend Gloria gave me this recipe a while back and I make it in many styles now even making
it a full meal with just a bit of bacon, or a smoked brat, or what ever I have on hand.
Prep
Step 1
Chop the potatoes and apples.
Also slice the onions and chop the bacon.
Step 2
Cook the potatoes and apples together,
another method is to fry the apples separate.
I actually prefer this method as the apples keep their shape and you either fold them in
or top the mashed potatoes with them.
Step 3
While the potatoes and apples are cooking, fry the onion rings with the bacon.
You can add a touch of sugar to help caramelize the onions.
Step 4
When the potatoes and apples are soft mash them,
together with a little butter and cream if you want.
Even apple juice works well.
Step 5
The caramelized onions and bacon goes on top of the mashed potatoes and apples.
This goes well with ham, or pork chop. This is a Kassler Ripchen which is a smoked pork chop done
German style, simmered with saurkraut.
Here is the recipe for the Kassler Ripchen
Step 6
Here I sauted the apples with the onions and finished it with apple slices
that were cooked for only a few minutes to heat and soften.
Another lower carb option is to cook half cauliflower and half potatoes.
Here I cut the potatoes very thin so they will soften together.
Another option is to add some cooked cabbage in the mash.
You can also add spinach or other greens to the mashed.
Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth)
Equipment
- Sauce pan for cooking potatoes and apples
- Skillet for caramelizing onions
- Potato Masher
Ingredients
- Potatoes 1½ pounds, Russet or Yukon Gold or similar
- Apples 3 medium tart‑sweet varieties such as Braeburn or Honeycrisp, peeled and sliced
- Butter 2 tablespoons for the apples
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Milk or cream a splash if you prefer a smoother mash
- Onions 2 large, thinly sliced
- Butter or oil 2 tablespoons for the onions
- 2 strips Bacon
- A pinch of sugar to help the onions caramelize
- Sausages for serving such as bratwurst, smoked sausage, or traditional Blutwurst
- Fresh parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
- When the potatoes and apples are soft mash them,together with a little butter and cream if you want.Even apple juice works well.
- Slice the onions and chop the bacon
- Chop the potatoes and apples.
- Cook the potatoes and apples together,
- another method is to fry the apples separate.
- I actually prefert this method as the apples keep their shape and you either fold them in
- or top the mashed potatoes with them.
- While the potatoes and apples are cooking, fry the onion rings with the bacon.
- You can add a touch of sugar to help caramelize the onions.
- When the potatoes and apples are soft mash them,
- together with a little butter and cream if you want.
- Even apple juice works well.
- The caramelized onions and bacon goes on top of the mashed potatoes and apples.
- This goes well with ham, or pork chop. This is a Kassler Ripchen which is a smoked pork chop done
- German style, simmered with saurkraut.
- There are many options to doing this dish. One is to fry the apples and onions together, and pour over the mashed potatoes.
- A lower carb option is to cook half cauliflower and half potatoes.
- Here I cut the potatoes very thin so they will soften together.
- Also you can add cabbage or other greens to the mashed.
Notes
Here I cut the potatoes very thin so they will soften together.
Also you can add cabbage or other greens to the mashed.
Final Thoughts
This dish has endless creative ways it can be prepared.
I would love to see what you come up with.
Please let me know.
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