German Christmas market mushrooms with garlic sauce is a dish that you can buy at the stalls of the Cologne Christmas markets, as I discovered. I bet you’ll want to make this dish at home, just like I did!
This time last year, I had just come back from visiting the Cologne Christmas Markets in Germany and had my first taste of German Christmas market mushrooms.
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I had such a fabulous time for many reasons: it was my first time at the German Christmas markets, two cousins came to visit me while I was there, and the food was fantastic.
I even wrote a post highlighting the Top 10 Edible Reasons to go to the German Christmas Markets.
You’ll see that one of those reasons is the German Christmas market mushrooms with garlic sauce. I had seen people lining up to order these and then eating them nearby.
As you can probably understand from seeing a close up of these beauties, why I was so smitten with them and the creamy deliciousness of the garlic sauce.
You probably already know that as I was eating them, I had already decided I was going to try to recreate this dish in my own kitchen.
I did ask the cook what was in the sauce and I gathered it was garlic and dill, since he didn’t speak English and I don’t speak German.
Another German recipe you may enjoy over the holidays: Zimtsterne.
The sauce I made tasted rather like the one in Germany although I didn’t put as much dill, and although mushrooms always taste good no matter how they are cooked, they definitely weren’t like the ones I had at the market. As you can see, there is some sort of reddish sauce with the German Christmas market mushrooms.
Until the time that I learn the proper way to make these, here is my version of the dish. I have made it several times now and although it’s not quite the same as eating it outside in a German Christmas market, it’s still so good!
This beautiful still life of German Christmas market mushrooms is by my talented friend, Lorna Lopez! Isn’t it fantastic? She’s fantastic both in front of, and behind the camera!
German Christmas Market Mushrooms
with Garlic Sauce (Recipe)
Inspired by a dish at the Cologne Christmas market serves 2
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- butter
- whole mushrooms
- onion
- sea salt
- black pepper, if desired
Garlic Sauce
- garlic
- heavy cream
- creme fraiche
- dill
- sea salt
Make the Garlic Sauce
Make the garlic sauce ahead of time, even the day before, if you like. Whisk the cream and creme fraîche together until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours, so the flavors meld.
Prepare the German Christmas Market Mushrooms
Sauté the onion for about 4 minutes then add the mushrooms until cooked, add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
Serve the German mushrooms with the garlic sauce poured over the top, with a slice of bread in the side of the bowl (as served at the German Christmas market).
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German Christmas Market Mushrooms with Garlic Sauce (Market Champignons)
Christmas market German style mushrooms with a savory garlic sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 8 oz package of whole mushrooms, cleaned
- 1/2 small onion, minced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- black pepper, if desired
Garlic Sauce
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1/3 cup (5 1/2 oz) heavy cream
- 1/3 cup (5 1/2 oz) creme fraiche
- 1/2 tsp dill
- 1/4 tsp sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Make the garlic sauce ahead of time, even the day before, if you like. Whisk the cream and creme fraiche together until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours, so the flavors meld.
- Sauté the onion for about 4 minutes then add the mushrooms until cooked, add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
- Serve the mushrooms, with the garlic sauce poured over the top, with a slice of bread in the side of the bowl (as served at the German Christmas market).
Notes
- Omit the garlic or dill for any dietary reasons.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 171Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 922mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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German style mushrooms
I love the Christmas markets in Europe – Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany they are wonderful. I have never tried this dish and now I have lots of regrets. I am very interested to see if someone comes forward with a recipe – which I hope you share – because I want to try this at home.
It looks delicious. Have you considered using criminis for the mushrooms. They have a lot more flavor than regular button mushrroms. I am going to make this.
Happy holidays to you!!
Dear Christina,
Great post and yes I do remember you going to Germany and all the food that you showed us. I did find something on Google, not sure if this is what you are looking for, but it may be close. Here is the link: http://germanfood.about.com/od/celebrations/r/Mushrooms_in_Garlic_Sauce.htm I am sure yours is delicious as well. Looks so good. Thanks for sharing your love of all types of foods. Hope that you have a wonderful weekend.
Dottie :)
The mushrooms look so good, love that cream sauce on them too. So nice that one of your readers knows the recipe.
You spent a year searching when you could have just asked me??? :) Yes, this is a popular dish at the Weihnachtsmarkt and Jahrmarkt throughout Germany. First of all, your version looks delicious!!
For the mushrooms served in Germany, “Champignons mit Knoblauchsoße,” the mushrooms are fried and then served with a fresh cream sauce (not a cooked sauce). I’ve never seen this particular dish made with dill (though that sounds yummy, too, and is more Hungarian in style). It’s typically made with fresh thyme. There are two keys to achieving the right flavor: The pan has to be super hot to sear the mushrooms. The second key is to use crème fraîche, and it’s usually combined with some plain yogurt. Added to the sauce is fresh minced garlic, chopped fresh thyme, salt and pepper. The sauce is made in advance so the flavors have time to meld. The mushrooms are brushed clean and quickly fried in a very hot pan with oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. A bunch of chopped green onions are added and briefly fried with the mushrooms,and then butter and garlic are added. Some, but not most, versions add sweet paprika for flavor and color (it looks like this was the case with the ones you had in Cologne). The crème fraîche sauce is then served over the mushrooms and often garnished with some more chopped fresh thyme. It’s typically served with baguettes that are spread with garlic butter and then grilled. It’s fabulous!
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! We were stationed in Germany and I never got the recipe but I think Kimberly has nailed it in her response! Thanks so much!
I can’t believe I missed Kimberly’s comment, Jan! Kimberly is a German food pro, so I can’t believe I never thought to ask her! I’m sure it’s a fab recipe. :)
Holy cow! How did I miss this?!?! I’m only seeing it now since Jan responded! Good grief, I didn’t even think to ask you, how silly is that, Kimberly! Thank you so much, I’ll have to try to make it with your recipe!
Every time I come here, I end up salivating. I NEED to try these. Preferably in Germany. (Not because I don’t want to try your recipe, but because I love to travel.) I also speak a little German! If I go, I’ll try to track down a recipe for you. :)
these mushrooms look amazing! i am so sad i never ate them while visiting the christmas markets in germany. i think i was more focused on the gluhwein back then. oops!
Delicious! I love Christmas markets and can’t wait to one day explore those in Germany.
Until then we have a great German Christmas Market in Vancouver where many of the products sold are from German, Austria and Ukraine. Some of the vendors even have German accents so it really feels like an authentic German market.
They are always expanding adding more food, both Canadian and Eastern European foods. I do hope they add these mushrooms with garlic sauce!