Germany By Food Enthusiasts · 6 min read

National Dish Germany: Heaven and Earth (Recipe)

Heaven and Earth with mashed potato, apple sauce, fried onions and blood sausage

In this article

Discover Heaven and Earth, one of Germany’s most comforting traditional dishes! Known in German as Himmel und Erde, it brings together smooth mashed potato and sweet apple sauce on a single plate, crowned with golden fried onions and, classically, a slice of blood sausage. The contrast of earthy and fruity, savoury and sweet, makes it a real treat on a chilly evening. Hearty yet humble, it is a much-loved staple of the Rhineland that is wonderfully easy to recreate at home.

About Heaven and Earth

Heaven and Earth is a traditional German dish built around two simple components: creamy mashed potato — the “earth” — and fruity apple sauce — the “heaven”. It is most often served with blood sausage or a generous tangle of fried onions, and it is especially beloved across western Germany and the Rhineland. The charm of the dish lies in its honest, rustic character: a homely plate that balances sweet and savoury in every forkful. It remains a fixture of regional German cuisine and a firm favourite at family tables.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

300g potatoes
2 apples
50ml milk
30g butter
1 onion
Salt and pepper
Optional side: blood sausage or a vegetarian alternative

Shopping for the ingredients

For this recipe you will need fresh staples such as potatoes and apples, both of which you can pick up at any supermarket or at a weekly farmers’ market. It is worth paying attention to the quality of the potatoes and apples, as they have a real bearing on the final flavour of the dish. Floury potatoes give the smoothest mash, while a slightly tart cooking apple lends the sauce a pleasant freshness. If you plan to include blood sausage, a good butcher will have the best quality.

Preparing the dish

Begin by peeling the potatoes and cutting them into small, even pieces so they cook through quickly. Peel and core the apples and chop them into small pieces as well. The onion should be sliced into fine rings, ready to fry to a golden finish. A little preparation up front keeps everything moving smoothly once you start cooking, so the mash and the apple sauce come together at the same time.

Step-by-step instructions

Put the potatoes into a pan of salted water and boil for about 15–20 minutes, until tender.
Meanwhile, cook the apple pieces in a separate pan with a little water until soft.
Drain the cooked potatoes and mash them with the milk and butter into a fine purée. Season with salt and pepper.
Purée the softened apples to make a smooth apple sauce.
Fry the onion rings in a little oil until golden brown.
If using, fry the blood sausage or the vegetarian alternative.
Arrange the mashed potato and the apple sauce side by side on a plate and top with the fried onions. Serve the blood sausage or alternative alongside.

Gluten-free / lactose-free version

Heaven and Earth is naturally gluten-free, as the core of mashed potato and apple sauce contains no wheat — just double-check any sausage you serve alongside, since some varieties include cereal fillers. For a lactose-free version, simply swap the milk and butter for plant-based alternatives, and the mash will stay just as creamy. With these small adjustments, everyone at the table can enjoy this comforting classic without a second thought.

Tips for vegans and vegetarians

For a vegan version, use plant-based milk and margarine in place of cow’s milk and butter. Instead of blood sausage, try fried tofu cubes or pan-fried mushrooms, which add a satisfying, savoury bite. For a vegetarian version, you can simply leave out the blood sausage altogether or reach for a vegetarian sausage alternative. Either way, the heart of the dish — the mash and the apple sauce — stays exactly the same.

More tips and tricks

To deepen the flavours, add a pinch of cinnamon to the apple sauce for a gentle warmth that suits the dish beautifully. Stirring a little cream into the mashed potato will make it especially rich and velvety. Take your time over the fried onions, letting them caramelise slowly for the best colour and sweetness. These small touches turn a simple plate into something truly memorable.

Adapting the recipe to your taste

You can adjust the ratio of mashed potato to apple sauce entirely to your own liking. If you prefer things on the sweeter side, add more apple sauce; for a heartier, more savoury plate, increase the amount of mashed potato. This flexibility is part of the dish’s lasting appeal, much like the easygoing comfort of a Potato and Carrot Mash. Tailor the balance until it feels just right for you.

Ingredient substitutions

If you are missing certain ingredients, there are plenty of easy swaps. Instead of butter you can use olive oil, and for the sausage you might try Vienna sausages or pieces of fried bratwurst for a change. The same fried-onion topping works wonderfully across many regional dishes, including Onion Steak and the rustic Dripping Bread with Onions. Substitutions like these let you shape the recipe around what you have to hand.

Drink pairing ideas

Heaven and Earth pairs beautifully with a glass of dry apple cider, a light red wine or a fruity white. The crisp acidity of cider in particular echoes the apple in the dish and cuts through the richness of the mash. For an alcohol-free option, a clear apple juice complements the flavours perfectly. Choose whichever suits the occasion, and the meal will feel all the more complete.

Serving and presentation ideas

Serve Heaven and Earth on an attractive white plate to let the contrasting colours stand out. Garnish the dish with fresh herbs such as parsley or chives, and add a few apple slices as a decorative finishing touch. Keeping the mash and the apple sauce in clearly separate mounds, with the golden onions on top, makes for an inviting, homely presentation that does justice to its rustic roots.

A bit of history

Heaven and Earth has a long tradition in German cooking and originates in the Rhineland. The name comes straight from its two main ingredients: “heaven” refers to the apples, which grow up on the trees, and “earth” to the potatoes, which grow beneath the ground. This poetic pairing of sky and soil has kept the dish in kitchens for generations, and it remains a cherished symbol of regional home cooking to this day.

More recipe ideas

Summary: Heaven and Earth

Heaven and Earth is a simple yet thoroughly delicious dish, perfect for a hearty lunch or a cosy dinner. With the right ingredients and a few clever tricks, you can recreate this traditional German classic at home with ease. Its charming balance of sweet apple sauce and savoury mashed potato, finished with golden onions, captures the warm spirit of Rhineland cooking. Give it a try and enjoy a true taste of German comfort food.