I don’t hear people talking about German cooking they way they talk about the foods of other cultures. But it’s a big part of American food culture, from hamburgers to potato salad to giant soft pretzels to herring salad (okay, maybe not so much with that last one). But German foods and cooking styles have infiltrated our kitchens and our tables with rich flavors.

Author Karen Lodder has spent her life around German food. Between her family’s dinners and her grandmother’s (Oma’s) cooking, she grew up eating hearty German food. Now, in Easy German Cookbook, she’s not only bringing tasty German meals to American tables, she’s taking the time to break down the cuisine of the different regions of Germany, so you have an idea of where the different dishes come from. She explains the different types of German beers and most popular types of wine, and she explains why there are so many different kinds of potato salad and sausages.

Then there are the recipes. These are the most classic German recipes, but written in a way that makes them accessible. You don’t need a lot of fancy or expensive ingredients or equipment. There are many that only use a handful of ingredients, or that only take 30 minutes, or where you only need one pot. There are tips for adding more flavor, using up leftovers, and options if you cook for someone who is a vegetarian or vegan.

Breakfast recipes include a Farmer’s Breakfast (eggs, potatoes, ham, and bacon all cooked up together), Homemade Granola, Apple Pancakes, or Poor Knight (German French Toast). For a hearty main dish, you can try the Roast Chicken, Chicken in Riesling Sauce, Schnitzel with Hunter’s Sauce, Eggs in Mustard Sauce, Roasted Christmas Goose, Bratwurst with Curry Sauce, Mustard Roasted Pork Loin, Bavarian Beer Roasted Pork, Pea Soup with Ham, Prussian Meatballs in White Caper Sauce, Cabbage Rolls, Breaded Veal Cutlets, or Goulash Soup.

Or if you prefer seafood, you can try the Beer-Battered Fish, Cod with Mustard Sauce, Pan-Fried Trout, or Salmon with Dill Sauce and Potatoes. Appetizers and Sides include German Beer Cheese Spread, German Egg Noodles (Spätzle), Potato Pancakes, Cold Potato Salad, Warm Bavarian Potato Salad, Green Beans with Bacon, Red Cabbage, and Cabbage Salad.

And then there are the desserts. Red Berry Pudding, Rhubarb Compote, Sunken Apple Cake, Plum Cake with Streusel, Black Forest Cherry Cake, Gingerbread Bars, and Rum Balls are all there, as are recipes for Soft German Pretzels and Stollen.

Easy German Cookbook is an easy gateway to learning about German cooking and trying out German recipes. This is a small cookbook, which works well for new cooks or for those who don’t have a lot of kitchen storage. But it means that there are not a lot of photos of the finished dishes, which is a little disappointing. But it’s a really good introduction to German cooking, and it would make a great gift for cooks wanting to learn more about the culture through the food.

Egalleys for Easy German Cookbook were provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.