Homemade Currywurst Recipe with Curry Ketchup (2024)

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Homemade currywurst or bratwurst served with a simple curry ketchup made from store cupboard staples a true German street food legend!

Whilst you are cooking your brats the sauce can be pulled together in a single pan meaning that this whole recipe is done and dusted in well under 30 minutes.

German Curry Sausage

Street food is pure magic, it is designed to be quick to cook and easy to eat on the move.

This homemade currywurst recipe joins other delights like Langos from Hungary and of course British chippy chips.

Currywurst hails from Germany and more specifically Berlin, we even know the name of the person credited with coming up with it.

Her name was Herta Heuwer and she apparently traded some booze for some ketchup and curry powder and some other sundries and the phenomenon was born.

Her curry ketchup recipe remained a closely guarded secret and as a result, there are thousands of versions kicking around.

My recipe sticks to the idea of using ketchup and curry powder as a base. I add apple juice, Worcestershire sauce, which is a hotly debated addition and some hot mustard.

It is simply delicious and I adore this currywurst recipe. You could of course use my British chip shop style curry sauce as an alternative sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Bratwurst?

Bratwurst is a type of German sausage that vary greatly by region in Germany and are traditionally made from veal or pork or a combination of both.

Outside of Germany you will likely get a pork variant that has been pre-cooked. They are very pale in colour and just need heating through and browning.

Can I use different sausages?

Yes absolutely! This recipe is born of local ingredients combined with some “new found” ingredients and I firmly believe cooks should continue that tradition.

Food purity is not something that I treasure and I firmly believe you should embrace local ingredients.

Currywurst is great with a traditional British breakfast sausage and rocks a good beef sausage too, you could also add the curry ketchup to hotdogs. Speaking of hotdogs, you must try my wonderful hot dog pasta recipe!

What sort of curry powder is best?

I tend to opt for a pretty generic medium Indian curry powder, so nothing special. Curry powder is an ingredient that I rarely use despite cooking lots of curry recipes.

As a result, I tend to ensure that I buy the smallest packet of curry powder that I can.

What does the Bicarbonate of Soda do?

When you add the Bicarbonate of soda to the acidic sauce it produces carbon dioxide, hence the fierce bubbling.

The alkaline nature of the bicarb which is also known as baking soda neutralises some of the harsh acidic nature of the sauce and gives it a wonderfully rounded flavour.

Serving Suggestions

Currywurst is typically served over French fries, and I like to cook mine in the air fryer.

It is a wonderfully clean and energy-efficient way of creating perfectly crispy fries that is much cheaper than firing up the oven.

However, it is great with all sorts of crispy potatoes.

If frying is your mojo then you can give it a British twist by adding some chip shop style chips or air fryer chunky chips complete with salt and vinegar. It works surprisingly well.

I have also served currywurst with my crispy fried potatoes and straw potatoes.

Don’t get tunnel-visioned though, because this dish makes a great sandwich, I particularly like serving it as a hotdog with some crispy onions.

Equipment Used

I only recommend specific brands of equipment if I think that it makes a material difference to a recipe. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

  • Stovetop.
  • 24-28cm or 8-11″ frying pan.
  • 15cm or 6″ saucepan.
  • Sharp kitchen knife.
  • Chopping board.
  • Measuring Spoons.
Homemade Currywurst Recipe with Curry Ketchup (5)

Yield: 2 Servings

Homemade Currywurst Recipe

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Currywurst or curry wurst is the classic German street food with its heart in Berlin, it is a recipe that is gloriously quick and simple to make at home and that includes the delicious curry ketchup.

Ingredients

  • 400g Bratwurst Sausages
  • 1 Tbsp Cooking Oil
  • 2 Spring Onions
  • ¼ Tsp Coarse Sea Salt
  • Pinch Curry Powder

For the Curry Ketchup:

  • 6 Tbsp Tomato Ketchup
  • 2 Tsp Medium Curry Powder
  • 1½ Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 3 Tbsp Apple Juice
  • 1 Tsp English (or German) Mustard
  • ½ Tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

Instructions

  1. Heat the cooking oil in a medium (24-28cm or 8-11") frying pan over a medium heat and when it is hot cook the bratwurst. They will take around 12-15 minutes, flip te ensure that you get a nice even colour on the sausages.
  2. Whilst the Bratwurst are cooking add the ketchup, curry powder, Worcestershire Sauce, apple juice and mustard in a small (15cm or 6") saucepan and heat it over a medium heat.
  3. When the sauce begins to bubble remove it from the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda, this will immediately react with the acid and begin to bubble. Keep stirring until it stops bubbling and then set it aside.
  4. Finely slice the spring onions.
  5. Mix the salt with the pinch of curry powder and set aside.
  6. Slice the bratwurst into 25-35mm (1-1½") pieces then add a slathering of the sauce followed by a sprinkling of the curry salt and the spring onions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 890Total Fat: 75gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 46gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 2686mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 32g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Homemade Currywurst Recipe with Curry Ketchup (2024)

FAQs

What kind of curry is used in currywurst? ›

And yet, currywurst — sliced sausage topped with a tomato sauce flavoured by spices including yellow curry powder, paprika and potentially a few secret ingredients too — has been a German favourite for over half a century. It can be eaten at almost any time of day, and at any level of intoxication.

What is curry Gewurz ketchup? ›

Hela Curry Gewurz Extra Hot Ketchup is a unique recipe of tomatoes and selected spices such as pepper, chili, and paprika. Perfect for any kind of meat or sausages, and more give this ketchup a slight pour. Best before, but not expired: 11/30/2024.

What is the best curry ketchup in Germany? ›

Hela not only has the most popular spice ketchup in Germany, but also tasty sauces.

What do you do with Hela curry ketchup? ›

Hela Curry Gewrz Ketchup hot is highly versatile - perfect for use with meat, sausages, fish, fries, pasta, rice, or to flavour sauces, soups, and marinades.

What is the German spice ketchup? ›

"curry spice ketchup") in Germany, is a spiced variant of ketchup and a common sauce in Belgium, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. It is typically served on prepared meats such as frikandel, or on French fries.

Why is curry sauce called curry sauce? ›

The Word Curry Came From a Colonial Misunderstanding

No Indian language uses the term, and the closest-sounding words usually just mean “sauce.” Curry is, supposedly, Indian. But there is no such word in any of the country's many official languages.

What is curry ketchup made of? ›

1 cup of Tomato Ketchup. 4 teaspoons of Curry Powder. 2 teaspoons of Sweet Paprika. 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire Sauce.

What are the ingredients in Heinz curry ketchup? ›

Water, sugar, tomato paste (17%), distilled vinegar, modified starch, curry 2.2% (turmeric, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, white pepper, ginger, cumin.

Where is curry ketchup popular? ›

From Germany, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands and many of the other nations in Northern and Western Europe, German curry ketchup is the only sauce of choice for hot dogs, chips or a plate of sausages.

What is the difference between currywurst and bratwurst? ›

The currywurst isn't so much a type of sausage but more so a dish made with bratwurst that's first boiled, then fried, and finally doused in a sauce of tomatoes and Worcestershire and dusted with curry powder. It deserves a special mention because it's an icon of German popular culture.

What do you eat with currywurst? ›

It is typically served with a roll (Brötchen) or french fries. Pan-fry a boiled wurst or bratwurst in a little hot oil until slightly browned.

What is the number one ketchup in the world? ›

1. Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Heinz Tomato Ketchup sets the standard against which all other ketchup brands are measured. Kitchn has this to say, “Nearly all of the tasters immediately pegged this ketchup as Heinz.

What is the origin of curry ketchup? ›

Advertisem*nt: The museum, which permanently closed in 2019, explored the development of the dish, which was created in 1949 by Herta Heuwer, who obtained ketchup and curry powder from British soldiers stationed in Germany and then drizzled the combination over her street stand sausages.

Can I use ketchup instead of tomato in curry? ›

This substitution may appear a bit odd but ketchup might work nicely in some dishes if you don't have any other options. Because it has a sweet flavour, it works well as a substitute for tomato puree in meals that are designed to be slightly sweet.

Can I use ketchup instead of tomato paste for curry? ›

Yep, ketchup makes a surprisingly adequate tomato paste alternative! Since ketchup is already quite concentrated, you can substitute from the bottle using a 1:1 ratio (if your recipe calls for one tablespoon of tomato paste, use one tablespoon of ketchup).

Is currywurst a curry? ›

Berlin currywurst is one of the most famous curries in Germany. It is often served with a thicker and spicier sauce than the basic recipe, and usually comes with fries or bread. Berliners also like to add curry powder on top of the sauce. Hamburg currywurst is often served with a mustard or mayonnaise sauce.

What is the difference between curry and madras curry? ›

Madras curry always has a hot, citrusy, spicy and even herbaceous flavor. Unlike most curries, Madras doesn't rely on warm brown spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and anise. Every family in India has its own Madras curry recipe, and even store-bought versions vary a lot.

What kind of curry is Thai curry? ›

There are three main types of Thai curries—red, yellow, and green—which are categorized by the color of the curry paste. The color of the chilies and other ingredients gives each curry its distinct hue. Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chilies.

What type of curry is Madras? ›

The Madras is made up of a rich tomato base, resulting in a tangy yet spicy sauce usually cooked with beef. Though the dish is said to have been influenced by flavours from the city formerly known as Madras (now Chennai) in Southern India, the name itself is firmly a restaurant invention.

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