German Mashed Apples and Potatoes Recipe

Name: German Mashed Apples and Potatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 pound yellow onions, about 2 large; 4 to 6 tablespoons butter; 1 pound apples (about 4, Boskop or Elstar); 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 2 teaspoons sugar (or to taste); 1 pound starchy potatoes (such as Russet, about 4 to 5 medium); 3 tablespoons butter (or to taste); Pinch freshly ground nutmeg; Dash salt (or to taste); Dash pepper (or to taste)

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

Servings: 2 to 4 servings

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This German recipe for Mashed Apples and Potatoes, or Himmel und Erde, literally means "heaven and earth").

The apples are the "heaven" part of the name because they come from the trees up in the sky, and the potatoes are the "earth" because they come from the ground.

Himmel und Erde is made by mixing mashed potatoes with homemade applesauce and smothering the whole with caramelized onions. There are so many variations of this, and so many German regions claim to have invented it, that any written recipe will be controversial.

Germans like to make this popular winter dish as the main part of the meal, using Boskops or Elstar apples when available. It is usually eaten with sausage and most often with Blutwurst (blood sausage) or bratwurst.

Here is a simple version which can be dressed up or down and will go nicely as a side dish to pork chops or pork loin.

This recipe can be doubled easily.

Makes 2 servings as a main dish with sausage or 4 servings as a side dish for pork.

1 pound yellow onions, about 2 large
4 to 6 tablespoons butter
1 pound apples (about 4, Boskop or Elstar)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar (or to taste)
1 pound starchy potatoes (such as Russet, about 4 to 5 medium)
3 tablespoons butter (or to taste)
Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
Dash salt (or to taste)
Dash pepper (or to taste)

Slice 1 pound onions thinly and evenly. In a large skillet on medium heat, start to brown them in 3 tablespoons of the butter.
Cook and stir until golden brown, adding some or all of the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, as necessary, to keep the onions from sticking. Depending on how brown/caramelized you like them, this will take 20 minutes or more. Set aside.
Peel, core, and chop 1 pound apples. Place them in a medium saucepan with 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 teaspoons sugar or to taste, and cook until apples start falling apart and become chunky applesauce. Add additional water as necessary.
After apples have been cooking for 15 minutes, peel and slice or chop 1 pound starchy potatoes.
In a separate saucepan, cook potatoes in salted water until tender.
Pour off water and mash with a potato masher, adding butter, freshly ground nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
When applesauce is cooked to your liking, taste and adjust the lemon or sugar, stir applesauce into the potatoes.
Serve with the caramelized onions on top.

Serving Suggestions

With blood sausage that has been sliced, dipped in flour and lightly fried
With fried German Bologna
With fresh, grilled or fried bratwurst
As a side with pork chops or pork loin

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
403	Calories
23g	Fat
48g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	403
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g	30%
Saturated Fat 14g	72%
Cholesterol 61mg	20%
Sodium 58mg	3%
Total Carbohydrate 48g	17%
Dietary Fiber 7g	25%
Protein 4g
Calcium 54mg	4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.