How to Make the Perfect Berlin-Style Currywurst
German · Easy · 30 min · 4 servings
The ultimate German street food consisting of sliced pork sausage smothered in a tangy and mildly spiced tomato-curry sauce dusted with extra curry powder. Born in postwar Berlin, currywurst is best enjoyed with crispy fries and a wooden fork at a street stand.
Why this recipe works
This Berlin-Style Currywurst recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 30 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 410 calories with 18g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 4 links pork bratwurst or bockwurst sausages
- 1 cup tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons curry powder divided
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the Curry Sauce
Combine ketchup, 1.5 tablespoons of curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and 2 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened slightly and the flavors have melded together. Keep warm.
Step 2: Cook the Sausages
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the whole sausages and cook for 10 to 12 minutes turning frequently until evenly browned and cooked through with an internal temperature of 71 degrees Celsius. The skin should have a slight crisp to it.
Step 3: Slice the Sausages
Transfer the cooked sausages to a cutting board and slice them crosswise into bite-sized rounds about 1.5cm thick. This allows the curry sauce to coat every cut surface of the sausage for maximum flavor in each bite.
Step 4: Assemble and Serve
Arrange the sausage slices on a plate or in a paper tray and pour the warm curry sauce generously over the top. Dust with the remaining curry powder and serve immediately with French fries or a crusty bread roll on the side.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- tomato ketchup → a mixture of tomato paste, sugar, and white vinegar for a less sweet more tangy sauce base
- pork bratwurst → chicken sausage or a plant-based sausage for a lighter or vegetarian version
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Using curry powder that is old and stale which produces a flat lifeless sauce without the vibrant aromatic punch the dish requires
- Not simmering the sauce long enough which leaves it tasting raw and thin rather than rich and deeply flavored
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 410 calories, 18g protein, 24g carbs, 28g fat, 3g fiber.
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