Himmel un Ääd (Heaven and Earth)
Apples from heaven, potatoes from earth
By RecipesQueen Kitchen • June 11, 2026
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 25 min
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
germanhimmel-und-erderhinelandcomfort-foodtraditional
Pin This RecipeA Rhineland classic pairing sweet apple compote ('heaven') with smooth mashed potatoes ('earth'), topped with crispy pan-fried blood sausage and caramelized onions. This sweet-savory combination is one of Germany's most unique and beloved comfort dishes.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb potatoes, peeled
- 3 tart apples, peeled and sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 blood sausage, sliced thick
- 2 onions, sliced into rings
- 3 tbsp butter
- salt, pepper, nutmeg
Instructions
- 1
Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- 2
Cook apple slices with sugar and a splash of water until soft but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
- 3
Pan-fry blood sausage slices in butter until crispy on both sides. Caramelize onion rings in the same pan.
- 4
Plate mashed potatoes alongside apple compote. Top with blood sausage and crispy onions.
