View source for Maultasche

{{Expand German|topic=cult|Maultaschen|date=September 2021}}
{{Short description|Swabian meat-filled dumpling}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Maultaschen
| name_lang        = de
| name_italics     = true
| image            = Maultaschensuppe.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          =
| alternate_name   =
| country          = Germany
| region           = [[Swabia]]
| creator          =
| course           =
| type             = [[Pasta]]
| served           =
| main_ingredient  = Pasta dough, [[Ground meat|minced meat]], [[smoked meat]], [[spinach]], [[bread crumbs]], [[onion]]s
| variations       =
| calories         =
| other            =
}}

'''{{lang|de|Maultaschen}}''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmaʊ̯lˌtaʃn̩|lang|De-Maultaschen.ogg}}; singular '''''Maultasche''''' {{pronunciation|De-Maultasche.ogg|listen|(|help=no}}, {{lit|mouth pockets}}) are large meat-filled [[dumpling]]s in [[Swabian cuisine]]. They consist of sheets of [[pasta]] dough filled with [[Ground meat|minced meat]], [[smoked meat]], [[spinach]], bread crumbs and [[onion]]s, and flavored with herbs and spices such as [[black pepper]], [[parsley]] and [[nutmeg]]. {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} are typically {{convert|8-12|cm|in|abbr=off|frac=2}} across. They are square or rectangular in shape.

On 22 October 2009, the European Union recognized {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} (''{{lang|de|Schwäbische Maultaschen}}'' or ''{{lang|de|Schwäbische Suppenmaultaschen}}'') as a [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union|'Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)]]'<ref>{{Cite web |title=GIview |url=https://www.tmdn.org/giview/gi/EUGI00000013631 |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=www.tmdn.org}}</ref> and remarked that the dish is significant to the cultural heritage of [[Baden-Württemberg]].<ref>23.10.2009 DE Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union (Gazette of the European Union) [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:278:0005:0006:DE:PDF L 278/5; Verordnung (EG) Nr. 991/2009 der Kommission vom 22. Oktober 2009.]</ref>  This measure provides protection to the integrity of the dish, mandating that genuine {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} are only produced in [[Swabia]], a historical region that was incorporated into the modern [[States of Germany|German states]] of Baden-Württemberg and [[Bavaria]].<ref>[http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160517204504/http://www.shortnews.de/start.cfm?id=795287 shortnews.de], German article accessed 05-01-10.</ref>

==History==
In Swabia, {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} are the traditional dish associated with the [[Lent]]en commemoration of [[Maundy Thursday]] and [[Good Friday]].  During Lent, [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] and other Christians are encouraged to refrain from eating meat.  However, {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} are humorously associated with these days because the meat in the dish is concealed under the pasta dough and cannot be seen by God.  Among the anecdotal stories regarding the origin of the dish, one claims that {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} were created by the [[Cistercian]] [[monk]]s of [[Maulbronn Abbey]] for that purpose.<ref>(''in German'') Dierig, Von Carsten. [https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article3170731/Ein-schwaebisches-Nationalgericht-erobert-das-Kuehlregal.html "Ein schwäbisches Nationalgericht erobert das Kühlregal: Das Familienunternehmen Bürger stellt jedes Jahr 1,5 Millionen Maultaschen her - Eigene Ladenkette geplant"] in ''Die Welt'' 9 February 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2012.</ref> A [[Swabian German]] nickname for the dish, ''{{lang|de|Herrgottsbescheißerle}}'', means "God-cheaters".{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

One of the earliest mentions of the name {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} is associated with several recipes in a 1794 cookbook—however, these are recipes for sweet preparations, and not a savory meat-filled entree.<ref>Allgemeine Küchenlexicon für Frauenzimmer. II. Th. Leipzig 1794. Col. 124–125</ref>

The name {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} is a compound word and could derive from three possible meanings:  The first being that ''{{lang|de|Maultaschen}}'' comes from the combination of the noun ''{{lang|de|Maul}}'' referring to the mouth of an animal and ''{{lang|de|Tasche}}'', which means "pocket" or "bag."  Thus, {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} literally would mean "[[feedbag]]"—as in a bag used for feeding livestock—and probably derives this name from its appearance. In Swiss dialects "Mul" or "Mu" also just means "mouth" (despite its meaning of "mouth of an animal" in the standard language.) the same could be the case in Swabia, since they also speak an Alemannic dialect, just as the Swiss do. The second meaning could be that from an archaic word — either ''{{lang|de|Maultatzen}}'' or ''{{lang|de|Maultatschen}}''—for a "slap in the face."{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} If this were its origins, the name could be a comparison between a swollen cheek after being slapped with the shape and appearance of the dish. The third explanation might be just a reference to [[Maulbronn Abbey]] and be short for ''{{lang|de|Maulbronn-Taschen}}''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==Preparation==
{{lang|de|Maultaschen}} are traditionally prepared in two ways, either:
* ''{{lang|de|in der Brühe}}'' (simmered in [[broth]] and served like a soup),
* ''{{lang|de|geschmälzt}}'' (dressed with [[butter]] and [[onion]]s).

Some recipes for {{lang|de|Maultaschen}} use [[bacon]] for the meat filling.

==See also==
{{portal|Food|Baden-Württemberg|Germany}}
*[[German cuisine]]
*[[List of German dishes]]
* [[List of stuffed dishes]]
* [[Ravioli]]
* [[Wonton]]
* [[Kreplach]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Literature===
*{{cite news |first= Carsten|last= Dierig|title= Ein schwäbisches Nationalgericht erobert das Kühlregal|url= https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article3170731/Ein-schwaebisches-Nationalgericht-erobert-das-Kuehlregal.html|language= de|work= [[Die Welt]]|publisher= Axel Springer AG|date= 2009-02-09|access-date= 2009-02-09}}

{{Pasta dishes}}
{{Noodle}}
{{Dumplings}}

[[Category:German products with protected designation of origin]]
[[Category:Pasta dishes]]
[[Category:Dumplings]]
[[Category:Swabian cuisine]]
[[Category:Stuffed dishes]]
[[Category:Ground meat]]