Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are traditional Mennonite foods? ›

Here you'll find Pennsylvania Dutch classics like shoofly pie and apple butter, plus some lesser known favorites like baked oatmeal and creamy macaroni salad. And since the Amish and Mennonites both have roots in Germany and across Eastern Europe, we've also included recipes for borscht, kielbasa, and cabbage.

They practiced preserving their foods and growing their own meat. Their resources shaped their diet, which is why we still see delicious bread, hearty vegetables, creamy potatoes, and large variations of meat in their traditions today.

In fact, they eat lots of things in soup form—even breakfast! A typical Amish breakfast includes coffee soup, a bowl of creamed coffee served with freshly baked bread for dunking.

Many Mennonites are farmers, and traditionally their diets rely heavily on meat, eggs, dairy and seasonal produce. One recipe book — “The Mennonite Community Cookbook” — has been called the “grandmother” of all Mennonite cookbooks and has taken residence in Mennonite kitchens for generations.

Shoofly pie is a traditional sweet breakfast dish in Amish communities. It's made from molasses combined with water, baking soda, and flour poured into a pie shell and topped with a layer of crumb comprising flour, butter, sugar, and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.

Since many Mennonites live on farms, they are more likely to eat food grown from the land and the animals on the farm. These animals usually consist of beef, chicken, and pork. These products are grown on their farms so as not to use modern packaging such as plastics or the chemicals that plastics include.

Amish recipes are simple yet flavorful, making them perfect for a home-cooked meal. Daily dishes often include hearty meats such as pork chops, ham, roast beef, or meatloaf; dairy products like eggs and cheese; potatoes and vegetables; and desserts like shoofly pie or doughnuts.

According to the Amish 365 website, pizza is a favorite for Amish families. “The Amish have had a long love affair with pizza,” the site, which focuses on Amish and Mennonite recipes and culture, states.

A typical lunch might include a sandwich, fruit, celery, and milk. During the colder winter months, the schoolteacher might use the stove in the schoolhouse to heat up hot items for the children to eat at lunch.

The Amish don't have any eating restrictions or rules. Individuals can eat anywhere, ranging from large food chains to local restaurants. Discover Amish-owned restaurants in Lancaster County and dive into an array of delectable meals.

Do Amish eat potato chips? ›

Snack foods include homemade cookies because there are usually some around. They also like potato chips and pretzels, and a lot of popcorn is made.

They also enjoyed non-alcoholic drinks such as peppermint water and garden tea for refreshment on hot summer days. As the Evangelical movement grew, strict temperance became the dominant view, especially among Mennonites and Brethren.

The short answer is humility. In some Old Order and Conservative Mennonite communities the hats are worn on Sundays. A man keeping his head covered is a sign of his being humble before God. Colorful clothes are seen as a way to stand out and be “showy.” So, black is a deliberate attempt to avoid that.

Unlike the Amish, Mennonites are not prohibited from using motorized vehicles. In addition, Mennonites are also allowed to use electricity and telephones in their homes. When it comes to their beliefs, the Amish and Mennonite faiths are very similar. The differences lie mainly in the outward practice of those beliefs.

Traditionally, Mennonites sought to continue the beliefs of early Christianity and thus practice the lovefeast (which includes footwashing, the holy kiss and communion), headcovering, nonresistance, the sharing of possessions and nonconformity to the world; these things are heavily emphasized in Old Order Mennonite and ...

And they all said, au contraire, mein herr. Mennonites love coffee.

Supper is usually served around 5:00 p.m. once the husband and older children have all arrived home after their workday.