 | |
| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Region or state | Rhineland |
| Main ingredients | Brown bread, butter, smoked pork sausage, onion rings and spread with spicy mustard |
Kottenbutter or Kottenbotter is a sandwich consisting of buttered brown bread or Mischbrot, smoked pork sausage ("Mettwurst"), onion rings and a spread of spicy mustard. [1] Other variants supplement pork with horse meat ("Kottenwurst") or Balkenbrij. [2] [3] The sandwich is common in the Bergisches Land region of Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Origin and nomenclature
This local, rustic specialty was the common lunch of the metal workers along the Wupper river in Remscheid, Wuppertal and particularly Solingen, [4] who used grinding wheels powered by the river to sharpen knife blades and to debur steel blanks. As self-employed subcontractors for larger companies in the city centres, they had to grind the steelware blanks under time pressure. Despite the strenuous and hazardous work on the large grindstone ( pneumoconiosis and injuries from the driving belt), a two-man operation could not afford a proper meal, [5] so the sandwich was invented as a quick meal that was still plentiful in calories.
As the workers lived and worked in grinding houses, similar to cottages (German: Kotten), [6] the sandwich was named after them. [5]
Relevance today
The Kottenbutter still appears on lists today of specialties in the Bergisches Land [7] [8] and is sometimes eaten at special, inaugural events. [9] It also features as part of a "Kaffeetafel" meeting, where a local group will gather and enjoy tea or coffee with Kottenbutter. [10] In August 2021, the Solinger Tageblatt even suggested that offerings of Kottenbutter could be an effective method for encouraging the elderly population to take the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. [11]
On the occasion of 100th anniversary of the construction of the Lüttringhausen town hall, a local butcher's and baker's collaborated to create a 32m (105ft) long Kottenbutter for a local fête. [12]
References
- ^ Stremmel, Ralf (1991). Alltag im Kreis Solingen 1823. Dr. J.W. Spiritus und seine medizinische Topographie (in German). Solingen: City of Solingen. pp. 158ff. ISBN 978-3980167994.
- ^ "Bergisches Land 2". Solingen-internet.de (in German). Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ Putra, Gisela. Kröppel, Schwert und Pillekuoken (in German). Solingen: U-Form Verlag Hermann Ullrich. p. 7.
- ^ Jim Behymer (28 March 2017). "Kottenbutter of the Bergisches Land" (in German). Sandwich Tribunal. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Das Butterbrot der Schleifer". Naturpark Bergisches Land (in German). Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Historie des Balkhauser Kotten". Schleifermuseum Balkhauser Kotten (in German). Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Cuisine of Leverkusen for gourmets. Places for dinner - best restaurants". Orange Smile. Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Bergische Spezialitäten". Solingen.de (in German). Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Neujahrsempfang des Heimatbundes Lüttringhausen". Remscheid TV (in German). 12 Jan 2020. Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Mit Kottenbutter und Bier". Wuppertaler Rundschau (in German). 14 Dec 2016. Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ Böhnke, Manuel (5 Aug 2021). "Kottenbutter für Biontech/Pfizer". Solinger Tageblatt (in German). Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
- ^ "Hinter "Bergisch Gourmet" verbirgt sich die "Kottenbutter"". Waterbölles (in German). Retrieved 1 Mar 2022.
