From peta.org/living
Oktoberfest, the annual German festival, features oceans of beer, mountains of hearty food, and fun group songs.
Vegan Oktoberfest has been an option from the very start—most pretzels and beer are inherently vegan. And now, vegan Oktoberfest is more exciting than ever thanks to new plant-based versions of beloved Oktoberfest dishes. Dig into the tradition and discover some of our favourite vegan Oktoberfest recipes.
Where Is Oktoberfest Celebrated?
The mothership is in Munich, where more than seven million people gather over a couple of weeks to enjoy Bavarian food, games (crossbow competition!), quaint tradition, and rides, along with more than seven million liters of beer. That’s nearly three Olympic-sized swimming pools full of beer.
While Munich is the largest (it’s officially the biggest folk festival in the world), there are numerous other Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany and around the world. The best known in the United States include Cincinnati, Ohio, Fredericksburg, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. And you can find smaller Oktoberfest celebrations all over the place at German restaurants and beer gardens.
Oktoberfest has been evolving since it began more than two centuries ago. Today, even the main event in Munich features vegan options (although others need a little encouragement). You can even roll up to Oktoberfest in vegan lederhosen—the traditional heavy-duty Bavarian shorts.
Vegan Oktoberfest Beer
Most beer is vegan, including many made in Germany, in part because of their strict purity laws that limit the ingredients these beers can contain, banning animal-derived substances such as gelatine.
In Munich, Oktoberfest features Märzen lager and a paler Festbier. That’s it. No IPA or fruit-flavoured abominations. Just basic beer. So much of it.
It’s served in comically large one-litre glass steins that at first you don’t think you can finish, but later you wonder how you could have had so many.
If you’re not in Munich, you don’t have to stick to the traditional Märzen if you don’t want to. There are tons of vegan beers to try.
Vegan Oktoberfest Food
Germany has an active community of animal advocates, and PETA Germany has been getting a lot done for animals. So it’s no surprise that there is now plenty of tasty vegan German food to be had.
It’s easy and fun to create your own vegan Oktoberfest. You’ve already got your beer in hand, so let’s go!
Vegan Oktoberfest Snacks
Pretzels (Brezeln)
Many store-bought soft pretzels are “accidentally vegan”—just be sure to check the label for ingredients like eggs before you buy. You can also make your own with this recipe for Vegan Soft Baked Pretzels.
Bavarian Radish Salad
This refreshing radish salad is the perfect dish to accompany richer dishes like sausage and schnitzel, or eat it like they do in Munich, alongside your beer.
Vegan Oktoberfest Main Dishes
You need heartier fare to soak up all that beer (don’t ask me how I know). Fortunately, German cuisine has definitely got you covered in that department.
Beer-Basted Tofurky Beer Brats With Caramelized Onions and Hot Mustard
You can’t go wrong with this classic: savoury brats under a blanket of caramelized onions with the tang of hot mustard. The sausages are basted with beer on the grill, giving them a juicy sweetness.
Vegan Pesto Cheese Spätzle (Vegane Pesto-Käsespätzle)
Spätzle are similar to noodles or small dumplings, and you’ll see them everywhere at Oktoberfest in a variety of sauces. This recipe features a cheesy vegan pesto sauce and more caramelized onions.
Vegan Oktoberfest Desserts
Somehow it’s possible to keep going after all that food and beer. It doesn’t hurt that these vegan German desserts are just the right balance of sweet and fruity.
Apple Strudel With Vanilla Sauce
Paper-thin dough is the key to this decadent apple strudel, served with a thick vanilla sauce.
Vegan Kaiserschmarrn with Plums
Kaiserschmarrn is a traditional thick fluffy pancake that is cut into pieces and served with a seasonal fruit puree and a generous helping of powdered sugar.
Oktoberfest is a lot of fun, and it’s even more enjoyable without cruelty. Sausages and other foods made with meat contain the remains of dead pigs. Pigs are smart individuals with unique personalities who feel pain and fear, experience joy, and value their lives. Millions of these sentient beings are held captive in misery.
Everyone who goes vegan spares the lives of nearly 200 animals every year, dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint, and lowers their risk of suffering from numerous ailments, including heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and obesity.
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