What does schmaltzier mean?
Schmaltzier is a traditional Austrian sausage made principally from minced pork fat and flour. It is commonly served with sauerkraut, mustard, bread, or other hot accompaniments, especially in taverns and traditional Austrian cooking. The word belongs primarily to Austrian culinary vocabulary and is therefore relatively uncommon in general English. Although its name may sound like a playful or elaborate food term, it describes a simple preparation whose defining feature is the use of fat. Learning the word adds a precise piece of regional food culture: in Austria, schmaltzier is a recognizable sausage associated with hearty, rustic dishes rather than an internationalized deli product.
nounAn Austrian sausage made from minced pork fat and flour, traditionally served with sauerkraut or other hot dishes.
- An Austrian sausage made with minced pork fat and flour.
"The tavern served schmaltzier with sauerkraut and mustard."
"At the inn, we ate schmaltzier with warm sauerkraut."
"This recipe combines the traditional schmaltzier with crisp bread and mustard."
The plural is used when referring to multiple servings or individual sausages.
"The vendor sold grilled schmaltziers at the market."
Its name comes from German Schmalz, meaning animal fat—the key ingredient in this distinctly Austrian sausage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of schmaltzier
The word comes from Austrian German, combining Schmalz, meaning fat or lard, with a form associated with a fat-based food. It is cognate with English smalt only in the sense that both entered English through German; the English word smalt instead denotes a blue pigment. The culinary use developed within Austrian German and was later borrowed into English for the sausage itself.
How schmaltzier is actually used
The term is chiefly Austrian and may be unfamiliar outside Austria and German-speaking culinary contexts. It refers to a specific traditional sausage rather than a generic sausage.
Easily confused with schmaltzier
Smalt is a dark blue pigment made from powdered cobalt glass, whereas schmaltzier is an Austrian sausage.