Maultasche

Maultaschen (German: [ˈmaʊ̯lˌtaʃn̩] ^ⓘ; singular Maultasche (listen^ⓘ), lit. 'mouth pockets') are large meat-filled dumplings in Swabian cuisine. They consist of sheets of pasta dough filled with minced meat, smoked meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions, and flavored with herbs and spices such as black pepper, parsley and nutmeg. Maultaschen are typically 8–12 centimetres (3–4+1⁄2 inches) across. They are square or rectangular in shape.

On 22 October 2009, the European Union recognized Maultaschen (Schwäbische Maultaschen or Schwäbische Suppenmaultaschen) as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and remarked that the dish is significant to the cultural heritage of Swabia. This measure provides protection to the integrity of the dish, mandating that genuine Maultaschen are only produced in Swabia, a historical region that was incorporated into the modern German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.