Let’s be real. We’ve all been there. It’s Saturday evening, the shops are closing in 20 minutes, and you just realized you’re out of Atta. The nearest Indian store is a 40-minute train ride away. Do you give up and eat frozen pizza? No.
Since I joined International India Hub, I’ve been researching how expats actually survive when they can’t get to a specialty store. I recently filmed a quick Reel on this (you can watch the visual version on our YouTube channel ), but a 60-120 second video can’t tell you how to cook with these substitutes or where exactly to find them in the aisles.
So, here is the deep dive—the detailed breakdown of the German grocery aisles that every Indian expat needs to bookmark.
1. Cracking the German “Flour Code” (Atta & Maida)
For Maida (Naan/Bhature)
- Buy: Weizenmehl Type 405.
- Where: Baking aisle (Backzutaten).
- The Pro Tip: This is standard pastry flour. It is extremely fine. If you use this for Rotis, they will turn out rubbery and chewy (like chewing gum). Only use this for fried breads like Bhature or baked goods.
For Atta (Roti/Chapati)
- Buy: Vollkorn Weizenmehl (often Type 1050 or just labeled “Vollkorn”).
- Where: Baking aisle, usually on the bottom shelf.
- The Pro Tip: German whole wheat is a bit “nuttier” than Indian wheat. Hack: If you find the Vollkorn too coarse/grainy, mix it 50/50 with the Type 405 flour. This gives you the softness of Maida with the structure of Atta—closest to the Aashirvaad texture!
For Besan (Pakoras/Cheela)
- Buy: Kichererbsenmehl.
- Where: This is rarely in the baking aisle! Look in the “Bio” (Organic) section or the Gluten-Free section at DM, Rossmann, or Edeka.
- Cooking Note: It tastes exactly the same as Besan, but the texture can be slightly coarser. Sift it before making batter to avoid lumps.
2. The Breakfast Fixes (Poha & Upma)
Missing a savory Indian breakfast? The German cereal aisle actually has you covered—you just need to ignore the German labels.
The Poha Swap:
- Buy: Reisflocken (Rice Flakes).
- Where: DM or Rossmann (Cereal/Porridge section).
- Crucial Difference: Indian Poha is usually “Medium” or “Thick.” German Reisflocken are often very thin and delicate.
- Cooking Hack: Do not soak them in water like you do in India. They will turn into mush instantly. Instead, just rinse them in a sieve under running water for 5 seconds right before tossing them into the pan.
The Suji / Rava Swap:
- Buy: Hartweizengrieß.
- Where: Pasta/Baking aisle.
- The “Ja!” Brand Hack: The Rewe generic brand (“Ja!”) is super cheap and perfect for this.
- Warning: Make sure the package says Hartweizen (Durum Wheat). If you buy Weichweizen (Soft Wheat), you are buying pudding mix, and your Upma will be a gooey disaster.
3. The Dal Decoder
German supermarkets stock almost all of the lentils but the only problem is, it’s expensive there and comes in a small pack of 250 – 500 gms. You can buy lentils from German supermarkets only when there’s no Turkish supermarket around, otherwise pick lentils from Turkish supermarkets as they have wide varieties and also offer lentils in big packs of 500-5kg. Plus, German lentils often cook faster because they are processed slightly differently.
- Masoor Dal (Red): Rote Linsen. (Cooking time: 10 mins). Found everywhere.
- Chana Dal: Halbe Gelbe Linsen (Split Yellow Lentils). Found at Aldi or Kaufland.
- Whole Masoor (Brown): Braune Linsen. (Great for soups). Found at DM.
- Black Masoor:Berg Linsen. (These hold their shape really well).
4. The Lazy Hacks (Time Savers)
Instant Aloo Paratha Stuffing:
- Buy: Kartoffelpüree (Instant Mashed Potatoes).
- Why: Boiling and peeling potatoes takes 20 minutes. This takes 2 minutes. Just mix the powder with hot water and your spices (chili, coriander, salt). The texture is smooth and doesn’t tear the paratha dough. It’s also great for making instant Aloo Tikkis.
The oak Rajma/Chole:
- Buy: Canned Kichererbsen (Chickpeas) or Kidneybohnen (Rajma).
- Why: If you forgot to soak beans overnight, don’t worry. These tins cost about €0.60 – €0.80 at Lidl or Kaufland. They are pre-boiled. Just rinse off the brine (the salty water) and toss them into your masala gravy. Simmer for 10 minutes and dinner is ready.
5. Wellness & Pantry Essentials (DM is your Best Friend)
A lot of items that are “specialty” in Indian stores are “health foods” in German drugstores like DM or Rossmann.
Jaggery Substitute:
- Buy: Rohrzucker Pulver (Unrefined Cane Sugar).
- Where: Kaufland or large Edekas.
- Taste: It has that caramel/molasses flavor perfect for tea or sweet dishes, even if it lacks the solid “block” form.
Cooking Oil:
- Buy: Erdnussöl (Peanut Oil).
- Where: Aldi (often cheaper here).
- Note: Germans use this for frying because of the high smoke point—just like we do at home.
Isabgol:
- Buy: Flohsamenschalen.
- Where: DM (Health/Digestion aisle).
- Price: This is often cheaper at DM because it’s a common German health supplement!
6. The Fresh Section (Herbs & Chillies)
This is where most of us struggle because German produce is very mild.
Fresh Coriander (Dhania):
- Buy: Koriander Topf (Potted Plant).
- The Hack: Don’t buy the tiny plastic packets of cut coriander—they cost €1.50 and have about 4 stems. Buy the entire potted plant in the vegetable section for the same price. Keep it on your windowsill and water it; it lasts way longer!
Green Chillies:
- Buy: Peperoni Mix (usually Turkish or Spanish origin).
- The Reality: The standard “Chili Mix” packs in German supermarkets are expensive and not very spicy. Look for the bags of long green peppers often labeled Peperoni or Bratpaprika. They are milder than Indian chillies but perfect for adding bulk/crunch to curries or frying for Mirchi Bajji.
Ginger & Garlic:
- Buy: Ingwer / Knoblauch-Paste.
- Where: Vegetable aisle or tubes near the tomato paste.
- Why: If you hate peeling garlic, German stores sell convenient tubes or jars of minced garlic and ginger. They are lifesavers for quick weeknight curries.
7. The Flavor Boosters (Dairy & Baking Aisle)
Malai (Cream):
- Buy: Schlagsahne (Whipping Cream, 30% fat).
- Use: This is liquid cream. It is perfect for finishing Dal Makhani or Butter Chicken. Do not buy Sahneersatz (cream substitute); get the real dairy version.
Buttermilk (Chaas):
- Buy: Reine Buttermilch.
- Where: Dairy aisle, near milk.
- Use: It tastes exactly like Chaas. Just add salt, roasted cumin (Jeera), and coriander. It’s also much cheaper than buying yogurt drinks.
Desiccated Coconut (Nariyal):
- Buy: Kokosraspel.
- Where: Baking aisle (Backzutaten).
- Use: Essential for South Indian chutneys or Kerala-style curries. It’s usually sold in small bags for baking cakes, but it’s 100% pure coconut.
The Bottom Line
Living in Germany doesn’t mean giving up your comfort food. It just means learning a new vocabulary. While you should definitely support your local Indian grocery store for spices (German supermarket spices are way too expensive for the tiny quantity!), for most other things, your local Rewe or DM has you sorted.
Did I miss a secret substitute? Let me know in the comments—I’m still working on that one!
