Ketwurst is the East German hot-dog name formed by combining “ketchup” and the German word “Wurst,” meaning sausage.
The ketwurst originated in the German Democratic Republic and became a notable part of East German fast-food culture. It typically uses a large, skinless Bockwurst heated in water. A long, soft roll is pierced with a heated metal cylinder, creating a central cavity; the sausage is dipped in ketchup or the sauce is placed inside before the sausage is inserted.
The dish was developed around 1977 or 1978 by staff at East Germany’s State Gastronomical Research Center, partly to serve crowds in central East Berlin. It was first offered publicly in 1979 and became associated with quick-service food near Alexanderplatz.
Ketwurst is sometimes confused with Currywurst because both are German sausage dishes served with sauce. Currywurst, however, is usually sliced and served with a curry-seasoned tomato sauce. The spelling “Kettwurst” is also sometimes seen, but “Ketwurst” reflects the intended blend of “Ketchup” and “Wurst.”