Geraspelt

Geraspelt is the past participle of the German verb raspeln, used as an adjective to describe ingredients that have been grated or shredded. It appears in culinary contexts to indicate the form of an ingredient, such as cheese, vegetables, or spices, that has been processed with a grater or rasp.

In standard German, the more common term for grated foods is usually gerieben. However, geraspelt is understood and used in various regions and in informal speech, as well as in some recipe texts or labels. The form can be inflected to match noun gender and number, for example geraspelter Käse (grated cheese), geraspelte Karotten (grated carrots).

The term originates from raspeln, meaning to grate. It conveys the result of the action rather than the action itself, similar to other past participles used adjectivally. In practice, regional preference or personal style influences whether geraspelt or gerieben is chosen in a given recipe or description. To specify texture, writers may pair either with modifiers such as fein (finely) or grob (coarsely).

Usage notes: while both geraspelt and gerieben convey a grated state, geraspelt tends to appear more in colloquial or regional usage and in labeling, whereas gerieben is the dominant form in formal writing. Examples include: “geraspelte Käse über den Auflauf streuen” and “mit geraspeltem Käse bestreuen.” Both forms indicate that the ingredient is in grated form.