How To Cook Bratwurst Perfectly And Some Recipes To Try

I’ve already mentioned how my boys love Italian sausage, but if you think that that prevents us from occasionally enjoying the German take on this amazing dish, you couldn’t be more wrong.

In fact, bratwurst causes just as much mouthwatering in my home as delicious Italian sausages prepared in the oven, if not more. The distinct advantage of the German version of sausages is that it is, of course, far more traditional and authentic.

In fact, Heinrich Hllerl, a bratwurst researcher (yeah, you read it right), has tracked the history of this sausage back to the Celtic tribes in the time of ancient Rome.

Weimar’s discovery of a paper (number 1432) demonstrated how seriously Germans take their sausages. Producers of sausage were required to utilize only the cleanest, unspoiled meat, and violators faced penalties.

How To Cook Bratwurst?

There are more than 40 different varieties of famous German sausage. Bratwurst ingredients vary depending on the region.

German sausage is distinct from Italian, bangers, and hot dogs because it is made with premium pork (and occasionally veal and beef), as well as a combination of spices including ginger, nutmeg, coriander, and caraway.

There are several methods for making bratwurst (from frying on butter and onion to cooking in a microwave). Personally, I like the beer-simmered bratwurst recipe that my family prefers.

And truly, the marriage of German beer and brats is the most natural of all, and therefore, the most delicious. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself.

How to Prepare Beer-simmered Bratwurst?

Ingredients

1. Sausages

This recipe includes eight servings, so you will need 3 pounds of bratwurst.
Since there are many different bratwursts on the market, you will have to choose the one that suits you the best. The varieties are different in thickness, coloring, length, and flavor.
Some of the most well-known types are Nurnberger bratwurst, FrГ¤nkische bratwurst, Bavarian bratwurst, Rote wurst and ThГјringer Rostbratwurst. I prefer the spice rote wurst.

2. Onion

You will need three large unpeeled onions. Chop them roughly into large slices, so they don’t lose their flavor and texture.
The onion will not only make the meal juicer, but it will also be a nice addition to the plate on its own.

3. Garlic

By smashing two whole cloves of garlic, you will make the bratwurst even more delicious. The hearty and rich flavor of garlic will excite the taste buds and complement the other ingredients quite well.

Learn: When You Know If Garlic Is Bad? & How Long Can You Storage Garlic?

4. Ginger

The pungent aroma and sharp, spicy flavor of fresh ginger can serve as a substitute for pepper, which is commonly used when preparing sausages. One piece of fresh ginger will be enough for this amount of sausages.

5. Seeds

What makes this recipe perfect is the mixture of seeds: caraway, coriander, and mustard (1 tablespoon of each).
Caraway enriches the meal with a bitter taste; coriander adds the lemony aroma, and mustard treats your plate with a spicy rustic taste and fragrance.

6. Beer

The best beer for brats is, of course, from the same country, but if you can’t find or afford German beer, you can try with any other light ale (6 cups).

7. Oil

The choice of oil is entirely up to you, but after trying several different options, I have decided to stick to canola oil (2 tablespoons).

Must Read: What Is Тhe Difference Between Canola Oil And Vegetable Oil?

Equipment And Kitchen Appliances

1. Pot

You will need a pot to mix up and boil all the ingredients. Since there are a lot of vegetables, sausages, and liquids, it would be better to opt for a large pot to avoid boiling over.

2. Spatula

It will be useful for stirring the ingredients in the pot, and if you choose a wooden one, you can put it on top of the pan to prevent it from boiling over.

3. Knife

The knife is an essential kitchen tool. In this case, you’ll use it for chopping onion and ginger.

4. Grill pan / Electric grill / Outdoor grill / Oven grid

The taste is pretty much similar, but the experience is the best with an outdoor grill.

5. Fork

It is the most efficient tool for pricking the brats and thus enabling more even cooking. You can even use chopsticks!

Instructions

Prepare the Onion, Garlic, and Ginger
Combine the Beer and the Rest of the Ingredients
Simmer the Sausages
Let It Sit
Grill

If I told you that the total time of preparing this meal is 50 minutes, you would probably give up before you even try.

The truth is that you spend about 5 minutes actively working on preparation, while the rest of the time, you’re just waiting.

1. Prepare the Onion, Garlic, and Ginger

Chop three large unpeeled onions in big chunks. Put them aside and peel and chop one 3-inch piece of ginger. As for the garlic, you don’t need to chop it into tiny pieces. Just smash two whole cloves to get the most of its flavor.

2. Combine the Beer and the Rest of the Ingredients

Pour the beer and all the other ingredients into a large pot. Before you add the sausages, mix everything well.

3. Simmer the Sausages

Put the pot on the stove and bring to a simmer. Boil brats in beer before grilling for about five minutes, until they’re half cooked.

4. Let It Sit

Remove the pot from the stove, and leave the brats to sit in the liquid for about half-hour. This way, they will absorb the precious aromas and be more delicious after grilling.

5. Grill

Preheat the grill. Before grilling brats, put them in the platter and strain the liquid into a bowl. You can discard the solids, or leave them for a sauce.
Brush the bratwursts with canola oil, put the brats on the grill, and leave until crisp and golden brown (4 to 6 minutes for each side is usually enough).

Additional Tips and Tricks

Knowing how long to boil brats in beer requires either an excellent eye or thermometer (I place more fate in the latter one). The internal temperature of the sausage should be about 160°F (71°C).
If you are planning to bake brats in the countertop convection oven or a grill in a pan after, more than 5 minutes would mean overcooking.
Serve with mashed potato, in a bread roll, or with sauerkraut.

Other Recipes for Bratwurst to Try

There are hundreds of ways to prepare bratwurst, and even I haven’t tried them all out.

Here are some suggestions that merely scratch the surface of the many delicious meals that can be prepared with this gourmet ingredient:

Bratwurst & Cabbage Pockets– by Johnsonville

Johnsonville brats are stuffed with pork which makes their taste a perfect match for cabbage. Packed in these little pockets, bratwursts become ideal snacks for watching a game or a favorite TV show with the entire family.

Sautéed Bratwurst with Broccoli Rabe– by Chowhound

If you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat anything green, and if they dread everything resembling the word broccoli (bok choy), this meal will sell green cruciferous vegetables to them in no time.

Homemade Bratwurst– by Food.com

Learn how to prepare meals with bratwurst, and your family will adore you. Find out how to make brats, and you’ll be a god to them (trust me on this). There are many homemade bratwurst recipes, but I find that this one has the perfect dose of both simplicity and great taste.

Cheddar Fondue with Bratwurst Sausages– by Chef Michael Moore

A modern take on this traditional ingredient is just what you need when you invite some fancy friends over after a theater play.

Let’s Make Some Bratwurst!

As you see, preparing bratwurst is easy as it is rewarding.

With so many different variations, from regional bratwurst recipes to modern experimental dishes, you won’t have to prepare the same meal twice – that is unless your family falls in love with one way of preparation, as happened to my own with a beer-simmered variation.

Try some of them out, and let me know how they came out! 🙂