Bratwurst has a near and dear place in my heart. Mainly because it reminds me of Germany, which is one of the best places to visit if you love good food. German food is excellent, and its true perfection lies in its simplicity. You’re not seeing complex arrangements and layering of flavors, typically it’s one or two great ingredients that come together to deliver a great meal. The other thing I love about German food is that it’s hearty, you never leave a German restaurant wanting something else.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Germany, do yourself a favor. Go and explore a country that doesn’t really get enough tourism love. It’s safe, clean, and the food is great.
Germans are known for their sausages, and for good reason. Sausage is Germany is incredible, the best sausage I’ve had in the U.S. doesn’t even stack up to sausage I’ve eaten from a street vendor at a food market in Freiburg. They take pride in what they do over there and because of that you can taste the difference.
One of the most iconic sausages of German cuisine is the Bratwurst otherwise known as Brats in our lexicon. The name itself comes from an old German word for finely chopped meat and sausage (Brat & Wurst). The first known appearance of bratwurst occurred in the early 14th century in the town of Nuremburg which is famous for its take on the bratwurst.
Bratwurst became popular in the States by way of Wisconsin where there is a large German immigrant contingent there. Germans brought their cuisine with them and the fun loving people of Wisconsin took it and ran with it.
Typically Germans will eat the bratwurst with a hearty piece of bread and some spicy mustard, and that honestly is the best way to enjoy this sausage.
Cooking sausage at home is simple and it’s one of the more satisfying things you can make at home. Just do me a favor, parboil your sausage first. Don’t just grill your sausage, by doing that all the fat from your sausage just oozes out and burns your sausage. How many times can I say sausage in one paragraph? *6 times actually*
Recipe – Bratwurst
Ingredients
1 Package of Bratwurst
1/2 Cup Diced Onion
1 Tbsp. Crushed Garlic
1 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Pepper
1/2 Tsp. Thyme
2 Cups of Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp. Butter
Method
Pour your chicken broth in a large pot, then add your bratwurst. Bring it to a gentle boil, allowing your bratwurst to cook completely through (about 10 to 15 minutes).
Once your bratwurst is cooked, remove the bratwursts from the pot (save the stock).
In a saute pan, heat your butter first. As it begins to foam add your onions and garlic, reduce to a medium heat. Then add your spices. Stir until they begin to soften.
Now add your sausages to the pan and brown them on each side. Add a little bit of the stock back to the pan to deglaze any bits. Once you’ve browned the sausages, remove from the pan.
Serve with all the trimmings from your pan on a nice hearty roll with spicy or sweet mustard.
Enjoy!
- 1 Package of Bratwurst
- 1/2 Cup Diced Onion
- 1 Tbsp. Crushed Garlic
- 1 Tsp. Salt
- 1 Tsp. Pepper
- 1/2 Tsp. Thyme
- 2 Cups of Chicken Broth
- 1 Tbsp. Butter
- Pour your chicken broth in a large pot, then add your bratwurst. Bring it to a gentle boil, allowing your bratwurst to cook completely through (about 10 to 15 minutes).
- Once your bratwurst is cooked, remove the bratwursts from the pot (save the stock).
- In a saute pan, heat your butter first. As it begins to foam add your onions and garlic, reduce to a medium heat. Then add your spices. Stir until they begin to soften.
- Now add your sausages to the pan and brown them on each side. Add a little bit of the stock back to the pan to deglaze any bits. Once you’ve browned the sausages, remove from the pan.
- Serve with all the trimmings from your pan on a nice hearty roll with spicy or sweet mustard.
- Enjoy!
