Let’s say you wholeheartedly got into the German cuisine vibe but have no idea where to go from there. We are here to help you!
Brätwurst is a type of sausage which is very popular in Germany. It’s made from pork or, more rarely, beef or veal. Its name consists of “Brät-” which comes from the Old High German word for a finely chopped meat or the modern German verb braten, meaning to pan fry or roast, and “Wurst” is a sausage.
There is a never-ending list of Bratwurst recipes online. We went through many of them for your comfort and selected only the best ones.
Today let’s explore the best ways to deal with your favorite German Bratwurst in this article.
Cook Bratwurst on the Stove
If you are a newbie in German cuisine and a Bratwurst-land, here are a couple of introductory suggestions on how to start.
First, you need to get yourself one or more uncooked Bratwurst sausages. The best practice is always to look for local recommended Butcher shops. Apply this advice to any food you buy in Germany, from veggies and fruits to cheese and vine.
To cook your Bratwurst on the stove, you’ll need:
- Bratwursts;
- 2-12 bottles of beer;
- 1/4 cup butter;
- one large onion, sliced;
- add-ons of your liking: sauerkraut, buns, stone ground mustard;
Cooking Bratwurst on the stove is the easiest way — which doesn’t make the final product of this recipe any less tasty than more challenging preparation methods.
First, simmer your Bratwursts to cook them partially. Simmering is essentially the same as boiling, but you do it on a pan. Please don’t ignore the simmering; it’s aimed at preventing your Bratwursts from splitting later.
Simmer your sausages in a deep skillet or Dutch oven with one sliced onion, 2-12 bottles of beer, and 1/2 of a stick of butter cut into cubes. Make sure that the amount of beer is enough to cover the meat.
Bring your mixture to a slow boil and turn the heat to medium-low. Simmer the Bratwurst this way for 10 minutes. Wait until they are par-boiled, i.e., partially cooked.
Finish your toothsome sausages with a pan fry in a cast-iron skillet, a quick grill on the BBQ or gas grill.
Here is how:
- Remove your Bratwurst from the liquid and clean out the pan. Take the remaining sliced onion as you will serve it alongside the Bratwurst when the mission is completed.
- Pan-fry your sausages in a skillet with a bit of oil for three minutes on each side until they become brown. Ensure the internal temperature is at least 160F.
Can you feel their delicious taste in your mouth already? Now put this simple recipe into practice and enjoy!
Bratwurst from the Grill
Let’s say you are in the middle of a summer frenzy and couldn’t care less about spending time in the kitchen. In this case, take your Bratwurst out and give it a grilling session following the recipe below!
Plus, it’s an open secret that there is nothing more delightful than sipping your German beer while your sausages grill.
Grill your uncooked Bratwursts over indirect heat for about 18 minutes, or until you notice that your sausages are almost there; almost, you don’t want them to be thoroughly cooked yet. Then, grill them for 1-2 more minutes, but this time over direct heat. The goal is to make them nicely brown on the outside. You can then keep your Bratwursts warm by putting them in beer and simmering on low heat.
Some excellent ways to serve your meal include German classics such as sauerkraut and mustard or buns and hot dog toppings to go full American.
Prepare Bratwurst in the Oven
Keep reading if you’re not into cooking or grilling and prefer your oven to do the Bratwurst job.
The first step of this recipe is preheating — turn your oven to 400F and position the oven rack in the center. Now, it’s time to take the uncooked Bratwurst of any quantity and lay it on the baking sheet. Make sure your sausages have plenty of space around. Seatbelts fastened? Then let’s start baking!
Bake your raw Bratwursts on one side for 10 minutes. Then, flip them over with tongs or spatula and keep baking for another couple of minutes (5-7 should be enough) until your oven-baked sausages reach an internal temperature of 160 F (around 71 degrees Celsius).
If you were wondering if you can add veggies such as onion or peppers and roast them alongside the sausage, the answer is yes, but remember that it’s likely your Bratwursts will take longer to brown. Nonetheless, 25 minutes in total for all that delicious craze will do.
Got Bratwurst obsessed already? Guten Appetit!