Bratsourstyle Recipes

BRATS--OUR STYLE

Steps:

• Grill the brats on your BBQ grill over medium heat, turning occasionally and monitoring carefully so that you don't split the skins. We like ours a little on the darker side, but grill to your own preference. This typically takes us about 15 minutes.
• Pour two of the bottles of beer into a 9 x 13 cake pan, and place on the grill (We use an old one that we're not worried about staining or anything, but the disposable foil ones would work as well if you don't want to ruin a good pan).
• Add onions, garlic, and brats to the cake pan.
• Add as much of the third bottle of beer as possible, leaving a little room at the top so it won't boil over.
• Simmer on the grill while cooking the veggies or anything else for your meal on the other side of the grill. Start out at medium heat, and adjust down as necessary to avoid cooking too hard and splitting the brats open. They should just simmer lightly for 30-45 minutes for great flavor. Add additional beer as necessary. We usually boil until the beer is almost gone, but do not allow to boil completely dry!
• Remove the brats from liquid to serve as needed, allowing remaining brats to 'hang out' and stay hot in the liquid until needed. Serve on buns with desired toppings and garnishes. My favorite is with ketchup and mustard and cold sauerkraut, but my husband likes pickles or relish on his, and the kids are content with just ketchup, sometimes with a bun, sometimes without.
• Leftover brats reheat well if you do so slowly in the microwave. 100% power will blow them up, so procede with caution and use appropriate settings for your microwave.
• Enjoy!

BEER BRATWURSTS

Steps:

• Combine 6 cups water, the beer, onion, garlic, ginger, caraway seeds, bay leaves and cloves in a large pot over medium-high heat; bring to a gentle simmer and cook 10 minutes. Add the bratwursts, return to a simmer and cook until almost done (the meat should still be slightly pink in the center), about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the bratwursts cool completely in the cooking liquid, about 1 hour.
• Preheat a grill to medium high. Transfer 2 cups of the cooking liquid to a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and bring to a boil; cook until the butter melts, about 1 minute.
• Grill the bratwursts, occasionally turning and basting with the butter mixture, until marked and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve on rolls with mustard and other toppings.
• Sweet-and-Sour Onions
• Cook 2 chopped red onions in a skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat, stirring, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; cook, stirring until the onions are glazed, 1 minute. Let cool completely.
• Bell Pepper Relish
• Pulse 1 each chopped yellow bell pepper and orange bell pepper, 4 each chopped radishes and scallions, 1 chopped celery stalk and 1 garlic clove in a food processor until finely chopped. Whisk 2 tablespoons each cider vinegar and chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon each celery salt and kosher salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Add the vegetable mixture; toss to coat.
• Smoky Beer Cheese
• Combine 1/4 pound each shredded sharp cheddar and smoked gouda, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 cup lager beer, 2 teaspoons hot sauce, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste in a food processor; pulse until smooth.
• These toppings also taste great on burgers or hot dogs.

TRADITIONAL SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Place beef rump roast, onions, vinegar, water, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, sugar, cloves, and bay leaves in a large pot. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, turning meat daily. Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with paper towels, reserving marinade.
• Season flour to taste with salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Sprinkle flour mixture over beef.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat; cook beef until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Pour reserved marinade over beef, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until beef is tender, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Remove beef to a platter and slice.
• Strain solids from remaining liquid and continue cooking over medium heat. Add gingersnap cookies and simmer until gravy is thickened about 10 minutes. Serve gravy over sliced beef.

BARBEQUE BRATWURSTS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Fill a marinade injector with barbeque sauce. Inject sauce into each bratwurst until the skin is tight.
• Place bratwurst on the grill, and cook for 10 minutes, turning once. Serve on buns.