Beer-Simmered Bratwurst with Grilled Onions and Red Sauerkraut

by Bobby Flay with Julia Moskin
from Bobby Flay’s Boy Gets Grill
(Scribner, 2004)
Serves 4 as appetizer; can be doubled

My favorite dish for grilling or a tailgate party takes only a little more effort than plain hot dogs but is so much more delicious. Bratwursts are usually precooked, like hot dogs, so grilling crisps them up and makes them juicy.

A quick, homemade sauerkraut is very easy to make; I like mine a little sweet and spicy. I’ve infused the whole dish with warm spices — mustard, coriander, ginger, and caraway — to make your guests sit up and take notice. This dish is better than your average dog!—Bobby Flay

convert Ingredients
For the sauerkraut
2 cups red wine vinegar
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 large head red cabbage, cored and thinly shredded
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the bratwurst
3 large onions, thinly sliced
3 pounds precooked bratwurst, pricked with a fork
Six 12-ounce bottles dark beer
2 cups water
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
One 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
Hot dog buns, hoagie buns, or bratwurst buns
Various mustards (I like spicy brown, sweet-hot, and coarse-grain)

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Method
Make the sauerkraut
1. Combine the vinegar, water, and sugar in a large saucepan (not aluminum or cast-iron), bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the sugar has dissolved.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until the cabbage is soft, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (The sauerkraut can be made up to 2 days in advance, cooled, covered, and kept refrigerated. Bring to room temperature and drain before serving.)

Make the bratwurst
1. Arrange the onion slices on the bottom of a medium stockpot. Place the bratwurst on top and add the beer, water, coriander, caraway, mustard seeds, and ginger. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour.

2. When ready to serve, heat your grill to high.

3. Lift the sausages out of the pot. Remove the onions with a slotted spoon and place in a serving bowl. Discard the remaining liquid and aromatics.

4. Grill the sausages until crisp and golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes total. If you like, grill the buns until lightly toasted. Serve the bratwurst on the buns with sauerkraut, onions, and mustard.

Recipe © 2004 Boy Meets Grill, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2009 Leite’s Culinaria, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of use.