Dark Beer Basted Knockwurst With Onions And Hot Mustard Food

BEER-BRAISED BRATWURST & ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet or nonstick pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bratwurst and sear until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the sausage to a plate; set aside. Add the onions and salt to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes (do not burn; reduce the heat if necessary).
• Place the bratwurst back in the pan on top of the onions, add the beer, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid, and simmer for 10 minutes (at this point the sausages will be partially cooked through). Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium, and continue cooking until the bratwurst are cooked through and the beer is reduced by about three quarters, 10 to 12 minutes more. Serve the bratwurst and onions on rolls with mustard and sauerkraut, if desired.
• Note: I use Johnsonville Original Brats; avoid any brats already flavored with beer, as the finished dish will taste too bitter. Also be sure to purchase fresh (not cooked) sausages.
• Note: Lager is a family of beers that includes bright lagers, amber lagers, dark lagers, Oktoberfests, and pilsners. I use Sam Adams Oktoberfest, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy!
• Note: The nutritional information does not include the optional serving ingredients.

BEER-BRAISED BRATWURSTS WITH ONION

Steps:

• Place mustard seeds and caraway seeds in a small resealable plastic bag and crush with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
• Melt butter in a Dutch oven or a large, heavy-bottomed pot with a tightfitting lid over medium heat. When the foaming subsides, add 6 of the bratwursts and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining bratwursts.
• Reduce heat to low, add crushed seed mixture and onions, and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened and are beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Add reserved bratwursts and any accumulated juices, nestling the brats in the onions. Pour in beer and braise bratwursts, turning once, until they are completely cooked through, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toast hoagie rolls and spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard on each. Place a bratwurst in each bun and cover with onions.

BRATWURST AND KNOCKWURST WITH RYE TOAST POINTS

Steps:

• In a medium sized pan, bring a pot of water to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, or until tender. Remove from water and keep warm, keeping the water hot.
• Preheat a grill.
• Poach bratwurst and knockwurst in salted water until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain and grill until golden brown and cooked thoroughly, about 10 more minutes.
• Cut the potatoes in halves. In a saute pan, add butter and melt. Add the potatoes and chives and cook until the potatoes are well coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Cut crust off rye slices and brush on herb butter. Grill until toasted. Cut into "points" (diagonal slices, like an "M". To assemble plate, place 2 ounces of sauerkraut in center of a plate. Place 4 halved potatoes around and slice bratwurst/knockwurst, arranging with toast points. Serve with mustard.

GRILLED BRATWURST WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine the hard cider, 1 cup of the broth and the bratwurst in a large saucepan, bring to a simmer and gently simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup broth and simmer until the onions are browned and completely soft, about 5 minutes more. Keep the onion mixture warm while you cook the bratwurst.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Transfer the bratwurst to the grill or grill pan and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Lightly grill the pretzel rolls, cut-side down. Serve the bratwurst topped with the onions and with the pretzel rolls and mustard on the side.

BRATWURST COOKED IN BEER, WITH APPLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• With a sharp knife or kitchen fork, prick each sausage several times.
• In a saucepan, combine the red onions and beer and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Add the sausages and poach until almost cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the sausages from the liquid and set aside, reserving the liquid.
• In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Add the yellow onions to the fat in the pan and cook, stirring, until very soft, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add the apples and cook, stirring, until starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the caraway seeds, mustard, vinegar and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add the sauerkraut and reserved beer cooking liquid (without the onions), sugar, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until tender and aromatic, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the grill.
• Grill the sausages until cooked through, about 5 minutes, turning to cook evenly on all sides.
• Remove and place on a platter.
• Remove the sauerkraut from the heat and stir in the cooked bacon and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Arrange the sauerkraut on the platter with the sausages and serve, if desired, with rolls and mustard or Rye Bread. Serve with cold beer.

HOT GERMAN POTATOES AND KNOCKWURST

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil; simmer until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain, cool slightly, and cut into slices. Place slices into a large heatproof bowl.
• Fry the bacon in a medium saucepan over medium heat until almost crisp. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Mix in the flour, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the vinegar, broth, and celery seeds. Cook, stirring often, until thickened.
• Meanwhile, heat the knockwurst according to package directions; cut each into 6 to 8 diagonal slices. Add the knockwurst to the potatoes. Pour the sauce over and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve warm.