I have always been curious about new cooking ingredients and recipes. Even if Spicie Foodie wasn’t a huge part of my life I would feel the same. Every week I would still continue to cook several new dishes, just like I did before the existence of this blog. But as much as I like trying new foods and creating new recipes there are some meals that are part of my repertoire.
Those dishes comfort my soul, flush my body with memories and of course fill an empty stomach. Bratwurst with sauerkraut does all of that for me. When I crave it or upon the first bite I am reminded of Germany and Austria. It is a meal my husband and I enjoy and look forward to when we vacation in either country.
In 2010 I shared this recipe for the first time. Back then Spicie Foodie did not have the following it now has, and so I always felt that the recipe didn’t receive the attention I would have wanted it to…Or it could be the horrible photos that didn’t help…I don’t know. Regardless of the reason I wanted to “redo” the photos and post to share one of our most favorite meals. Those of you that have purchased a copy of Yummy Pics (thank you) will recognize the photos, they illustrated part of the “Meats and Sausages” styling section. I won’t be updating the old post with these new photos. As embarrassing as the older pictures are I leave them up as a reminder to continue practicing and learning my trade.
Let’s get to recipe and after we’ll talk about the giveaway.
- 1 bag of Sauerkraut (500 grams or 1 lb), drain most off the liquid
- 6 whole juniper berries
- pinch of salt
- pinch of black pepper
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- olive oil or vegetable oil
- 3 veal Bratwurst
- ready made mashed potatoes for serving*
- horseradish
- German style mustard
- dark rye bread
- Heat the oil in a large pan, once warm saute the onions until translucent. add the juniper berries and cook for 2 minutes. Next pour the sauerkraut into the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Under medium heat, and stirring occasionally, continue to cook the sauerkraut until all of the liquid has evaporated and it begins to caramelize and turn a golden brown. This will take about 15-20 minutes
- Once the sauerkraut has finished cooking you can start on the sausage. Using a sharp knife make small horizontal cuts along it just as is in the photos. Heat a lightly oil grilling pan and grill them until they split and are cooked through.
- Serve the grilled sausages with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, horseradish, mustard and bread. If you'd like, they pair great with beer.
I hope you enjoy this quick and easy to prepare meal. It is one of my husband’s favorites so I highly recommend you cook it for the men in your life. But ladies also love it -I do.
Yummy Pics Giveaway
Previously I mentioned Yummy Pics and a giveaway. If you haven’t heard yet, I wrote a photography ebook to share my knowledge. The ebook is a food blogger’s guide to better photos. Today my sweet friend Faith of An Edible Mosaic is sharing her review and giving away one copy, http://www.anediblemosaic.com/?p=11267
Please stop by An Edible Mosaic to see what Faith thinks and to enter your chance to win a copy of Yummy Pics: A Food Blogger’s Guide to Better Photos. Don’t forget to check out her gorgeous An Edible Mosaic cookbook too. I’ll be giving away a copy soon but in the mean time head over to win a copy of Yummy Pics, http://www.anediblemosaic.com/?p=11267
Scrumptious! This is the kind of food I love to eat during the wintertime.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
Delicious looking bratwurst!
Thank you
YUM! This is one of my favorite dishes of all time. It looks wonderful!!
Thanks Kate!
That’s an simple and good presentation……
Thank you Lubna!
I know what you mean about old posts with embarrassing pictures. I have been redoing the pictures of my old posts too. They were terrible! LOL! I’ve always loved your photography when I first saw your blog. Keep on clicking! Oh, yes, this bratwurst & sauerkraut connote my main diet too in Germany & Austria. It’s one reason why I love visiting those countries!
Hi Rowena,
I just couldn’t do all that work on all my old posts. But also like I said, I keep them up as a reminder to keep learning and improving. Maybe one day I’ll change my mind, hehe. Thanks and glad to hear you also love the meal. Us too it’s one of the things we most look forward to. :)
Nancy you are the queen of plating and food styling. I would have never thought to give the sausages such dimension like you have with the mash potatoes. Amazing meal and photos. :)
And you are so sweet Ramona! Thank you :)
A hearty and delicious winter dish!
Thanks Angie!
This looks wonderfull!
Thank you Arthur!
Bratwurst with sauerkraut is always so comforting in the winter! I’ve already visited Faith to enter the giveaway and read her wonderful review :).
I find it comforting year round. Good luck and thanks Laura!
Oh Nancy, this dish looks so good, I love this combination…and the pictures are awesome!
Hope you are having a great week :)
Thank you Juliana and you too!
I love sauerkraut! My parents used to make it every winter from scratch – it’s really good when it’s homemade. Your dish looks delicious!
How lucky to have homemade sauerkraut. Thanks Julia.
I’m the same with the need to try new dishes and ingredients, there are always so many things I wanna discover! Bratwurst and sauerkraut, mmm, perfect winter comfort food!
The list keeps growing too:) Thanks Denise
I spent two years in Heidelberg when I was a teenager and you’ve all but turned me 17 again! I ate my WEIGHT in sausage when I was there, growing girl and all ;) Your brats turned out beautifully!
How great and it’s lovely to flash back with food memories.
I have finally acquired a taste for sauerkraut after all of these years of disliking. My husband got me hooked on Ruben sandwiches and I guess it’s now time to try Brats and sauerkraut. Brats I love so definitely halfway there. This does look like a delicious dish, so a good place to start. Thanks!
Good for you MJ! I personally love it and usually eat too much:) Enjoy the brats
I already downloaded the book, the day you launched but forgot about it to read. Your post reminded me.
Never tried sauerkraut but I am sure I will love the sour flavor.
Thank you Balvinder for purchasing a copy. I’m sure you’d enjoy the sauerkraut -it’s so good!
I found out about your Ebook from Edible Mosiac – and I am very impressed!! Photographing my food is something I have real trouble with and sometimes feel very discouraged as a food blogger that I can’t seem to capture how yummy it really is! I don’t think I can wait to see if I have won a free give away…I think I have to go and buy your book immediately :) Well done!
Hi Alex,
We all experience that same frustration. But don’t feel discouraged as photography takes time. I’m sure you’ll achieve your goal very soon. Thanks!
Just bought it…I see that I am going to get very little work done in the office today ;)
Hehe, thank you Alex…and work can wait right;)
We enjoy bratwurst many times on the grill! Always a tummy satisfier!
yumm brats and sauerkraut is one of my favorite dishes! and i’d love to win your book…
This is a great classic recipe. I haven’t seen your older photos but I can’t imagine them ever being bad. However, there is certainly a learning curve involved.
Very Mitteleuropa! I like sauerkraut but not being a fan of sour tastes, I always drain and rinse it well before cooking, then braise it in sautéed onions and stock. Fancy-schmancy but it comes out fantastic…
Speaking of your book, I finally finished reading during my trip! Thank you for great information!!! And let’s see if I can improve my photos….arrhhh…
Your sauerkraut looks perfect!!!
Another great YBR roundup. I’m annoyed with myself for not getting together anything to send in! Love the Brats and Sauerkraut recipe as well–what a perfect dish for cooler weather.
your food always looks so appetizing and i can’t imagine your pictures ever being bad!
i would not have thought of pairing those sausages with mashed potatoes and cabbage… great combo!
ooh, sauerkraut is a favorite of mine. that and the bratwurst would go perfectly with my other favorite dish – pierogies! lovely pictures!
Oh we have so much in common…I love pierogies with sauerkraut on the side. Thanks:)