What Is Bratwurst?
Otherwise known as brats, the word bratwurst is derived from Old High German in which the word brat means finely chopped meat and the word wurst means sausage. Basically, brats are a type of German sausage typically made from pork, but you can find beef and veal varieties too. It’s one of those classics that has been around for a very long time. In fact, bratwurst dates back to 1313 in the city of Nuremberg, which is still known today as the capital of grilling sausage production. Grilled bratwurst is most commonly served either as is with a delicious German Potato Salad or how we are serving them in this recipe on a hotdog bun topped with mustard and sauerkraut.
Bratwurst – You want uncooked brats for this recipe. You can buy them in any grocery store. You can also find more upscale fancier varieties of bratwurst at most butcher shops. Hot dog buns – I like to use the ones you find in the bakery section of the supermarket, but any hotdog bun will do. Pretzel buns are another good choice too. German mustard – Ideally, German mustard is the best choice for the full experience. Yet, any type of mustard will work like stone-ground, dijon, or even yellow. Sauerkraut – Your preferred brand of store-bought or homemade sauerkraut is perfect.
Can I Bake The Bratwurst?
Yes, you can. I highly recommend grilling, but if you don’t own a grill you can still make super tasty brats. Just bake them at 425°F for about 20 minutes in a roasting pan fitted with a rack and flip them halfway through cooking for even browning. Using the rack in the roasting pan allows some fat to drip from them as they bake.
Do I Need To Remove The Sausage Casing Before Grilling?
No, you want to leave the casing on and intact. This helps the brats to both hold their shape and not dry out while being grilled. The bratwurst cooks up much juicer if the casing is not cut or pieced at all.
Leftovers
You can store leftover grilled bratwurst in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
Other Summer Recipes To Try
Chicken Ranch Burgers Easy Grilled Chicken Breast Mini Corn Dogs Blue Cheese Burgers with Crispy Fried Onion Greek Lamb Burgers Watermelon Feta Salad Grilled Veggie Skewers
