What Do You Serve With Brats & Sauerkraut?

[NYCgrrl]

UOTE="cabanafrau, post: 59575008, member: 115269"]Stella? Stella Artois? I won't even touch a sip of beer and I know that's not German. It's a pilsner style, but not really considered German by beer drinkers.[/QUOTE]
For years I thought Stella Artois was French from the Alsace-Lorraine region. Was my face red when I learned it was Belgian.
Just one mo mo food the French "stole" from poor defenseless Belgium. The ex is of French and Belgian descent so the above is a bit of an inside family joke. Oh and the other commonly thought of as French dish is fries. The Dutch, French and Belgians could fight a war over who invented pommes frites but I'd put money on the Wallons were I a betting woman.

 

[cabanafrau]

UOTE="cabanafrau, post: 59575008, member: 115269"]Stella? Stella Artois? I won't even touch a sip of beer and I know that's not German. It's a pilsner style, but not really considered German by beer drinkers.

For years I thought Stella Artois was French from the Alsace-Lorraine region. Was my face red when I learned it was Belgian.
Just one mo mo food the French "stole" from poor defenseless Belgium. The ex is of French and Belgian descent so the above is a bit of an inside family joke. Oh and the other commonly thought of as French dish is fries. The Dutch, French and Belgians could fight a war over who invented pommes frites but I'd put money on the Wallons were I a betting woman.[/QUOTE]

There's an awful lot of beer Belgians might brag about before Stella even enters the conversation. My husband is an avid homebrewer and will be extremely letdown to be told he's about to be served a Belgian beer, only to be presented with a Stella.

Fun fact, Budweiser (also pilsner style brew) is now also the product of a Belgian brewing company since InBev purchased Anheiser Busch several years ago. Most beer drinkers would not term Budweiser a particularly German beer, despite the style and the fact that it originated from German American brewers originally. Rather than tell my husband you're serving him a German beer and present him with Budweiser, be kind and offer him a glass of water instead. Guaranteed he'll be more grateful for the latter.

 

[Imzadi]

Just one mo mo food the French "stole" from poor defenseless Belgium. The ex is of French and Belgian descent so the above is a bit of an inside family joke.

I know someone who is Belgium-Swiss. He said there is a famous saying over there in that part of Europe as the countries are so small: "You lay down in France and your feet are in Belgium and your head is in Switzerland."

 

[KPeterso]

Not traditional in pur house. It is usually brats with chips. Now pre-grilling of the brats, we always simmer in beer. Just put the brats (piercing the sides a little) in a pot with some beer and let simmer about 20-30 minutes. It adds something to the brats. Oh and for saurkraut, we usually put a little apple juice in it before cooking to cut down on the vinegar acidity of the kraut. But that is when we make polish sausage.

 

[spacemountainmom]

The problem I have sometimes with cooking raw sausages is that if you just grill them, it can be hard sometimes to get them cooked all the way through without charring the heck out of them on the outside. That's why I sometimes start with them simmering for a while, then move them to the grill to finish.

Yes, yes and yes!

Once attended a July 4th bash where the brats were absolutely black and nasty on the outside and completely raw on the inside. Thank goodness there was enough other food because I cannot eat raw meat. Gross!

I stand behind simmering brats in beer. Everyone says mine are the best. They are even better if you throw onions in too!

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes, yes and yes!

Once attended a July 4th bash where the brats were absolutely black and nasty on the outside and completely raw on the inside. Thank goodness there was enough other food because I cannot eat raw meat. Gross!

I stand behind simmering brats in beer. Everyone says mine are the best. They are even better if you throw onions in too!

And opposite to this, when I make Italian sausage, I brown it first on the stove, then put it in my sauce to simmer.

 

[Cubbiecakes]

Most beer drinkers would not term Budweiser a particularly German beer, despite the style and the fact that it originated from German American brewers originally.

I wouldn't consider Budweiser a beer, let alone insult Deutschers by calling it a German beer.

 

[mousefan73]

There are two original budweisers. The water Anheuser-Busch makes and the beer that Budvar makes.

There has been decades long legal battles over the name. There is nothing german about Budweiser. You have an Amercian beer brand a Czeck beer named after thenbrewing region Budweis. The ‘er at the end is like the -an in english meaning of/from/ stemming. Like American’s naming a beer “American “ and trying to copyright it.

Beer drinkers will often say that the origianl Budvar Budweiser is one of the best beers ever made

 

[NYCgrrl]

I'm going to attempt to honor my German heritage, by making sauerkraut. My Mom used to can it yearly, but this will be my first attempt at making it. We grew up eating a country & German cooking combo. We never had brats on the grill, so I'm not sure what to serve as a side dish. My DH would suggest fries, but I want something more traditional or at least something more interesting. I'm burned out on fries.

Just wondering...if you are serving with potato salad will you be doing the warm version w/ bits of pork or the cold version?
As well, a source for mail order German comestibles should the mood hit:

https://schallerweber.com/about/about-us/

 

[cabanafrau]

I wouldn't consider Budweiser a beer, let alone insult Deutschers by calling it a German beer.

My husband jokes that if he wanted water he'd have ordered water -- and it would taste better straight from the faucet rather than what is done to produce Budweiser.

 

[powellrj]

I would do fried potatoes, warm applesauce, cucumber salad with onions and sour cream.

 

[Kellydelly]

This thread is making me hungry! If I were you I would get some frozen pierogies (just boil a sauce pan of water and then turn off heat and let them swim/thaw for five minutes and then drain and saute them in melted butter (onions in the fry pan at this point are also great if you like them!). I actually prefer the frozen ones (Mrs. Ts brand) to the ones I can get fresh at a local Polish market (Heck, even Aldi's sells some and they are good). Or if you are wanting to be a gourmet then cooking potato pancakes are easier to make than pierogies from scratch. Both are yummy!!

 

[cabanafrau]

This thread is making me hungry! If I were you I would get some frozen pierogies (just boil a sauce pan of water and then turn off heat and let them swim/thaw for five minutes and then drain and saute them in melted butter (onions in the fry pan at this point are also great if you like them!). I actually prefer the frozen ones (Mrs. Ts brand) to the ones I can get fresh at a local Polish market (Heck, even Aldi's sells some and they are good). Or if you are wanting to be a gourmet then cooking potato pancakes are easier to make than pierogies from scratch. Both are yummy!!

The horror, the horror! Where are my pearls?

I will concede that making potato pancakes will be much less work than pierogies from scratch. Frozen better than fresh from the Polish market? I think I need to lie down now.

 

[mjkacmom]

Just submitted my online grocery order, guess what’s for dinner here tomorrow...

 

[RedAngie]

The horror, the horror! Where are my pearls?

I will concede that making potato pancakes will be much less work than pierogies from scratch. Frozen better than fresh from the Polish market? I think I need to lie down now.

I went to a church's Polish festival last summer and was shocked they were selling Mrs. T's pierogies. Then I discovered they were one of the sponsors of the event. Oh, well, at least the kielbasa/sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage and paczki (poonchkey, jelly doughnuts) were good.

 

[cabanafrau]

I went to a church's Polish festival last summer and was shocked they were selling Mrs. T's pierogies. Then I discovered they were one of the sponsors of the event. Oh, well, at least the kielbasa/sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage and paczki (poonchkey, jelly doughnuts) were good.

They served paczkis at a church festival? Those are the work of the devil. Just ask my hips, they don't lie.

 

[cabanafrau]

Just submitted my online grocery order, guess what’s for dinner here tomorrow...

Sushi?

Quinoa?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Just submitted my online grocery order, guess what’s for dinner here tomorrow...

Ha, I made potato salad today because of this thread.

 

[Kellydelly]

The horror, the horror! Where are my pearls?

I will concede that making potato pancakes will be much less work than pierogies from scratch. Frozen better than fresh from the Polish market? I think I need to lie down now.

Probably because I do not have the fortune of growing up in a Polish family with authentic pierogies, I prefer the frozen ones, Mrs T does a good job . You would shudder at the fake golabki I make with chopped cabbage .

 

[RedAngie]

I sometimes make "chopped cabbage golabki." Saute shredded or chopped cabbage in butter. Add onion if desired. Brown ground beef separately. Cook some rice. Mix beef and rice into cabbage. Add can of undiluted tomato soup (or crushed or diced tomatoes.) Season as desired with marjoram or other dried herbs.