What Do You Serve With Brats & Sauerkraut?

[DisneyJules]

German potato salad!

 

[cabanafrau]

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 .

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.

Plenty of people, Polish or not, make Lazy Golabki. It's a great fast meal when I don't have time or don't have any regular Golabki stashed in the freezer.

Despite my very diverse pedigree, I don't think you have to grow up in a Polish family with authentic pierogies to shop at the local Polish market you talked about for the real deal. Most of the Polish food I grew up eating was prepared by my mother, who isn't Polish in the least. I'm not Italian or Lebanese, yet I prefer those cuisines made fresh versus packaged or frozen.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Update: I decided to make German potato salad for the side, because I already had all of the ingredients. It was a hit. We all enjoyed it. It was nice to have a change from my usual potato salad. As for the Brats, we were prepared to simmer them, so DH bought beer specifically for that purpose. When he got home, we noticed they were precooked. All he needed to do was heat them on the grill & make our preferred grill marks. He saved the beer for later. I'm guessing those who recommend simmering in beer buy their meat from a butcher shop. They're not common in South Florida, so we're stuck with buying grocery store meats.

I plan to go back to read the replies I didn't get to. I want to perfect my sauerkraut, so I'll be making more German meals in the near future.

Thanks again to everyone who offered suggestions.

 

[luvbwv]

I live in an area where brats are a staple at every cookout. There is always sauerkraut, potato chips and some sort of potato salad. It could be German potato salad or a mayo based one. There is usually some type of macaroni salad as well as baked beans. Toppings include ketchup, mustard, stone ground mustard and chopped onions.

 

[scrapquitler]

Potato Salad

 

[DeniseJH]

When we go to our local Polish restaurant I always order extra Golabki to take home. To me, there is no substitute for the real thing.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

In the summer, if I'm cooking out sausages, I serve Krautsalat. It is a coleslaw but other then the cabbage (I use red) the other ingredients and dressing are somewhat different than here in the states. I save the sauerkraut for cooler months such as fall, winter, and spring. I will also serve a cold potato salad. It's marinated though rather than with mustard and mayo like potato salad here. I will serve a warmer potato salad in the cooler months.