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Oktoberfest Brats with Onions

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The Labor Day holiday may be over, but the end of September hails another big food-related celebration, Oktoberfest!  Why pass up a good excuse to enjoy yummy food and learn a little about this German tradition?  Our Oktoberfest Brats with Onions is easy to make and pairs well with many of your favorite beers.

oktoberfest bratsWhat is the history of Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest originates in Germany and is held annually each year in Munich.  This year, the celebration runs from September 17 to October 3.  Millions of people will visit the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich to enjoy live music, carnival games, and of course–beer and food.  Since it began in 1910, Oktoberfest traditions have spread over the border to many other countries, and today there are communities across the United States with local Oktoberfest festivals.

How to make Oktoberfest Brats with Onions

Ingredients:

  • 6 TBS bratwurst (to make 12 for a party, just double the recipe)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons caraway seeds
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 bottle of beer (amber or brown ale works well)
  • Buns
  • Sauerkraut
  • German mustard or spicy brown mustard

Directions:

  1. Use a cast iron skillet.  Melt the butter over medium heat.  Saute the onions and caraway seeds until the onions turn translucent.  
  2. Add the salt.
  3. Place the bratwurst into the onions.
  4. Pour the beer over everything and bring it to a low boil.  Once it boils, reduce to a low simmer and cook for 30 to 40 minutes.  Turn the brats regularly to ensure even cooking.
  5. Preheat the grill to medium.  Finish the brats on the grill for 2 to 4 minutes per side until browned.
  6. Place finished brats back into the skillet to keep warm until you’re ready to serve them.
  7. Serve brats in buns with mustard and sauerkraut.

What kind of beer goes well with Oktoberfest Brats?

If you want to keep to true Oktoberfest traditions, choose a light beer like a pilsner.  That’s because all the beers featured at the Oktoberfest in Munich must adhere to Germany’s beer purity law, Reinheitsgebot.  Oktoberfest beers may only contain four ingredients:  water, malt, hops, and yeast. 

But at home, you’re free to choose from a wide spectrum of beers.  Some people say the best beer to pair with bratwurst is the beer in your fridge!  Beer enthusiasts recommend everything from pilsners to fruity IPAs and dark stouts to compliment brats.  

Stop by The Butcher Shop for the Freshest Meats and Local Produce

Why purchase meat and produce from a grocery store that comes from who knows where?  We have such excellent, fresh meat and produce available to us locally!  The Butcher Shop is your one-stop-shop for locally sourced meats and produce from farms right here in Southern Oregon.  At TBS, you’ll find the perfect cut of meat for your meal, plus fresh-baked loaves of bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, local wine and beers, and even quality food specifically for your canine.  Stop by today or call ahead to pre-order your ingredients.