Bratwurst

Learn how to make homemade bratwurst sausages flavored with beer, garlic, and lots of savory spices using this step-by-step recipe.

• Preparation Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 395 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 2 teaspoons ground white pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• ½ cup beer
• 1 ½ pounds pork shoulder
• 1 pound hanger steak (onglet)
• 7 ounces pork fat
• 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (Optional)
• 1 hog casing

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place pork shoulder, hanger steak, and pork fat on a large plate in the freezer for 30 minutes. Place the meat grinder attachment in the freezer to make grinding easier.

Step 2

Cut pork shoulder, hanger steak, and pork fat into cubes. Pass through the cold meat grinder fitted with a medium plate.

Step 3

Combine ground meat mixture with beer, salt, garlic, red pepper flakes, pepper, caraway seeds, marjoram, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until the mixture starts to congeal, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

Cover mixture with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour, or up to overnight.

Step 5

Soak hog casing in cold water for 30 minutes. Place the wide end of a sausage-stuffing funnel up against the kitchen faucet and run cold water through the inside of the casing.

Step 6

Thread the casing onto the funnel using the medium sausage-stuffing funnel attachment. Pass the pork mixture through the funnel, stopping as it starts to come out the other end. Tie the casing into a knot at the end. Pass remaining meat mixture through the funnel, supporting the sausage with your other hand. Tie the other end of the casing into a knot.

Step 7

Twist the casing at regular intervals to create individual links, alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise twists.

Step 8

Poke 2 or 3 small holes in each sausage with a metal skewer to allow air to escape during cooking.

Step 9

Heat a skillet over medium heat; cook bratwurst, turning occasionally, until cooked all the way through, 10 to 15 minutes.