Beer Braised Brats

These are so easy... so tasty.  Once you try this method, you will never go back to just tossing them in a no stick frying pan...

First thing I did was to make some buns.  Of course I used the Moomie Bun recipe.  I have blogged of this often, most  recently on today's  A KANSAS FOODIE in the VIRGIN ISLANDS post... "Garlic/Onion/Chipotle Moomie Buns... I did it My Way!"!  This time I made split top sausage rolls.

I had found a good sale price on some Johnsonville Brats (they're everywhere).  No grill ; (   ... so I decided to beer braise them.  Just cut some onion slices and separate into rings.  This will make a bed for the brats to rest on while the beer steams and seeps into the sausages.


For the beer, my preference is always Killian's.  Sadly, i have not been able to find Killian's on the island.  I have been trying a few local beers.  Here is a Tropical MANGO Pale Ale.  Not very good for drinking, but perfect for cooking with.


BUT...

Prep the brats first... Meaning, take a couple of toothpicks and puncture the casing of the sausage in a dozen spots on each of the 4 sides of the brats.  this allows the grease inside the sausages to escape without a buildup and then a splits.  It also allows the beer to seep in just a little (it is only a tiny series of holes), and flavor the brats.

Add enough beer to the onions to fill just 1/4 inch above the level of the onions...


Get the beer to simmer...


Rest the brats on the beer...


Turn after 5 minutes...

Keep adding beer as needed to have just a bit of beer above the bed of onions.


And after all 4 sides are done... So are the brats.  Filled with flavor, and not dried out from over cooking.





Just a simple meal after a lazy day on the beach...