The New Year is nearly upon us, and this one is a special one, marking the coming of a new decade and the next round of the roaring ‘20s! For many of us, this celebration is marked by champagne, fireworks, and a kiss at midnight. For those of us that are German, this celebration is also marked by eating some delicious sauerkraut.
Even if you aren’t German, eating sauerkraut on New Years is a way to bring you good luck! They say that the number of cabbage shreds in the sauerkraut is the amount of good luck that will come to those seated at the table for the next year.
To make the sauerkraut extra special this upcoming New Year, consider cooking it along with some pork, and with some beer! This recipe from All Recipes gives you all the tips and tricks you need to make a delicious sauerkraut and pork dish with beer!
Needed Ingredients
- Bratwurst Sausages
- Lager beer, 1 bottle (i.e. Bud Light lager beer)
- Brown sugar, 1 tablespoon
- Celery seeds, ⅛ teaspoon
- Caraway seeds, ⅛ teaspoon
- Dry mustard powder, 2 teaspoons
- Onion powder, 1 teaspoon
- Dried dill weed, ⅛ teaspoon
- Sauerkraut, 1 pound
How to Make the Recipe
First, drain the sauerkraut. Next, take the celery and caraway seeds and crush them in a mortal and pestle. If you don’t have a mortal and pestle, you can use a rolling pin to crush things or a spice grinder. This article has a list of potential mortal and pestle alternatives. Grab a medium skillet and put it on the stove. Heat it up, and add the bratwurst sausages. Mix everything besides the sauerkraut in a bowl. The beer should help to dissolve the brown sugar. Once it’s all mixed together and the brown sugar is properly dissolved, then pour the mixture over the brats.
Bring the brat concoction to a boil. Cover it, lower to a simmer, and leave for 10 minutes. After ten minutes of simmering, uncover the mixture on the skillet and turn the heat back on until it’s boiling. Let it boil for about 20 minutes, and the sauce should slowly turn into a syrupy liquid. Roll the brats around in the skillet liquid to get them all totally coated. Then, remove them from the pan.
Cover the Sauerkraut with Beer
Now, it’s time for the sauerkraut to have its moment! Since the brats have been removed from the skillet, then there’s room for the sauerkraut to soak up some of that extra liquid. Pour in the sauerkraut and mix it all up, leaving it for about six minutes.
Then, take the sauerkraut out and put it on top of the brats to serve a delicious and tasty New Year’s meal that is bound to bring you good fortune for the entire next year!