Hard Cider Braised 'Beer' Bratwurst
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
Ingredients
  • 4lbs or 12 individual bratwursts
  • ½ green pepper sliced
  • ½ red pepper sliced
  • ½ orange pepper sliced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers sliced, seeds optional
  • 1 shallot sliced into half moon rings
  • 60 oz hard cider
  • bacon fat
Instructions
  1. In a large sauce pan or pot, melt bacon fat on medium heat and sweat shallots, peppers and jalapenos for about 2-3 minutes to release some flavor.
  2. Add sweated veggies and bratwurst to a crock pot alternating layers of veggies and brats.
  3. Pour hard cider into crock pot until liquid just covers the bratwurst and veggie mixture.
  4. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
  5. Once you have finished slow cooking, remove brats (be careful as they will have softened somewhat) and place them in a baking dish or other large container to cool.
  6. Transfer remaining liquid and veggies to a large pot and reduce by ¾ on the stove at a medium-low heat, about 2 hours.
  7. Once liquid has reduced, preheat grill to high heat and grill brats for 3-4 minutes per side to heat throughout and produce grill marks.
  8. Spoon reduced liquid and veggies over brats and enjoy!
Notes
If you do not have a crock pot, you can use a french oven or large oven safe pot instead. Set your oven to 250° F and braise for 5 hours. Repeat same steps as above and enjoy.
Recipe by Pastured Kitchen at https://www.pasturedkitchen.com/recipes/hard-cider-braised-beer-bratwurst/