Month-of-One-Pan Meals: Brats with Cabbage and Apples

Welcome to my annual Month-of Recipes on this blog. Go rummaging in the attic here and you’ll find past recipe months for appetizers, chicken, soup, mini-desserts, and more. The way it works is, for each day in February I post a recipe that fits the category. This month is one-pan meals, excluding pizza, most casseroles, and slow cooker recipes.

 Sounds Teutonic, doesn’t it, and this is a classic combination in some parts of the world. As a warning, unless you like this combination of flavors (and I do, but see DH’s rating), this may not be the dish for you.

Sausage, cabbage, potatoes, apples. Yum. But it is a heavy meal and may not be for everyone. Probably best to serve this in the dead cold of winter rather than a sunny spring day! Hey! Maybe you could invite the neighbors in for an OctoberFest meal! Get more beer!

Brats with Cabbage and Apples (serves 4-6)

4-6 brats

12 ounces Guinness Extra Stout

2 Granny Smith apples, cut into eighths

½ red onion, cut into slices

½ pound baby potatoes, halved

1 cup apple cider

½ head of red cabbage, cut into slices

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

In a Dutch oven, soak brats in Guinness Extra Stout for three hours.

After three hours, turn the heat to high and boil for 15 minutes. Lower heat to medium and continue cooking until a thick sauce forms on the bottom and brats are browned. Remove brats to a dish and cover with foil.

Deglaze the pot with cider. Immediately add apple slices, onion, and potatoes.Stir around to coat with deglazing liquid.

Add cabbage and drizzle on apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add brats back in and stir to combine.

Simmer all ingredients for about 20 minutes. Serve immediately for freshest taste.

   

DH’s Rating: 3 Tongues Up

“Too heavy. I feel too full.”

“Yeah, but how about the taste? Did you like how it tasted?”

“Yeah . . . But why was it so sweet? That tasted funny to me.”

I explained the apples and apple cider and he understood, but said he wouldn’t be requesting this for a future meal. Okay. I’ve got lots of stuff he likes better. Don’t worry about him. He won’t starve.