First batch of Brats

[GatorAGR]

First batch of Brats in the books. Overall the process was fairly simple. I don’t have a grinder so had to buy ground pork. Used a recipe from SmokinEdge . Turned out fantastic. A few casing blowouts but no big deal. I have a Hakka stuffer so it leaves excess meat in the hopper which I don’t like. Used the jerky gun to use up most of the excess. Worked great and got one extra brat out of it.

Poached them in beer and seasoning in a cast iron pan on the stove then through them on the grill to brown. Thanks to all who offered suggestions!

Sorry didn’t get a great final picture. Was too excited to taste!

 

[broozer]

Good job! I also have a Hakka stuffer, and use my LEM jerky gun to stuff the excess meat just like you.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Looks like you did good! And now I want some tater salad as well!

I use a horizontal Hakka, doesn't leave hardly any meat left in it. Do you have a vertical one?
Ryan

 

[GatorAGR]

Looks like you did good! And now I want some tater salad as well!

I use a horizontal Hakka, doesn't leave hardly any meat left in it. Do you have a vertical one?
Ryan

Unfortunately my wife is out of town so my son and I bought the tater salad from the store. Not great and I LOVE tater salad. My wife’s is the best.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Unfortunately my wife is out of town so my son and I bought the tater salad from the store. Not great and I LOVE tater salad. My wife’s is the best.

I hear ya on that!

Ryan

 

[SmokinEdge]

Very nice work. Everything looks excellent on the sausage.

 

[JLeonard]

Even with the store bought tater salad I’d take thst plate and run! Looks great!

Jim

 

[nlife]

Looks pretty damn good to me! My wife always comments on how great the smell is when you are poaching brats in beer bath. Think I'll have to pick up some buns for tomorrows lunch.

I also have a stuffer like yours. I find that I have to put a few pieces of bread on top of the meat so that it pushes all the sausage out and only leaves a small amount in the tube and stuffer tube.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Those look really good!

 

[chopsaw]

Nice work on all parts of that .

 

[I-am-Chorizo]

First batch of Brats in the books. Overall the process was fairly simple. I don’t have a grinder so had to buy ground pork. Used a recipe from SmokinEdge . Turned out fantastic. A few casing blowouts but no big deal. I have a Hakka stuffer so it leaves excess meat in the hopper which I don’t like. Used the jerky gun to use up most of the excess. Worked great and got one extra brat out of it.

Poached them in beer and seasoning in a cast iron pan on the stove then through them on the grill to brown. Thanks to all who offered suggestions!

Sorry didn’t get a great final picture. Was too excited to taste!

I am going to need this recipe dear Sir.

 

[GatorAGR]

I am going to need this recipe dear Sir.

So I’m playing with German sausage now. It’s way outside my flavor profile but I’ve had some that is very good. I have a very good Weisswurst recipe and make it a few times a year, it’s a nice flavor brake from the normal. Now I’m playing with a fresh brat recipe that I just made up, it follows along most of the recipes I’ve seen so no surprises spice wise. It’s good but just kind of flat flavor wise, I like the fact that nothing smacks you in the face and the profile of spice seems to be there but one spice needs to be increased or maybe even added. Something is missing. So to all you German bratwurst magicians out there critique my recipe with additions or increases would be much appreciated.

Bratwurst:
Per 1Kg ground pork. (80/20 butt grind)

Salt) 1.5%

Cardamom) 1g

White pepper) 1g

Black pepper) 1g

Coriander) 1g

Mace) .5g

Ginger) 1g

Grind 3/4 the meat through 1/4” plate then grind rest of meat through 1/8” plate.

What am I missing for a really great Bratwurst? Thanks in advance for replies.

 

[mr_whipple]

I missed this... good lookin' chow!

 

[SmokinEdge]

That recipe will give you an old school brat worthy of the table. Go with it.

G GatorAGR , that is basically JC in GB recipe for Nuremberg bratwurst. Very delicious.

 

[geostriata]

That looks really good! I'll have to try Brats next. Thanks for the recipe SmokinEdge

As for the Hakka stuffers, I have to say I'm really disappointed in both their manual and the electric. The manual couldn't stuff into a 15mm tube without it being a hazard (if the handle slips, it recoils) and the electric (22liter version) left 1.5 pounds in the chamber!! The electric was also way too fast on its slowest setting.

I returned both and got the small LEM electric (10L) which is working fantastic. Since the diameter of the cylinder is smaller, it wastes very little (basically a hamburger patty worth). The only downside is that it doesn't accept standard 2" tubes. I had to grind my tube base down a bit to get it to work with the 10mm tube.

In the Hakka, you can try to get a small amount more out by putting a copper washer in the screw to the plunger, but that won't help too much. Still, after making some amazing patties with the Chorizo recipe, it's now part of the ritual I look forward to in each batch, so that's another option.

 

[tallbm]

First batch of Brats in the books. Overall the process was fairly simple. I don’t have a grinder so had to buy ground pork. Used a recipe from SmokinEdge . Turned out fantastic. A few casing blowouts but no big deal. I have a Hakka stuffer so it leaves excess meat in the hopper which I don’t like. Used the jerky gun to use up most of the excess. Worked great and got one extra brat out of it.

Poached them in beer and seasoning in a cast iron pan on the stove then through them on the grill to brown. Thanks to all who offered suggestions!

Sorry didn’t get a great final picture. Was too excited to taste!

That looks fantastic, great work man! :D