Ingredients

• 1 11 x 9 x 2 3/8-inch aluminum foil baking pan
• 2 to 3 beers
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium yellow or white onion, sliced

Preparation

1. Put pan on hot grill.
2. Pour in beer then add butter and onions. Grill brats to juicy, golden-brown perfection.
3. Serve immediately and place any remaining brats into steaming hot tub.

Serves

Yield 5 servings

Source: Johnsonville

Gorgonzola Mustard
Southern Roadhouse Barbecue Topping
Sweet and Hot Tropical Salsa for Brats

(Family Features) - We all seem to thrive on competition these days. Any channel surfer can find reality shows in which folks are trying to be the next survivor on a deserted island, rock star, celebrity chef or TV design guru. But nothing can beat the real life drama in your own backyard when brats vie for "top brat" awards.

First of all, choose the brat that consumers found to be the tastiest of all grillable meats in a recent taste test. Served hot and plump off the grill, alone on a bun or tortilla, this brat's robust flavor is more than delicious all by itself. But when you're in the mood to play with your food, top your brat with a favorite condiment, relish, salsa or slaw.

Top that juicy grilled brat with pickles and onions, mustard or ketchup. Go German with sauerkraut, Southern with a tangy barbecue topping, or even Hawaiian with pineapple and papaya. As long as you grill your brat so that it's plump and juicy, the topping you choose is only going to add style points. So, top that!

Check out johnsonville.com for great recipes and more!

Are You a Grillin' Guru?

You can be, by following Johnsonville's Tips for Grilling Success.

1. Use a clean grill. Repeated grilling causes excessive residue buildup on the grill rack and hull. An occasional cleaning will help to reduce flare-ups. Besides, your grill is a special gathering place for friends and family. Got to keep up appearances.
2. It's OK to pre-cook. Know that it's OK to pre-cook brats. One may simmer the links in a pan of broth, or a beer and onion blend, for 8 to10 minutes prior to placing them on the grill (it's okay to dump the beer when you're done ... really, it is).
3. Cook slow, on low heat, keeping grill covered. If you're using a charcoal grill, spread out the gray/white, hot coals in a single layer. Your charcoal grill is perfect for brats if you can hold your palm near the grill for 5 to 6 seconds before it gets uncomfortable. On a gas grill, start the flame at a medium setting, and when the sausage juices start to flow, reduce heat to low. A lid on the grill helps to minimize the flame, too.
4. Avoid high flames! First, move the brats to safety. Raging blazes cause injury to sausage and your neighbors probably won't enjoy the sirens. Keep a spray-bottle filled with water handy to douse small flames while grilling. A garden hose would be overkill.
5. Turn the brats every five minutes or so. Use tongs, never a fork ... EVER! A fork can puncture a link and release that great taste and savory flavor. Tongs keep the links intact, and make 'em easier to turn.

Know when your brats are done cooking, which is:

• about 25 to 30 minutes using the above guidelines.
• when they're golden-brown and look appetizing, not charred to a crisp. "Burning" is not "grilling"!
• when a meat thermometer probe inserted into the link reads 160°F. (Of course, a Master Griller would never be seen doing this.)

Gorgonzola Mustard

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon coarsely cracked black pepper
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) dark beer
• 4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup stone ground mustard

Preparation

1. In skillet, melt butter.
2. Add garlic and sauté over low heat until tender. Add pepper and beer; bring to boil.
3. Reduce heat and gradually add cheese; stirring until melted. Continue to cook and stir until mixture is reduced by 1/3.
4. Remove from heat. Add mustard; stir until blended. Pour into storage container. Refrigerate until ready to serve as a condiment to grilled brats.

Serves

Yield: 2 cups.

Notes, Tips & Suggestions

Grilling suggestion: Blend 1 cup Gorgonzola mustard with 1/3 cup dark beer. Use as brushing or basting sauce for brat kabobs, whole brats or vegetables when grilling.

Southern Roadhouse Barbecue Topping

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup prepared coleslaw dressing
• 1 package (16 ounces) cabbage slaw

Preparation

1. In skillet, heat oil. Sauté onion and garlic until translucent and slightly brown. Remove from heat, cool slightly.
2. In small bowl, combine onion mixture with barbecue sauce and coleslaw dressing. Pour over cabbage slaw and toss lightly to coat.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve as topping with grilled brats.

Serves

Yield about 5 cups

Sweet and Hot Tropical Salsa for Brats

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cider or rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup diced papaya
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
• 1/2 cup diced mango
• 1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple tidbits, drained
• 1/2 cup diced sweet red roasted peppers, drained
• 2 green onions, finely sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon Chinese 5 spices

Preparation

1. In small saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar and salt; bring to boil.
2. Reduce heat, add garlic and pepper flakes; continue to simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature.
3. In bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour vinegar mixture over fruit; toss lightly. Refrigerate until ready to serve as condiment to grilled brats.

Serves

Yield 3 cups

Source

Johnsonville

Ingredients

• 1 package (16 ounces) Johnsonville Italian All Natural Mild Ground Sausage
• 1 loaf (1 pound) frozen white bread dough, thawed
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jar (7 ounces) roasted red peppers, well drained and sliced
• 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 2 cups (8 ounces) Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Preparation

1. In skillet, brown sausage until no longer pink; drain.
2. On lightly floured surface, roll bread dough to 16 x 12-inch rectangle.
3. Transfer dough to greased baking sheet. Combine cream cheese and garlic, spread lengthwise over center third of dough. Top with sausage, peppers, olives and cheese.
4. Fold dough over filling, pinching seam to seal. Make slits across top of dough every 2 inches. Brush lightly with water and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
5. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Serves

Yield 16 appetizer servings

Source

Johnsonville

Ingredients

• 3 packages (13.5-14 ounces each) Johnsonville Smoked Sausage (such as Beddar with Cheddar, Jalapeño & Cheddar, Turkey with Cheddar or Chipotle Monterey Jack Cheese Chicken Sausage)

Spicy Hot Buffalo Sauce

• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) hot sauce
• 1 bottle (16 ounces) blue cheese salad dressing

Orange Bourbon Barbecue Dip

• 1 cup original or bourbon barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade

Chinese Dipping Sauce

• 1 jar (7 ounces) hoisin sauce
• 1 jar (7 ounces) plum sauce

Creamy Mustard Dip

• 1 cup spicy brown mustard
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons horseradish

Cajun Mustard Dip

• 1 cup spicy brown mustard
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• Hot pepper sauce, to taste

Preparation

1. Cut sausage links into 1-inch pieces
2. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat until lightly browned and heated through.
3. Serve with toothpicks and dipping sauces.
4. Spicy Hot Buffalo Sauce: In microwave-safe bowl, combine butter and hot sauce. Cover and microwave on high for about 2 minutes or until butter is melted.
5. Stir until smooth.
6. Serve buffalo sauce in one bowl and blue cheese dressing in another bowl. Makes: 2 cups buffalo sauce plus 2 cups blue cheese dressing
7. Orange Bourbon Barbecue Dip: In microwave-safe bowl, combine barbecue sauce and orange marmalade.
8. Cover and microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Makes: 1 1/4 cups servings

Chinese Dipping Sauce
In microwave-safe bowl, combine hoisin sauce and plum sauce.
Cover and microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Makes: 1 1/2 cups

Creamy Mustard Dip
In bowl, combine mustard, sour cream and horseradish. Makes: 1 1/3 cups

Cajun Mustard Dip
In bowl, combine mustard, seasoning and hot pepper sauce. Makes: 1 cup

Serves

Makes 18 servings

Source

Johnsonville

Ingredients

• 3 cups refrigerated shredded hash browns
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 12 links Johnsonville Original Breakfast Sausage
• 6 eggs
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
• Chopped fresh chives or green onions, for garnish

Preparation

1. Place 12 paper liners in a muffin pan; spray liners with cooking spray.
2. In bowl, combine hash browns, butter, salt and pepper. Press hash brown mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the muffin cups. Bake at 400°F for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Meanwhile, cook sausage according to package directions; cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Divide sausage between muffin cups.
4. Combine eggs, cheese and bell pepper. Pour over sausage. Sprinkle with chives. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until set.

Preparation Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Serves

Yield 12 servings

Source

Johnsonville