At the center of everything at Oktoberfest, the annual Munich festival that’s inspired imitators around the world, is that specially brewed Oktoberfest beer. But the event is also a celebration of traditional Bavarian cuisine — and this part of Germany is especially fond of wurst, with many hyperlocal styles around the region. Even if you’re not making the pilgrimage to Germany this October, you can still grab a stein of lager and cook up some hearty sausages to celebrate the occasion. Here are recipes — some more traditional, others that take some creative liberties — to get the party started. Prost!
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Currywurst
Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle
Germany’s favorite fast food is also easy to make at home: Toss roasted bratwurst in curry powder, then slather them in a curry-spiked tomato sauce deepened with umami-rich tamari and smoked paprika. Don’t forget the fries.
Beer-Braised Cabbage, Apples, and Sausage
Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle
For a quick one pot meal, simmer brats alongside their their natural companions — mustard and beer — plus the autumnal combo of cabbage and apples, which add a subtle sweetness. Many readers like this dish paired with mashed potatoes.
Ploughman’s Lunch
David Malosh
Yes, this sausage smorgasbord has its roots in England. But chef Maria Helm Sinskey lays out an endlessly customizable format — pile on your favorite assorted sausages, farmstead cheeses, and loaves of crusty bread, then dig in.
Beer Brats
Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle
For maximum flavor, these sausages are simmered in lager before hitting the grill to get charred and juicy. After braising, you’ll use the same beer to cook down caraway onions until soft and caramelized, then pile them onto the finished brats.
Sausage Mixed Grill
Con Poulos
To feed a crowd, grill up a mix of your favorite sausages — you can stick with German favorites like weisswurst and knackwurst, or throw in some kielbasa or Italian sausage. They’ll leave behind flavorful fat that you can use to char radicchio and bell peppers on the side.
Brat-and-Pepper Tacos
Con Poulos
This recipe strays pretty far from tradition, but it works. These tacos are equal parts beer brat and sausage-and-pepper sandwich, all folded into a tortilla and finished with horseradish, mustard, sour cream, and pickled red cabbage.
Bratwurst with Mustardy Fried Potatoes and Braised Cabbage
Peggy Wong
Chef Suzanne Goin serves grilled bratwurst with zingy watercress and crispy, golden potatoes tossed in a mustard vinaigrette — but the secret star of the dish is the tender cabbage, which is glazed in a mix of orange juice, red wine, and port spiked with chile and allspice.
Dining and Cooking