We’re gearing up for grilling season at Organic Authority. I’ve covered organic hot dogs (beef, pork and chicken) and soy-based vegetarian alternatives. But if you’re from the Midwest, bratwurst—a flavorful coarse-ground pork sausage—may be your top choice.
You can find organic bratwurst at your local natural food store. Several brands are available:
- Check the freezer case for Organic Prairie’s Pork Bratwurst, which is free of synthetic nitrates, nitrites and phosphates. The meat is cured over wood smoke.
- Sara-Joe’s Pork Products offers organic bratwurst, which can be purchased at several Northwest retail outlets. You may also order online through Diamond Organics.
- For a vegan alternative, try Turtle Island Foods’ Tofurky Beer Brats, which also sizzle on the grill.
Need grilling advice? The following tips were provided by Mike Zeller, corporate developmental chef for Johnsonville Sausage in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (the unofficial bratwurst capital of the United States):
- Avoid high flames. The perfect brat is cooked low and slow. This means low to moderate heat, for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, turning about every five minutes with long-handled barbecue tongs.
- Use a clean grill to help reduce flare up.
- Recognize when your brats are cooked. Golden-brown perfection is hard to taste if your brats are charred to a crisp. Burning isn’t grilling!
Tune in tomorrow for some special recipes that will make your weekend.
