It may not be October in New York but it doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate Oktoberfest! This fast and easy dinner recipe is inspired by Applegate.
I love fall in New York because it means it’s apple season. With this dish you get apple two times! Chicken apple sausages and sliced apples that get cooked down with the beer and sausage. It seems like chicken apple sausage is becoming quite popular these days and we had to try them out!
Beer braised sausages are nothing new. What I wanted to do was blend some of my wife’s Polish background to mix things up a bit. For the beer we used Zywiec.
What is Zywiec Beer ?
I happen to live in Copiague, NY which is a well known Polish community for years. My wife’s family immigrated here in the early 90s as did many Polish immigrants. We have an unlimited source of pierogi and other Polish delicacies supplied by the number of Polish delis right in my neighborhood. I have 3 right around the corner from my house.
When I first met my wife she said I had to try Zywiec. I did and it’s definitely a winner in my book. Heck, it’s been around since 1856! That’s over 150 years of beer making history.
Why Apples & Onions Taste Good Together
As it turns out, apple and onions make quite the perfect pair. They actually share similar qualities in their genetic makeup. According to an article on Huffpost you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if you bit into either one with a blindfold.
I’ll leave the taste testing up to you but for this recipe, I can assure you they play nicely together. They both bring a bit of sweetness, paired with the depth of flavor the beer. That’s why our Big Lou’s Spicy Onion Sauce pairs so well. It balances everything out so you get the perfect bite every time with the sausage.
How to Make Beer Braised Sausages with Apple & Onions
The process here is really easy and doesn’t require much finesse. It makes a great weekday meal and by using our onion sauce, you’ll cut the original cooktime down to next to nothing. It will come down to how tender you want the apples.
My favorite reason for using the chicken apple sausage is that it comes fully cooked so you’re only heating them through. You need enough time for the beer to do it’s magic and infuse it’s flavors into the dish.
Here’s the reality of the situation, this meal could use any type of sausage you desire and any other beer you prefer. I just wouldn’t use one of those fancy IPA’s or anything.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon grassfed butter (We use Kerrygold)
- 1 jar Big Lou’s Spicy Onion Sauce
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and sliced
- 1 bottle of Zywiec Polish Beer
- 1 package Applegate Organics® Chicken & Apple Sausage
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped chives or parsley, for garnish
Instructions for Beer Braised Sausages with Apple & Onions
- Heat a pot or skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter
- Add the onion sauce, apples, beer and sausage
- Let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or desired tenderness of the apples.
Serve with some crusty bread and a cold beer and say hello to Oktoberfest any time of year! What did you think of this recipe? Have a recommendation or way to make it better? Leave us a note in the comments.
