Bratwurst Seasoning Profile Matching Trader Joe's German Brats

[processhead]

For those familiar with this sausage, who can recommend a seasoning that comes close to the flavor profile of Trader Joe’s Uncured Bavarian Bratwurst?

To me, this sausage comes close to the quintessential Bavarian brat I remember from Germany, I and would like to try and make something close.

Blue Ribbon has some of the aromatics like nutmeg, but also looking for a seasoning with marjoram, black pepper, mace, ginger, coriander, cardamom, pimiento.

[YooperDog]

processhead what about a Weiss wurst recipe? I have never tried Trader Joe’s, nearest is 300-400 miles away.

[processhead]

YooperDog said in Bratwurst Seasoning Profile Matching Trader Joe's German Brats:

processhead what about a Weiss wurst recipe? I have never tried Trader Joe’s, nearest is 300-400 miles away.

I think many weisse wurst recipes have a similar flavor profile and a similar meat block.

I found this recipe and it also looks like it could work.
https://www.meatsandsausages.com/sausage-recipes/bratwurst

[Joe Hell]

processhead I would start by making a 10 lb batch with 70 grams kosher salt and 2-5 grams of each of your spices. I’d go on the lower end of that with the spices such as mace and nutmeg as they are similar. I would probably go that route on the coriander, marjoram and ginger as well. Most of the traditional brats seem mild on flavor and a bit finer grind than I normally use. I’d mix the salt and spices with the your initial cubed pork and chill for a couple hours before grinding once, chilling again then put it through a finer plate. Add about 500 ml of ice water and mix well. Fry up some test patties and adjust individual spices to suit your own taste.

[Joe Hell]

processhead The meats and sausages site has some pretty solid recipes to play around with. I was also going to suggest white pepper instead of black…it looks like that recipe is spot on.

[processhead]

Joe Hell The recipe in the link I posted kind of mirrors what you suggested. I might try one with the discrete spices and all pork until I get the flavor I want.

I’m not sure the veal brings much to the party other than possibly a lighter color and possibly lighter flavor.

[craigrice]

Joe Hell I like using white pepper on some things and a dry brine for poultry that I use specifies its use

[twilliams]

processhead I’d be happy to get an exact recipe and texture of Johnsonville, I have failed miserably

[processhead]

I think I will try a pilot batch based on one or both of the two recipes listed below. They both include the seasonings/flavors I am interested in. Note that they include egg whites in the recipe. Will probably stay with the all-pork version till I get the flavor I want.

I like the processing tips Joe Hell adds.
Recipe 1
Bratwurst with Egg and Milk (Bratwurst mit Ei und Milch)

Adding milk and lemon zest creates a creamier and aromatic version of bratwurst. The name bratwurst comes from the old German word “brät” (describing the finely-ground filling), and the original spelling was indeed “Brätwurst”. Over the years, as the sausage became popular worldwide, the dots above the letter ‘a’ have disappeared.
Calories: 230
Servings: 10
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 18 minutes
Nutritional information
Meats Metric US
Semi-fat pork* 920 g 2.0 lb
Whole egg 70 g 1 egg
Milk 10 ml 1 Tbsp
Ingredients per 1000g (1 kg) of meat
Salt 18 g 3 tsp
White pepper 2.0 g 1 tsp
Mace 0.5 g 1/4 tsp
Ginger 0.5 g 1/4 tsp
Cardamom 0.5 g 1/4 tsp
Lemon zest 1.0 g 1/2 tsp
Instructions

1. Grind meat through 1/4" (6 mm) grinder plate.
2. Mix with all spices.
3. Whisk egg with milk together. Mix everything together.
4. Stuff in 26-28 mm hog or sheep casings. Make links weighing about 100 g (3.5 oz).
5. Refrigerate and eat within a day; cook fully before serving.
6. To extend its shelf life the sausage may be cooked for 20 minutes at 176° F (80° C). Keep in refrigerator.
   Notes
   *Pork butt may be used, but include fat.

Recipe 2
Bratwurst-German

Bratwurst, a German sausage was already known in 14th century. It can be made from pork and beef, though most bratwursts are made from pork and veal. Depending on the region where the sausage was made and the combination of spices which were added, we may find bratwursts with many names, such as: Thuringer Bratwurst, Nurnberger Bratwurst, Rheinishe Bratwurst and many others. The sausage is fried in fat or grilled before serving. The name bratwurst comes from the old German word “brät” (describing the finely-ground filling), and the original spelling was indeed “Brätwurst”. Over the years, as the sausage became popular worldwide, the dots above the letter ‘a’ have disappeared.
Calories: 250
Servings: 10
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Nutritional information
Meats Metric US
Pork 700 g 1.54 lbs
Veal 300 g 0.66 lbs
Ingredients per 1000g (1 kg) of meat
Salt 18 g 1 Tbs
White pepper 3.0 g 1½ tsp
Marjoram, dry 1.0 g 1 tsp
Caraway 1.0 g ½ tsp
Nutmeg 1.0 g ½ tsp
Ginger, ground 0.5 g ⅓ tsp
White of an egg 2 2
Cold water 100 g (100 ml) ⅜ cup
Instructions

1. Grind meat through 3/16” plate (3 mm).
2. Whisk the egg whites.
3. Mix meats and all ingredients together.
4. Stuff into 32-36 mm hog casings forming 4” (10 cm) links.
5. Keep in a refrigerator or freeze for later use.
   Notes
   Cook before serving.
   Adding white of an egg is optional. It is common in Germany to add eggs into fresh sausages to increase the binding of ingredients.

[mrobisr]

processhead my recipe is very similar to your 2nd one with the exception of all pork, surejel instead of egg, beer in place of water, and I do put cure in mine. I do water bath mine to and internal temp of 160f before vac sealing, freezing, or grilling.
Never had the brand you speak of, but we really do like this recipe, though I must admin the lemon zest has peaked my curiosity.

[johnsbrewhouse]

processhead Paul, here is the recipe I just made. It is very mild and the wife even likes it. I added Cheddar just for her since she like Cheddar Wursts.

3 Lbs. 85/15 ground beef
2 lbs. ground pork 75-80/20
1 tsp Cure #1 (since mine are being smoked)
2 tsp white pepper
2 tsp ground mustard (1tsp regular and 1 tsp Dijon)
2 tsp Marjoram
1 tsp roasted garlic granules
1 tsp ground sage
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp mace
5 tsp Kosher Salt
T TBSP + 1 tsp Sure Gel
1/2 cup cold water
1 1/2 TBSP Dextrose
2 eggs or 1/2 cup liquid eggs

[processhead]

Thank you to everyone for their input. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get this done but will report back on how it goes.

[Joe Hell]

processhead I thought that about veal until I recently had a chance to play around with it. I mixed it 50/50 in a brat and a batch of meatballs and it certainly adds a touch of decadence. Perhaps it’s the fat?

[processhead]

Joe Hell said in Bratwurst Seasoning Profile Matching Trader Joe's German Brats:

processhead I thought that about veal until I recently had a chance to play around with it. I mixed it 50/50 in a brat and a batch of meatballs and it certainly adds a touch of decadence. Perhaps it’s the fat?

Lol, I am all about the decadence!

[processhead]

Today I made a 1 Kg. test batch of the traditional white brats.

I was pretty happy with the way they turned out. The pork was frozen during the first pass through the 3/8 plate and then finished through 3/16 plate. The ground meat went back in the freezer for an hour before chopping.

When grinding and chopping I had all the equipment in the freezer ahead of time and I think it help with the fine emulsion I was after.

The spice formula was pretty close to where I want it, but I may tweak it with some additional pepper and aromatic spices.

I used all pork butt and would would be interested to try the traditional veal addition if the opportunity comes up.

I stuffed them in hog casings which were probably a little larger diameter than what I was after, but they are what I had on hand.

Will be doing this again in the future.

Also, I was able to try out my recent birthday present from my daughter and son-in-law, an Anova sous vide. I used it to poach the sausages right after stuffing.

[Bob Stehlik]

processhead Looking real good! I’d bet they will be good with some good Dusseldorf Mustard on a dark rye or pumpernickel. I think I just made my mouth water!

[processhead]

Bob Stehlik said in Bratwurst Seasoning Profile Matching Trader Joe's German Brats:

processhead Looking real good! I’d bet they will be good with some good Dusseldorf Mustard on a dark rye or pumpernickel. I think I just made my mouth water!

There should be a cold beer in that list somewhere too!

[glen]

processhead Paul, which recipe and what tweaks are you thinking of?

[JoeB]

processhead did you post a recipe for the brats? if so i missed it. Thanks

[processhead]

glen said in Bratwurst Seasoning Profile Matching Trader Joe's German Brats:

processhead Paul, which recipe and what tweaks are you thinking of?

glen JoeB Towards the top of the thread I posted two very similar recipes labeled recipe 1 and recipe 2 that I got from a web site that I have mentioned on here before.

I used the second recipe but omitted the ground caraway and lemon zest since I did not have those ingredients.

I am going to do another tasting tonight and will edit this post with my comments on future adjustments to the spice formula.