Beer-braised Sausages And Sauerkraut

Total Time: 5 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 9 cups sauerkraut (not canned)
• 1/4 lb smoked bacon (preferably slab, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces)
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 4 medium carrots, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch -thick slices
• 5 1/2 cups beer, such as paulaner (oktoberfest lager (44 ounces)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 3/4 lbs smoked sausage (assorted smoked and precooked fresh sausages such as smoked kielbasa cut into thick slices, frankfur)
• 1 lb smoked boneless lamb loin (canadian bacon, cut into 4 slices)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 2 in a large bowl soak sauerkraut in cold water to cover 20 minutes, changing water once halfway through soaking.
• 3 while sauerkraut is soaking, in a large heavy skillet cook bacon pieces over moderate heat, stirring, until golden.
• 4 pour off all but about 2 tablespoons drippings and add onions to bacon.
• 5 cook mixture, stirring, until onions are softened.
• 6 drain sauerkraut well in a colander, pressing out excess liquid, and in a large flameproof roasting pan combine with bacon mixture, carrots, beer, broth, bay leaves, salt, and peppercorns.
• 7 bring sauerkraut mixture to a boil on top of stove and boil 1 minute.
• 8 cover pan tightly with foil and braise in middle of oven 4 hours.
• 9 sauerkraut may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead, cooled, uncovered, and chilled, covered with plastic wrap. reheat sauerkraut before proceeding.
• 10 if desired, in a heavy skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and in batches brown sausages.
• 11 add sausages and lamb loin to sauerkraut, partially submerging them.
• 12 braise sausages and sauerkraut, covered tightly with foil, in middle of oven 30 minutes and transfer with a slotted spoon to a heated platter, discarding bay leaves if desired. (do not eat bay leaves if leaving as garnish.).