Thüringer Rostbratwurst
Thüringer Rostbratwurst: charcoal-grilled bratwurst in a roll with homemade Thuringian mustard
In Thuringia the long, thin Rostbratwurst is grilled over charcoal at every market, football ground and village fête, and has been since at least the 15th century. It is a raw, finely seasoned pork sausage with marjoram, caraway and garlic, bought from a Thuringian butcher, and the local rules are strict: grilled slowly over glowing coals, served in a roll that is too short for it, with a sharp, coarse mustard and never with ketchup. Here you grill good fresh bratwurst and make a medium-hot mustard to go with it. Vegetarians can grill vegetarian bratwurst the same way. Chef's tip: grill over glowing coals with no flames, rubbing the sausages with a bacon rind or a little oil so they colour evenly and the skin crackles.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the mustard
For the sausages
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (1)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Make the mustard at least 12 hours ahead: soak the 3 tbsp brown mustard seeds and 2 tbsp yellow mustard seeds in the ¼ cup cider vinegar and 3 ½ tbsp cold water for 2 hours, then blend with the 1 tbsp mustard powder, 1 tsp sugar and ½ tsp salt until coarse. Jar and chill; it is fiery at first and mellows overnight.
10 minStep 2: Light the charcoal and wait 20–30 minutes until the coals are glowing and covered in white ash. Common mistake: grilling over flames, which blackens the skin and leaves the inside raw.
25 minStep 3: Brush the 4 fresh raw Thuringian-style pork bratwurst lightly with the 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Grill on the rack about 10 cm above the coals for 12–15 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until evenly browned and the centre reaches 160°F.
15 minStep 4: Split the 4 crusty bread rolls, tuck in a sausage so both ends stick out, and spread with plenty of the mustard. Eat straight away, holding the roll with a paper napkin.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 590 kcal
- Protein
- 26 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 38 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does thüringer Rostbratwurst take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of brown mustard seeds?
- Cumin seeds, same amount (different flavour, same crackle).
- What can I use instead of yellow mustard seeds?
- Cumin seeds, same amount (different flavour, same crackle).
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