Knockwurst is a German sausage made from a blend of ground pork and beef seasoned with spices like garlic, pepper and nutmeg, and encased in natural hog casings.
It is typically made by blending ground pork and beef with seasonings and then stuffing the meat into casings which are twisted or tied into sausages.
The name of this dish comes from the German word ‘knacken’, which means to crack or snap, due to the crisp casing of this sausage. Knockwurst are usually grilled or pan-fried until they have a crisp outer casing, and are served with bread, mustard, sauerkraut.
Origin & Cultural Significance
The origin of Knockwurst can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Germany, where it emerged as a regional specialty in the Franconia region.
Knockwurst is enjoyed year-round across Germany, but it is particularly popular during celebrations like Oktoberfest.
Knockwurst is similar to the Bratwurst sausage but is made to have a different texture due to a thicker casing and more coarsely ground meat.
German Knockwurst Recipe
Knockwurst is a German sausage made from a blend of ground pork and beef seasoned with spices like garlic, pepper, and nutmeg, and encased in natural hog casings.
Ingredients
- Pork shoulder (coarsely ground) - 1 lb
- Beef chuck (coarsely ground) - 1 lb
- Ice water - 1/4 cup
- Salt - 1 tbsp
- Black pepper (freshly ground) - 1 tsp
- Garlic powder - 1 tsp
- Nutmeg (ground) - 1/2 tsp
- Hog casings
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork shoulder and beef chuck.
- Add the ice water, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg to the meat mixture.
- Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Prepare the hog casings according to the package instructions.
- Stuff the meat mixture into the prepared casings, forming sausages of desired length.
- Twist or tie the ends of the sausages to secure the filling.
- Heat a grill over medium heat.
- Cook the Knockwurst sausages for about 8-10 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and browned.
- Serve the Knockwurst hot, accompanied by mustard, sauerkraut, and bread.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 277Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 949mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 32g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.