Sausages are one of those ingredients that we almost always have in the fridge, but that we usually use always the same wayQuick hot dogs, impromptu dinners for kids, or a snack in a pinch. However, behind a simple sausage lies a multitude of possibilities that go far beyond the typical hot dog.
With some good sausages and a little imagination we can prepare informal appetizers, first courses, full dinners, warm salads, tasty stews and even fun recipes for kids. From traditional options like sausages in wine to international versions like German currywurst or American hot dogs, there's a whole world to discover.
Choose the right sausage: fresh, packaged, and the most common types.
Before we start cooking, it's important to understand that not all sausages are the same and that the choice greatly influences the result. For stews and dishes with sauce, it's best to use... fresh sausages from the butcher shop, whether they are made from pork, beef, chicken or mixtures, because they have a better texture and flavor than many industrial ones.
However, for hot dogs and quick everyday recipes, they offer a lot of possibilities. packaged Frankfurt or Vienna-type sausagesThese come pre-cooked. They are easy to store, economical, and very versatile, but it's still advisable to look for quality brands and read the label carefully to avoid products with excessive starches and additives.
Within the world of packaged sausages you will find a wide variety of options: from classic Frankfurters to larger and tastier ones like... Bratwurst, Grand Wienerwurst, Bockwurst or smoked varieties Bavarian style. There are also versions stuffed with cheese, made with turkey meat, or even vegetarian versions, which work well in many of the dishes we'll see.
If your idea is to prepare somewhat more special recipes - like sausages in wine, baked with vegetables, or a warm salad - you'll notice a big difference if you choose fresh sausages or longanizas made with good meat instead of highly processed products. The flavor of the dish is enhanced and the texture becomes much juicier.
How to cook packaged sausages: 5 methods that never fail
Frankfurter or Vienna sausages that come in a package have already undergone heat treatment, but even so It's not advisable to eat them straight from the packaging.It is important to cook them for a few minutes to reach the correct temperature and avoid possible health risks, such as the presence of listeria.
The manufacturer's label usually shows the recommended cooking or searing times. Even so, it's helpful to know the basic techniques so that they turn out delicious, juicy, and without wrinkling or bursting.
1. In a frying pan or on a griddle
Probably the most common way to cook them at home: simply heat a pan or griddle with a trickle of olive oilMake a few shallow cuts in each sausage so they don't open up and brown them over medium heat, turning them little by little so they brown on all sides.
If you prefer a crispier texture, you can open them like a book, cutting them lengthwise, and place them with the inside facing down on the griddle until they are crispy. well toasted inside and outAnother option is to start with a little water in the pan, let it boil for a few minutes with the sausages, and then add oil to brown the surface.
2. Cooked in water or beer
The most classic way to prepare homemade hot dogs is to boil the sausages in water. Bring a pot to a boil, add the sausages one by one, reduce the heat to medium, and let them cook for a few minutes. 5 and 8 minutes as indicated on the packaging. You can flavor the water with a splash of wine, bay leaves, or your favorite spices.
A very successful variation is to cook the sausages in beer instead of waterBoil about a liter of beer, add the frankfurters, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes depending on their size. Then drain them well on paper towels and serve them in toasted rolls, topped with sweet and sour pickles, crispy fried onions, ketchup, and mustard. The beer imparts an intense and very aromatic flavor.
3. In the microwave
If you're in a hurry, the microwave is the quickest method. Prick the sausages with a fork so they don't burst, place them on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a special lid or kitchen paper, and microwave. medium-high power for 1 minuteCheck the temperature and, if they are still cold, add a few more seconds until they are hot in the center.
If you're making hot dogs, you can take advantage of the microwave to warm the bread briefly, but be careful not to overdo it: about 10 seconds It is usually enough to make it slightly warm without becoming rubbery.
4. Baked
Turning on the oven is a bit more of a chore, but it's worth it because the sausages turn out great. juicy on the inside and crispy on the outsideSimply preheat the oven to about 180°C, place the sausages on a baking tray and bake them for about 5 minutes on each side, turning them over halfway through cooking.
A good idea is to use the baking tray as well. side vegetablesPotatoes, carrots, peppers, onion, garlic… They are seasoned with oil and spices, baked for about 20 minutes and then the sausages are added, continuing to cook for another 10-15 minutes, until everything is golden brown.
5. Grilled or barbecued
Sausages on the grill gain a spectacular smoky touchPerfect for outdoor gatherings. Ideally, cook them over medium heat, taking your time, so they cook through without burning on the outside. Turn them frequently and avoid high flames.
On the barbecue, they go wonderfully with a side of roasted vegetables: peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes… and a good barbecue sauce. However, even though they're golden brown and appetizing, it's important to always respect the minimum cooking times that the manufacturers recommend.
Fresh sausages: from the pot to the oven
Fresh sausages are a different story. They don't come precooked, so you have to treat them like raw meat and cook them thoroughly. In return, they offer much more flavor and a juicy texture, ideal for stews, soups or to add a little something extra to vegetables and pasta.
In Spain, they are readily available in butcher shops and are usually made from pork, a mixture of meats, or even beef, chicken, or turkey. It's best to ask for good quality ones, with a just the right amount of fatBecause that's what will make them tender in recipes like sausages in wine or baked with vegetables.
Sausages in wine with onions
One of the most traditional and successful ways to prepare them is in a wine and onion sauce. The base is very simple: Mark the sausage first. to seal it and then it is slowly cooked with plenty of sautéed onion and white wine.
For a homemade version inspired by the best recipes, you can start with this guideline: sear the sausages over high heat and set aside, sauté the julienned onion with some garlic until soft and translucent, add a teaspoon of sweet paprika and a little flour to thicken, moisten with chicken broth or white wine and let it reduce for a few minutes. Then add the sausages back in and They finish cooking over low heat about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
Sausages with onions, the classic stew
Very similar is the classic dish of sausages with onions, perfect for everyday meals. Here, the star ingredient is a generous amount of slowly cooked onion, which is simmered with garlic, a pinch of paprika, and some liquid (broth or water) until it forms a thick and very tasty sauceThe sausages have just finished cooking in that sauce, becoming tender and full of flavor.
This type of stew benefits from being accompanied by homemade fries, air-fried potatoes, or creamy mashed potatoesIt also works very well with white rice to soak up the sauce.
Baked sausages with tomatoes and chili pepper
Another simple and attractive idea is to bake the sausages with a mixture of different types of small tomatoes (red cherry, yellow, kumato, pear, etc.), chili peppers, and aromatic herbs. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and season with... salt, olive oil and herbs such as thyme, rosemary or oreganoand they divide the sausages, cut into pieces, among themselves.
With the oven preheated to around 190ºC, bake everything together for about 20 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking so that The sausages are toasted evenly and the tomatoes are candied. The result is an aromatic dish, with a natural roasted tomato sauce, perfect for dipping bread.
International recipes with sausages
Beyond traditional stews, sausages are protagonists in many cuisines around the world. Some versions have become so popular that they are easy to reproduce at home with simple ingredients.
Classic American hot dog
The American-style hot dog has its little tricks. The usual thing is to mark the frankfurters by making... angled cuts on both sides To allow the heat to penetrate better, brown them in a pan or on a griddle and place them in warm rolls.
The special touch comes from the dressing type relishA finely chopped mixture of sweet and sour pickles and onion with Dijon mustard and a touch of honey. The hot dog is assembled with sausage, ketchup, yellow mustard, the pickle and onion mixture, and, to top it off, crispy fried onion.
German Currywurst
The currywurst is an icon of street food Berliner. It consists of a Bratwurst-type sausage cut into slices and served with a tomato sauce spiced with curryFor the sauce, sauté onion and garlic, add chopped tomato with its juice, sugar, apple puree, apple cider vinegar, mustard and a generous mixture of ground curry.
Let it simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens, then blend it until smooth and adjust the salt and sugar. Meanwhile, brown the Bratwurst on a griddle without overcooking them. Serve the chopped sausage topped with the hot curry sauceoften accompanied by French fries.
British sausage rolls
In the United Kingdom, they are very typical sausage rollsPuff pastry rolls filled with seasoned sausage meat. To prepare them, the skin is removed from fresh sausages and the meat is mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk and egg, garlic salt, herbes de Provence, and a little bit of... Dijon mustard.
Roll out a rectangular sheet of puff pastry, divide the filling among the pastries to form elongated cylinders, roll them up, brush the edges with beaten egg to seal them well, and cut them into smaller pieces. Before baking, make a couple of diagonal cuts in each roll, brush them with egg, and sprinkle with, if desired, [the desired toppings/flavors]. Sesame seedsThey are baked at about 190ºC until golden brown and crispy.
Salad ideas and light dishes with sausages
Not everything with sausages has to be heavy. They can also be incorporated into warm salads or more balanced single dishescombining them with vegetables, potatoes, and aromatic herbs.
Warm potato, sausage and pesto salad
A very complete option is to boil whole potatoes with their skins on in salted water until tender, let them cool, peel them and cut them into thick bite-sized slicesOn the other hand, Bratwurst-type sausages or white sausages (without skin) are chopped and browned in a pan with a little oil and black pepper.
In the same pan, lightly brown the potatoes, add the sausages back in, let it cool slightly, and then transfer everything to a serving dish. Add halved cherry tomatoes and dress with pesto sauce slightly thinned with waterso that it spreads evenly. The result is a very tasty warm salad, ideal as a main course.
Kids' recipes and fun presentations
For younger children, the trick is often in the presentation. With a little imagination, sausages can be transformed into octopuses, rockets, bathers or mummiesAnd in doing so, we encourage them to eat side dishes like pasta or vegetables.
Octopus sausages and "bather" sausages
The popular octopus sausages are made by partially cutting the sausage into strips at one end, leaving the top intact. When cooked or seared in a pan, the legs open and they take the shape of an octopus. They are perfect to serve on a bed of spaghetti or rice.
Another fun presentation is that of the "bathing" sausages, in which the sausage is placed on a puree or a base that simulates sandDecorating with sauces to draw faces or details. These are simple ideas that turn an ordinary dinner into something more fun.
Banderillas, rockets and mummy sausages
Sausage skewers are a classic at birthdays and afternoon snacks. Sausages are threaded onto skewers and coated in batter. thick batter made with flour (or pancake mix) and they are fried until golden brown. Baked versions can also be made with rolled puff pastry, in a spiral shape.
You can make them with shortcrust pastry or puff pastry rocket sausagesEach sausage is wrapped in a strip of dough, baked, and then skewered, topped with a triangle of cheese. And for Halloween, they're a hit! mummy sausages, wrapped with thin strips of puff pastry leaving gaps for eyes.
Tips, timings and food safety
To ensure the sausages turn out well and without any surprises, it's important to pay attention to a few details. First, you must respect the temperature and cooking timeIf the heat is too high, the skin may burst and the meat may become dry; if it is too low and for too short a time, a fresh sausage may remain raw inside.
In the case of packaged sausages, manufacturers usually indicate at least 4 minutes of cooking or fryingHowever, it's best to adjust the cooking time according to size and thickness. Furthermore, it's not a good idea to eat them raw, even if they're precooked, because they could contain bacteria like listeria, which is especially dangerous for pregnant women, babies, or the elderly.
If you notice they wrinkle a lot while cooking, check the heat setting: it's usually a sign of overly aggressive heatingA good practice is to start over medium heat and only give it a stronger blast at the end to brown the surface.
Finally, if you want to fine-tune the cooking point and browning, you can combine techniques: a couple of minutes of cooking in water or steam, followed by a Quick marking on the ironIt usually gives a very juicy result without the risk of burning the outside.
With simple sausages and a little creativity, you can prepare dishes of all kinds: from homemade stews and aromatic oven-baked recipes to international hot dogs, warm salads, and imaginative children's meals. By mastering different cooking methods and choosing the right type of sausage for each recipe, it's easy. turn this humble ingredient into the star fast, affordable and, above all, tasty meals.
