Cheesy Bratwurst & Beer Soup

Cheesy Bratwurst & Beer Soup Recipe. This post is dedicated to some of my greatest loves. These ladies…

These are the ladies who taught Sunday School, confirmed the value my mother told me I had, hosted almost every potluck I’ve ever been to, and who dressed up like rednecks for a party for me a few, four, five or twenty-something years ago.

Every young lady on the planet earth deserves to have women like these in their life. One of my most unreachable goals is to honor every minute they’ve spent with me and every ounce of love they’ve poured into me (even when I didn’t deserve it) by passing it on to others of all ages just like they’re still doing in my hometown.

I’m tearing up just writing about them and I don’t have a tissue handy, so I shall go back to my outrageous shower. Hay bales, quilts, and clotheslines hung across the room with care and giggles. To this day, this is the most spectacular ladies party I have ever attended. No pink flowers. No white linens. And no stuffy rules. Everyone had a wonderful time laughing at our hosts with blacked-out teeth, hillbilly outfits, and hilarious songs

Hay bales, quilts, and clotheslines hung across the room with care and giggles.

To this day, this is the most spectacular ladies party I have ever attended. No pink flowers. No white linens. And no stuffy rules. Everyone had a wonderful time laughing at our hosts with blacked-out teeth, hillbilly outfits, and hilarious songs sung almost on tune with washboards and spoons for accompaniment. They blindfolded me and my job was to guess the types of about 10 cheeses. Sweet baby Jesus, I didn’t know my cheeses. I probably should admit here that my favorite cheese 20 years ago may have still been Velveeta. Okay, it was.

They blindfolded me and my job was to guess the types of about 10 cheeses. Sweet baby Jesus, back then I didn’t know my cheeses. I probably should admit here my favorite cheese twenty-something years ago may or may not have still been Velveeta. Okay, it was.

So in honor of every real cheese known to man. I present thee with my Cheesy Bratwurst & Beer Soup.

Cheesy Bratwurst & Beer Soup Recipe

Makes about 6 10-ounce servings.

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 Johnsonville Bratwurst (about 19 ounces)
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 16 ounces vegetable broth
• 8 ounces hefeweizen beer
• 1 cup frozen potato squares
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 pound block cheddar cheese, grated (save 2 ounces for topping)
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh oregano, minced
• Leaves of 1 large sprig of fresh basil, minced
• Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh thyme, minced
• Leaves of 1 medium sprig of fresh rosemary, minced
• Sea salt & pepper to taste

Place olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.

Place bratwurst in the soup pot and brown all sides. Continue to cook for about 15 minutes or until the bratwurst is done cooking in the middle. Place brats on a cutting board to cool and place diced onion into the soup pot to cook until translucent. Sprinkle flour over onions and stir while cooking for about 2 minutes. Add a little extra olive oil if needed.

Stir in chicken broth and beer.

After broth thickens, add potatoes, heavy cream, all but a couple of ounces of the cheddar cheese, and herbs and spices.

Salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve in bowls or mugs topped with, perhaps, a dollop of sour cream and some grated smoked cheddar.

And may you rock white tights with navy blue shoes, big bangs in all their glory, and sweaters with shoulder pads forever.

And may this soup comfort your soul just like the wonderful, wise hillbillies around you for they are priceless jewels… only, you know, not stuffy.