Bamberg Onions

[trotsky]

Saw this item on the Thirsty Traveler, a show on the Fine Living network. The guy visited the brewery in Bamberg, Germany, where they make the legendary Schlenkerla Rauchbier (Smokebeer). Well right next door is the ultimate local quisine, the Bamberg Onion:

http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=8694

It's not going to win any awards on presentation, but basically the gist is, you hollow out an onion, make some sausage, stuff it in, bake it, and make some gravy using the drippings and Rauchbier.

When my wife & I saw this on the program, we looked at each other and knew we had to make them someday. Problem is, Rauchbier is pretty hard to get outside of Germany. Only a few places in the US import it. Well at my new favorite liquor store (because of their incredible beer selection) I saw it. So we made the onions this weekend.

This version of the recipe has a little more detail on the ingredients:
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/685/BambergStyleStuffedOnions70898.shtml

Let me say, they were delicious. Obviously though you need to be a fan of German food. My recommendations, though, if you attempt to try it:

1) It says to use all of your onion innards to make the stuffing. Don't. Only use half. Otherwise there's just not enough to bind it together.
2) Hollow out the onions as much as you can. Never having done it before, I was afraid to go too thin on the sides, so mine were about half an inch thick. Too thick for them to soften up enough during the cooking time. Now I don't mind crunchy onions (haven't met an onion that I didn't like), but for this dish they should be softer.
3) Play with the spices for the sausage mix. The fresh parsley is a must, but the rest you have some freedom to tailor it to your liking.

Prost und Gute Essen!

[Tab]

1. Well, that sounds quintessentially German

Onions, bier, sausage... what more could you want?

Chuss,

- t

[japple]

2. Kartoffeln und kraut!!! And more bier! n/t

[trotsky]

3. Don't you see the Kartoffeln hinter der Zwiebel?

You slather that bier gravy all over them.

Wash it down with another Rauchbier, of course. :)

[japple]

4. Now you've done it. Made me drool all over the keyboard!!