This has to be one of my favorite creations for the Fall/Winter season! AND THERE’S BEER IN IT! So how can it not be good right?! And the greatest thing is that the amount of beer you include is TOTALLY up to you, so if you’re not the biggest beer-in-food fan, then only adding a 1/2 cup instead of the entire bottle will be right up your alley to get that bitter/hoppiness to just cut through the richness of the meat and fillers. Oh, and you absolutely don’t have to have Oktoberfest beer to make this dish, especially if you don’t even like Oktoberfest beer in general! I’ve used different kinds of beer like Budweiser, Yuengling, and 312 before, but I would recommend using a beer that is smooth, rather than overly bitter as it will add a stronger depth of flavor to the dish without making it too tart, so I would stick with a wheat or ale style beer. But this dish is great for the weekdays because it isn’t fussy, it doesn’t take a whole lot of time to make, and it’ll warm your whole body in no time! — Cooking Maggie

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Cooking Maggie’s Oktoberfest Stew

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 (14 ounce) package smoked sausage, cut into bite-size slices (you can use beef, pork, bratwurst, or chicken sausage)
• 1 onion, sliced into thin semi-circles
• 1/2 head small cabbage, halved again, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon whole caraway seeds
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup-1 bottle German-style lager beer (Oktoberfest variety or any beer that is smooth – think wheat or ale)
• 2 russet potatoes, cubed to bite-size pieces
• 2 1/2 cups hot chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon flour (stew thickener)
• 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Place a medium pot over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil.
2. Once the oil is hot, add in the sliced smoked sausage, and allow the slices to caramelize and brown in the oil, for about 5-6 minutes.
3. When the sausage is browned, add in the sliced onions, stirring occasionally until golden-brown and softened (almost caramelized).
4. Once onions are caramelized, add in the sliced cabbage, stir to combine, and allow the cabbage to soften, about 4-5 minutes.
5. Once the cabbage is softened and golden, add in the black pepper, caraway seeds, garlic, and a pinch of salt, stirring to combine well.
6. Add in the cup/bottle of beer, and stir the mixture to combine. Slightly reduce beer for about 3 minutes, then add in the cubed potatoes and the hot chicken stock. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, and place a lid, slightly askew to allow just a little steam to escape) and leave it be for about 40 minutes.
7. When stew is at desired thickness, turn the heat off, and finish the stew by stirring in the apple cider vinegar and the chopped parsley (add more salt if necessary, too). If the stew is not thick enough, add in a teaspoon of flour and stir in completely. Add flour one teaspoon at a time until desired thickness is achieved (I like my stews really thick, so I add about 2 teaspoons max.)