Don’t judge a book by its cover, a person by their clothing, or a dip by its color. The comparison is inevitable so I’ll go ahead and say it: The following recipe, no matter brilliantly described or lovingly plated, will always and forever look like a glorious mountain of cow plop, steaming away on a hot summer’s afternoon.

Just avert your eyes and dig in. The smoky, spicy, earthy flavor of cocoa mole awaits your taste buds if you can suspend disbelief. Presenting a bold alternative to the ubiquitous green guacamole filling bowls across the country for Super Bowl festivities, it won’t score any points for presentation, but may just win the snacking game.

Guaca-Mole

2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Chipotle Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Ground White pepper
2 Avocados
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
1 Small Heirloom or Medium Roma Tomato, Chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
2 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro, Minced
2 Scallions, Thinly Sliced

Combine the cocoa, spices, and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Pit, dice and scoop the avocado flesh out, adding it to the bowl along with the lime juice. Very roughly mash with a fork, incorporating all of the dry ingredients but keeping the texture rather chunky. Mix in the tomato, garlic, cilantro, and scallions last, stirring until the vegetables and herbs are equally distributed throughout the dip. Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Makes About 2 Cups

Printable Recipe

Bratwurst Subs are the best to serve at a barbecue or tailgate party.

What is Bratwurst?

Bratwurst is a German sausage made from veal, beef or pork.  The name is derived from old German: brät is finely chopped meat, and Wurst is sausage.  The first mentions of making Bratwurst in Germany date back to 1313!  If you’re touring countries with a large German population, it’s common to see carts where people are selling Bratwurst-to-go.

In the United States, Bratwurst is a common type of sausage.  You’ll see it at summer cookouts alongside the more popular hot dog.  And it has become a mainstay staple at sports stadiums too.  Bratwurst is greatly popular in Wisconsin, where the largest ancestry group is German.  Wisconsin is home to the Beer Brat, where Bratwurst is simmered in beer before grilling.  That’s how these Bratwurst Subs are made!

What’s the best way to make Bratwurst Subs?

The best way to make Bratwurst Subs is to simmer them in beer before grilling.  Classic Brat recipes might call for simmering in a mixture of beer, onions and butter.  This recipe simply calls for simmering in beer (add the onions and butter, if you’d like).  The Brats are simmered for 10 minutes, which is just enough time to cook them all the way through.  I love that about this recipe because you don’t have to worry about whether or not the Brats are cooked through on the grill.  Next step is grilling… just long enough to heat them up and get some good grill marks.  Add the Brats to the buns and top with condiments.

What kind of beer should I use for this recipe?

It’s recommended that you use your favorite Pilsner.  Don’t grab the cheapest beer possible to make Bratwurst Subs, but you don’t need an expensive brand either.  It should be a beer with a flavor that you enjoy.  You’ll need enough beer to cover the Brats in the pot so they’re submerged while simmering.  A 6-pack should be just about right.  Yes, I realize it might be hard to pour all of your beer into a pot without drinking any… but it’s all part of making the best Bratwurst Subs!

Let’s talk about the rolls to use for Bratwurst Subs:

You can certainly use hot dog buns.  But you might find if you have some wimpy brand of hot dog buns that they aren’t substantial enough to hold a hearty link of Bratwurst.  My suggestion is to use a more gourmet, larger-sized long roll.  My husband likes to throw the rolls on the grill too.  I like to butter the rolls first and then grill them.

Suggested condiments for Bratwurst Subs:

• spicy mustard
• sliced tomato
• sauerkraut
• chopped onions or caramelized onions
• Swiss cheese
• thousand Island dressing
• pickles

Here are a few more recipes that would be great to serve at a sports-themed party:

• Corn Dogs
• Sports Dipped Strawberries
• Frito Snack Mix
• Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels
• All American Potato Salad
• Puff Pastry Nachos
• Baked Jalapeno Poppers

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