I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

March 17, 2013

Beer Braised Pork Sausages with Apple and Onion





Beer is not something I'm terribly familiar with



A beverage based on barley and wheat is not my go-to drinky-poo, I usually enjoy a nice cold wine and soda on a hot day, or a GnT if I want something a bit more special. I had heard the odd rumour that there was gluten free beer on the market, but to be perfectly honest I just didn't miss what I'd never had.


Now that was all well and good, but then I was gifted a couple of 6 packs of O'Brien Beer- and there was no turning back!          https://rebellionbrewing.com.au/obrien-beer

Founder John O'Brien was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease back in 1998, and wasn't about to let the gluten get him down. He set about creating a wonderful gluten free product that hit the shelves in 2005, and has won the hearts and taste buds of many beer deprived Aussies ever since.
I have been told by a true beer drinking authority that this beer isn't a 'pretend' beer, but a real, honest-to-goodness tasting beer with authentic flavours and medals from the international community to prove it!






With a pretty sturdy Irish branch in my family tree, I wanted to at least acknowledge St Patrick's Day this weekend.
I didn't want to just stick to the usual Corned Beef and Cabbage, or Irish Stew though, so I tried to come up with something yummy that would still be true to the day.
Enter Rebellion Brewing and their wonderful O'Brien Beer!
Alcohol, pork, a touch of the rebel- now that certainly sounds like an Irish recipe to me :)






Beer Braised Pork Sausages with Apple and Onion


12 thick gluten free Pork Sausages
2 Green Apples
2 large Brown Onions
1 bottle O'Brien Premium Larger (or a dry Apple Cider could also be used)
Oil for browning
salt and pepper for seasoning

Mashed Potato or such for serving- something nice and creamy that will soak up all the lovely slightly sweet juices. Mashed potato and parsnips together would be lovely too



Core and cut the apples into wedges. Keep the skins on to help them hold together because we don't want them to fall apart and go mushy






Cut the onion into nice thick slices






Using about a tablespoon of oil brown the apple slices slightly and wilt down the onion rings. Don't let them really cook though, you just want to get a bit of colour so they look pretty in the finished dish.
Set aside






Use another splash or two of oil and brown off the sausages nicely too. Turn them around as you go to colour them evenly. They don't need to cook, they will braise in a minute, you just want a pretty colour again






Pour over the bottle of beer, and quickly turn the heat down to very low






Place the apple and onion over the top of the sausages and season lightly






Cover the pot and simmer lightly for about 20 minutes or until the sausages are cooked through. Don't have this on a high or even medium heat or the sausages might split up the side and the apple turn to mush. The dish will still taste yummy, but it just wont be very pretty at all :(






Once the sausages are cooked through, check the sauce for seasoning, and after removing all the bits and pieces simmer it down until it's a bit reduced and thicker. I didn't find this necessary though as the slightly thin sauce still coated everything beautifully and was very nicely flavoured indeed





I plated my meal with a nice big swirl of mashed potato creating a well in the bottom of a shallow bowl to catch all the yummy juices and keep it tidy






Top with a few of the fat, juicy sausages, plenty of onion and apple, and lots of yummy sauce. So yummy, and perfect for that early Autumn chill that St Patrick's Day seems to bring along each year here in the Southern climes.
Serve with another nice big glass of O'Brien Beer and don't forget to raise your glass to St Patrick!



So Dear Readers, are you doing anything for St Patrick's Day, and what is your favourite Irish Recipe?



Disclosure:  Beer gifted to InTolerant Chef by Rebellion Brewery and O'Brien Beer https://rebellionbrewing.com.au/obrien-beer 
thanks to Cousin Katey at http://www.thelittlebitbakery.com/
Thanks Guys!






21 comments:

  1. This beer sounds great! Beer is one of those things that I'm really quite allergic to so I wonder if these will be any better. I must look out for them :)

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    1. I wonder how it would affect you Lorraine? A lot of wines make me itchy and sniffy, but not so much spirits, and beer was new to me, but I had no problem at all with it. Let me know how you go if you do try it :) x

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  2. Oh this looks like the perfect winter warming dish!! Yum... oh and I loved your little apple slice gadget, how cool :)

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    1. Thanks GG! I don't remember where I got the apple slicer though, I've had it for years and years and it is quite handy indeed

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  3. Delicious combination - love sausages of any kind with mashed potatoes - yummmm!

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  4. this sounds so delicious, i'm not really a sausage person but the rest of my family loves them but this sounds good! and that apple cutter - wow.

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    1. I'm not a huge fan of them just fried off either Muppy- they're either too greasy or too dry, but if you braise them they seem to be juuuuust right! :)

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    2. I made this for dinner with apple cider and it was amazing!!!! You are right - I devoured the sausages, just perfect :)

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    3. Yay! So glad you enjoyed them Muppy, and thanks so much for letting me know sweetie! :)

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  5. Wow -what a great dish! We love snags in this house so I'll be adding this to the repertoire.

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    1. Thnks Amanda! The flavour combination is really nice and fresh, I hope you enjoy it too :)

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  6. Now completely distracted by your apple cutter thingy...how cool is that!

    Beer unfortunately seems to only find itself in my bread these days. (However, that's not a bad place to be in!)

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    1. Everyone seems to love my apple cutter thingy Brydie! I can't even remember where I got it though- sorry! I bought it for MiddleC who had motor skill issues when she was young, and I didn't trust her with a knife for cutting up her fruit :) She still uses it everytime!
      I wish I could have a great big slice of yours and Celia's frsh baked bread, warm from the oven, and slathered with butter.....sigh... I have yet to find a gluten free bread that looks half as nice!

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  7. I absolutely love the sound of this recipe. These flavour combinations would be absolutely divine. You have inspired me to cook something similar. Thank you x

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    1. Thanks so much- I hope you enjoy it and let me know how you go! :)

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  9. This has me drooling at the keyboard.. Such a delicious idea!

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  10. A fantastic & tasty recipe, dear Rebecca! I have made a similar recipe like this before bit yours sounds & looks way better though!

    I must make this soon! Very soon,...!!!! MMMMMM! x

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