Braunschweiger vs. Liverwurst: How to Use German Sausages

Braunschweiger is a type of sausage made from beef or pork liver. Butchers prepare braunschweiger by combining beef and/or pork with seasonings such as black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, and cardamom to accentuate the flavor. Braunschweiger is made by grinding the meat quite fine, adding the flavorings, and packing it inside a natural or synthetic casing.

Originally from Germany—it’s named after the German city of Braunschweig (Brunswick)—this sausage has since become popular worldwide. As with many food items, ingredients for Braunschweiger vary regionally. Braunschweiger made in Austria utilizes pork, beef, bacon, and curing salts like sodium nitrite to help preserve the sausage. In Germany, Braunschweiger is usually made from raw minced pork.

Liverwurst, also known as leberwurst or liver sausage, is a German sausage made from beef or pork liver. Seasonings for liverwurst include black pepper, salt, mustard seed, white pepper, allspice, coriander, marjoram. Butchers and home cooks grind and mix the ingredients, then encase and boil the sausage.

Braunschweiger and liverwurst are German sausages made from pork and/or beef organ meats, primarily liver. The main difference between these sausages is that Braunschweiger can be smoked.

You can slice and serve Braunschweiger on an appetizer platter or use it to make sandwiches. The texture of Braunschweiger sausages is soft and quite spreadable, making it great for topping on crackers, bread, vegetables, and cheese. The sausage is typically parboiled and smoked in Canada and the US, creating a distinct flavor and texture.

There are many ways to prepare and serve liverwurst. A popular way to enjoy liverwurst is to slice the sausage and spread it on sandwiches. You can use liverwurst similarly to liver pâté or cream cheese and spread it on crackers or toast as part of an appetizer. You can also fry liverwurst to give it more texture and a bit of crispness. After pan-frying or deep-frying, you can add the liverwurst to pasta salads or potato casseroles.

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