Summer grilling is all about quality hot dogs and brats, and more households are turning to turkey. Turkey brats, not to mention turkey sausage and related offerings, combine rich flavor, the perfect combination of spice and texture, and some interesting health advantages over hot dogs.
If you’re thinking of giving turkey links a try, read on.
What’s the Difference Between Hot Dogs, Sausages, and Brats?
All hot dogs and brats are types of sausages, but not all sausages are brats or hot dogs.
- Sausages technically include a wide variety of tubed meats, including hot dogs, brats, and kielbasa.
- Hot dogs are finely processed and pre-cooked, which means they only need to be re-heated before serving.
- Brats, or bratwurst, use coarsely ground raw meat that requires cooking before they’re served. They also tend to have significantly more seasoning with ginger, nutmeg, and caraway.
What Is Turkey Sausage?
Turkey sausage, which technically includes both hot dogs and brats, is simply a turkey-based alternative to pork sausage. It’s usually made from dark meat and includes sage and fennel to provide a flavor and finish similar to pork products. Fresh turkey sausage typically has a smoky flavor, but there are many varieties to choose from.
Turkey Sausage vs. Pork Sausage: Which Is Healthier?
Both turkey and pork products can be a part of a nutritious diet, but turkey does offer some advantages. Turkey is a leaner protein overall, with less fat and fewer calories than comparable sausage products.
That lower fat content makes turkey sausage, including brats and hot dogs, a smart choice for weight management.
Pork sausage does offer more flavor and a juicy texture due to its fat content, and many feel more familiar with its taste profile.
Our Favorite Turkey Brat and Hot Dog Toppings
One of the underappreciated characteristics of any tubed meat is the versatility. There are endless opportunities to make your brat your very own. In addition to ketchup, mustard, and sweet relish, you’ll find us throwing all kinds of toppings on brats, including:
- Sauerkraut: Top your brat with Brine & Vine Souly Salt sauerkraut for a rich fermented flavor.
- Cherry Salsa: Try Brownwood Farms Cherry Salsa and give your brat a very Traverse City take!
- Relish: We love Woodstock’s organic sweet relish, and you’ll use it on burgers, hot dogs, and tuna salad!
What Goes with Turkey Brats and Hot Dogs?
Turkey brats pair well with all the familiar cookout fixings you know and love. Serve your turkey brats with our in-house compound salads (psst, try the Caprese Pasta salad!), Great Lakes Potato Chips’ Cherry BBQ chips, or a fresh garden salad.
Shop Oryana’s Turkey Brats, Made In-House
Oryana’s turkey brats are the perfect twist for the dog days of summer. Our brats are made with quality turkey, processed at Oryana West, and reliably delicious! Stop by your favorite Oryana location and sign up for our newsletter to receive mouth-watering recipes every week!
