Hearty Oktoberfest Lager & Sausage Stew

Fall = Oktoberfest. Feeling in need of some festive German-inspired food I surfed the web and found this recipe on The Cozy Apron website. Relatively simple to make yet serving up complex flavor.

INGREDIENTS: 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 (14 oz) package beef smoked sausage, cut into bite-size slices
1 1/2 onion, sliced into thin semi-circles
1/2 head small cabbage, halved again, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp ground caraway seeds
Pinch of salt
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup German-style lager beer (Oktoberfest variety)
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed to bite-size pieces
2 1/2 cups hot chicken stock
1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS: 

Place a medium-large pot over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the sliced beef smoked sausage, and allow the slices to caramelize and brown in the oil, for about 4-5 minutes.

Once the sausage is browned, add in the sliced onions, stir, and allow the onions to caramelize with the sausage for another few minutes, until golden-brown and softened. After onions are caramelized, add in the sliced cabbage, stir to combine, and allow the cabbage to soften and take on the flavors of the sausage and onions for few minutes. Once the cabbage is softened and golden, add in the black pepper, ground caraway seeds and the pinch of salt, and stir to combine.

Next, stir in the garlic, and once it becomes aromatic. Add in the cup of lager, and stir the mixture to combine; allow the beer to slightly reduce for about 3 minutes or so. Add in the cubed potatoes and the hot chicken stock, stir. Allow the mixture to come to a boil then place a lid on (slightly askew to allow just a little steam to escape), and reduce the heat to low to gently simmer the stew for about 40 minutes. After the 40 minutes, 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).

Serve in large bowls with some hearty, rye bread or rustic rolls with butter.