Bavarian Sauerkraut Wine Kraut Recipes

BAVARIAN SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Prepare: Drain the sauerkraut. Finely chop the onions and cut the bacon into small cubes. Peel and dice the apple.
• Heat the fat in a saucepan. Cook the onions and the bacon for about 3 minutes on medium-low heat. Add the apple and stir for another 3 minutes.
• Caramelize: Sprinkle the sugar on top, stir and let caramelize slightly for about 1-2 minutes.
• Simmer: Add sauerkraut, salt, pepper, caraway seeds, cider/white wine/ apple juice. Stir well, cover, and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes.
• Serve immediately or reheat.

BAVARIAN SAUERKRAUT - WINE KRAUT

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the bacon drippings and saute the onion until soft (medium heat works well). Place sauerkraut (with juices) in a large bowl. Cover completely with water. Hand stir to mix water throughout the sauerkraut. Collect sauerkraut by handfuls and squeeze out "most" of the liquid and add the sauerkraut (one handful at a time) to the skillet. Then add the caraway seeds, sugar, chicken stock and sherry and combine thoroughly. Heat to a slow boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until just about all the liquid is evaporated. I cooked at very low heat, for about 30-40 minutes. Also make sure you stir occassionally to incorporate all of the ingredients. Serve immediately.
• Fantastic on hot dogs, and perfect used as a side dish with Roast Pork Shoulder and Mashed Potatoes.

BAVARIAN SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Heat bacon drippings in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Place sauerkraut with juice into a large bowl and cover with water. Stir and use your hands to squeeze out as much of the water and juice as possible. Add squeezed sauerkraut to onion.
• Stir brown sugar, caraway seeds, chicken stock, and cooking sherry into the sauerkraut mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

JUDY'S SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place the sauerkraut, bacon drippings, and onion into a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth, then season with cloves, bay leaf, juniper berries, caraway seed, salt, and sugar. Stir to combine.
• Cook on Low 8 hours.

UNCLE BILL'S SAUERKRAUT WITH WINE

Steps:

• Break away any bad outside leaves and discard.
• Rinse cabbage under cold running water.
• Cut cabbage heads into quarters.
• Do not use cores, discard them after shredding.
• Finely shred cabbage or slice with a good sharp knife.
• In a large crock, layer with 2 inches of shredded cabbage.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of pickling salt.
• Place sliced pieces of one red pepper over.
• Repeat layering until all cabbage, salt and red pepper are used up.
• There should be about 4 layers.
• Pour water over cabbage.
• Now pour the wine over cabbage.
• Place a large plate to cover most of the top surface of the cabbage.
• Place a 4 to 5 pound clean rock (cleaned and washed and soaked in white vinegar) on top of the plate as a weight.
• If liquid does not come to the surface, just add a bit more cold water (or wine if you prefer.) Cover top with several layers of cheesecloth and tie with a good string so the cloth does not fall off.
• Leave cabbage to ferment for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm area (70 F to 75 F) or until it starts to foam around the edges of the plate.
• Move the crock to a cooler area (about 60 F to 65 F) and continue to ferment for another 2 weeks.
• At this time, taste to see if the sauerkraut is curing.
• When it suits your taste, pack the sauerkraut and some liquid into 12 sterilized quart size jars leaving a 1/2" head space.
• Wipe jar rims clean.
• Prepare and place lids according to manufacturers instructions.
• Place screw lids on just finger tight.
• Process in boiling water in a canner for 25 minutes.
• Remove jars and allow to cool for 12 hours.
• Check to see if all jars are sealed.
• Lids should be concave (curved down).
• Re-process jars that are not sealed, but remember to change with new lids.
• Store in a cool, dark place.