Braised Cabbage And Sauerkraut Recipes

BRAISED CABBAGE AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Melt butter in a heavy casserole. Add mushrooms and saute over high heat until mushrooms begin to brown.
• Lower heat to medium, stir in onion and garlic and saute until they are tender. Add cabbage, sauerkraut, chicken broth and wine. Mix to distribute the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add bay leaf, cover and place in preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours until virtually all liquid in pan has been absorbed. Remove bay leaf. Check seasonings.
• Serve directly from the casserole or transfer to a serving dish. Sour cream sprinkled with poppy seeds should be served alongside.

HARD CIDER-BRAISED SAUSAGES WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the sausages all over, in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove to a plate as they brown. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the sauerkraut and toss to combine with the onions. Add the thyme, coriander and allspice and stir to combine. Season with pepper. Pour in the cider and reduce by half. Add the stock and brown sugar and return to a simmer. Tuck the sausages back into the pot and simmer, uncovered, until the kraut is very tender and the sauce is flavorful and slightly reduced, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt, if needed.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, add the butter and swirl to melt and combine. Serve topped with the parsley.
• Remove any loose leaves from the cabbage head and reserve. Quarter the cabbage and thinly slice, on a mandoline if you have one. (The shreds should be about the thickness of a quarter.) Toss the cabbage in a large bowl with the pickling salt. Work the cabbage through your hands and massage for a minute or two, until the cabbage begins to "sweat" and release some water.
• Thinly slice, then julienne the green apple, leaving the peel on. (Again, use a mandoline if you have one.) Slice the ginger into coins and press with the side of your knife to bruise them slightly and release their oils. Add the apples, ginger and allspice berries to the cabbage and toss well. Let sit for an hour or two, until the cabbage has released quite a bit of water.
• Pack the cabbage mixture into a large, wide-mouthed crock and press down very firmly until the liquid the cabbage has released covers it. (Depending on the age of your cabbage, it may release less water; a fresher cabbage will release a lot of water, while a cabbage that has been stored all winter will release less.) If the cabbage is not covered, mix together 1 quart cold water and 4 1/2 teaspoons pickling salt until dissolved and pour over enough to cover the cabbage.
• Use a couple of the reserved whole cabbage leaves to cover the surface of the cabbage. Cover with a plate (or the weight provided, if you have a fermenting crock) and set something heavy on top to weight it. (You can use cans. Many people like to use a resealable plastic bag filled with the same salted water solution used above because it weights evenly and if it leaks, it doesn't ruin the fermentation process.) Store the crock in a cool, dry place.
• Check the kraut after 2 days. There should be a few bubbles around the sides. Skim any scum that has risen to the surface. Check the kraut every few days and repeat skimming, if needed. Depending on the temperature of your room, the kraut should be ready after about a week. (Some people ferment for a couple of weeks or more, depending on how funky they want their kraut to be.)
• Divide the kraut and pack into jars. Store in the refrigerator. Drain and rinse the kraut well (discarding any ginger pieces) before using.

STUFFED CABBAGE WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Make the filling: Put 1 pound each of beef and pork together through the fine blade of a food chopper twice. In a bowl, combine the meat with 1 cup cooked rice, 1 egg lightly beaten, 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves, both minced, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove 12 large outer leaves from a head of cabbage, reserving the remaining cabbage for another use. Dip the leaves briefly in boiling water to soften and spread them out flat on a work surface. Top each leaf with some of the filling and fold the leaves over the filling, tucking in the ends to make neat rolls. Put 2 pounds sauerkraut in a large kettle with light beer or white wine to cover and heat it gently. In a sauce pan melt 3 tablespoons lard, bacon fat or ham fat, blend in 3 tablespoons flour and cook the roux for 1 to 2 minutes. Blend it into the sauerkraut and bring the liquid to a boil, stirring constantly. Arrange the cabbage rolls on top of the sauerkraut and cook them, covered, in a moderate oven (350?F.) for 2 to 3 hours or until the filling is done. Serve the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut topped with sour cream.;

UKRAINIAN BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH BACON AND WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Soak the mushrooms in 1 cup water for 1 hour. Drain the mushrooms and pat them dry with paper towels. Chop the mushrooms medium fine. Strain the soaking liquid through a coffee filter and set aside. You must do this or you will get sandy liquid.
• In a large Dutch oven, sauté the bacon over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Drain off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the onion and mushrooms to the pot and sauté, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the onion begins to turn golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add to cabbage, toss well, and continue to sauté until the cabbage wilts and begins to color, 10 minutes.
• Do not use sauerkraut in a can. It is best to use packaged or in a glass bottle.
• Add the sauerkraut and sauté, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the reserved soaking liquid, the chicken or beef broth, Madeira, caraway seeds (if desired), and tomato paste. Stir and bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low. Add the sugar and pepper, stir well, and simmer, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes. Serve hot. Serves 4-6.

CABBAGE AND SAUERKRAUT FOR THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Place chopped cabbage into crock pot. Place sauerkraut and onions over top.
• In a mixing bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until cabbage is as tender as you want.
• Stir well before serving.

BRAISED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir cabbage and onion until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in water; add vinegar, sugar, caraway seeds, and salt. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH LOTS OF PORK

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the ribs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Set a medium saucepan on high heat and add the pigs' feet, wine and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, set a large Dutch oven over medium heat and add the coriander seeds, toasting them until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Using a mortar and pestle or the side of a knife, lightly crush the seeds. Set aside.
• Return the Dutch oven to the heat and add the olive oil. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the bratwurst and cook, turning occasionally, until brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Turn down the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pot. Toss in the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and cook until the apples and onions are golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and pigs' feet. Simmer for about 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the sauerkraut, rib tips, 3/4 cup water, carrots, coriander seeds, remaining teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well, then nestle the pork chop in the sauerkraut.
• Cover the pot and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Turn the pork chop and add the bratwurst. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer. Simmer, uncovered, until the juices have thickened and the meat is tender, another 30 to 45 minutes. Serve with boiled potatoes and chopped parsley.