German Style Sauerkraut Recipes

HOW TO COOK SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Drain the sauerkraut. Finely slice the onion and the apple. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the apple and onions for about 3-4 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• In the meantime, finely grate the potato. Set aside.
• Sprinkle the sugar on top of the onion and apple slices, stir lightly and let the sugar caramelize for a couple of minutes. Keep an eye on it and don't let it become too dark, it should be only lightly caramelized.
• Add the peppercorns, cloves, juniper berries, bay leaves, sauerkraut, grated potato, and stock. Stir well.
• Simmer: Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

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.

GERMAN PORK CHOPS AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the pork chops on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Place the chops into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Mix the sauerkraut, apple, onion, brown sugar, and caraway seeds in a bowl until well combined, and spread the sauerkraut mixture over the pork chops. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink inside, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chop should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

GERMAN STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Fry bacon until almost crisp.
• Add onion and cook until limp.
• Add rinsed sauerkraut.
• Add water to cover.
• Put caraway and juniper in a tea ball or wrap in cheesecloth so it can be removed later.
• Add bay leaf.
• Cover and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Add more water if necessary.
• Should be juicy but not soupy.
• Remove spices.
• Stir in shredded potato.
• The potato will melt and turn saucy.
• Stir in wine.

COOKED SAUERKRAUT (GERMAN STYLE)

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the drippings.
• Add the sliced onions and apples, cooking until onions get transparent, but not colored.
• Add the sauerkraut.
• Add the stock or water, and the onion with the cloves, bay leaf, juniper berries, salt and sugar.
• Cover pot, and cook over low heat for about 45 minutes.
• *Ifwater has been used instead of stock, add a piece of lean bacon or pork to the cabbage to improve the flavor.
• When the cabbage is done (after about 45 minutes), thicken the mixture with the grated potato (or corn flour mixed with water).
• Remove the bacon/pork from the sauerkraut and season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.