Krautnik Recipes

TRADITIONAL KRUPNIK: POLISH BARLEY SOUP WITH POTATOES AND PORK RIB

Steps:

• Wash the ribs and place them into a large (5 US qt / 5 litre or larger) cooking pot, together with chicken wings, bay leaves and allspice.
• Peel carrot and parsley root and chop them into large pieces. Pour about 4 liters (around 1 gallon) of cold water.
• Cook for about an hour, skimming scum from the surface.
• Next, remove the vegetables, cool them down and cut into smaller pieces. Continue cooking the ribs until they're tender.
• Peel and cut the onion in half, char it on a dry frying pan and add to the rib stock.
• When the ribs are soft & tender, pull them out of the broth and separate the meat from the bones. Tear the meat into smaller pieces.
• Peel & dice potatoes. Add barley and potatoes into the soup. Cook for about 30 minutes.
• Finally, add meat and vegetables. Season the soup with salt and pepper.
• Serve with chopped parsley.

POLISH HONEY-SPICED VODKA (KRUPNIK)

Steps:

• You can serve the krupnik hot immediately after making it. Or you can allow it to cool and serve it cold.

KRAUTBURGER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain fat. Stir in cabbage and onion soup mix; cook 5 minutes longer, or until lightly browned. Set aside.
• Roll one loaf of bread dough into a 16x8 inch rectangle, then cut into eight 4 inch squares. Spoon cabbage mixture into center of each square, top with 1 small slice cheese and bring up diagonal points, pinching edges closed. Place krautburgers on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray, and let rise for about 10 minutes.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until brown. Brush tops of warm rolls with margarine. Repeat process with second loaf of bread and remaining cabbage mixture and cheese.

EASY HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Mix cabbage, onion, sea salt, and garlic together in a bowl. Firmly pack mixture into a large, clean, food-grade plastic bucket. The cabbage will start to make its own brine as the salt starts to draw out the water of the cabbage.
• Fill a large, clean, food-grade plastic bag with water and place over the salted cabbage mixture so none of the cabbage is exposed to air.
• Allow cabbage to ferment in a cool, dry place, 1 to 4 weeks (depending on how tangy you like your sauerkraut). The temperature of the room you ferment the sauerkraut in should not rise above 70 degrees F (21 degrees C).

KRAUTNIK

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together, gently so as not to break the dumplings if using them.
• Spray 9x13 casserole dish.
• Bake in preheated 350°F oven for approximately 50 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• To speed this up, I would cook on medium power in microwave for 20 minutes and then add the dumplings for the last 20 minutes in the traditional oven. If not using dumplings, serve with dinner rolls and tossed green salad.

KRAUTBURGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, shortening and salt. Stir in enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. , Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. In a large saucepan, cook cabbage and onion until tender. , In a large bowl, combine the meat, cabbage mixture, salt, pepper and seasoned salt. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each into a 16-in. square. Cut into 4-in. squares. Place 1/4 cup filling in the center of each. Bring corners over filling; pinch to seal. , Place, seam side down, on greased baking sheets. Do not let rise. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Brush with melted butter. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

KRUPNIK (POLISH VEGETABLE BARLEY SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak dried mushrooms in boiling water until they are soft and flexible (at least 2 hours).
• Drain the mushrooms (reserving water), and chop them coarsely.
• In a heavy 3-4 qt casserole dish, combine the mushrooms, reserved water, chicken, celery, carrot, string beans, and peas.
• Add the stock and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce to low heat and simmer, partially covered, until chicken is done and vegetables are tender-crisp (20 minutes).
• Strain, setting aside chicken and vegetables and returning stock to the casserole dish.
• Melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the barley, and stir for 1-2 minutes (do NOT let barley brown).
• Add the barley and butter to the stock and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce to low heat and simmer, partially covered for 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and simmer, partially covered, until potatoes and barley are done (20 minutes).
• Return chicken and vegetables to the soup.
• Add water if needed, to thin the soup.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste, then let simmer for a few minutes to reheat the chicken and vegetables.
• Garnish each bowl with a spoonful of sour cream and sprinkle with dill, if desired.