Bohemian Sauerkraut Recipes

KNEDLIKY - CZECH DUMPLING WITH SAUERKRAUT (ZELI)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center, and pour in the eggs and 1 cup of milk. Stir to blend, and add enough additional milk to make a moist battery dough, not like pancake batter. Use a sturdy wooden spoon to beat the dough at least 200 strokes, rolling it over and over in the bowl until smooth and an occasional bubble appears on the surface. Add the dry white bread cubes, and stir into the dough until they disappear.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the dough onto a cheesecloth or white cotton cloth, and form into a loaf shape. Wrap the cloth around the loaf, and tie the ends.
• Place the loaf into the boiling water, and cook for 45 minutes, turning the loaf over about half way through. Remove from the water, unwrap, and cover with a tea towel. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Fry bacon in a small skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned. Set aside. Place the drained sauerkraut into a saucepan, and add enough water to cover the surface. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add bacon, and season with salt, pepper and caraway seeds. Stir together the cornstarch and water; mix into the sauerkraut, and simmer for a few minutes before removing from the heat.
• Slice the dumpling loaf. Drizzle dumpling slices with some of the roast drippings from the pan. Serve with sauerkraut.

UNCLE EMIL'S CZECH-STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Put sauerkraut & liquid, butter & caraway seeds in a lrg saucepan over med heat. When the mixture begins to bubble slightly, lower heat to simmer.
• Peel & grate the potato & onion. Add them to top of the kraut & press lightly into the kraut w/the flat surface of a spoon. Do not stir into the kraut.
• Cover & cont to simmer (add sml amt of water as needed) till the grated potato is cooked. Now combine the pan contents (this process keeps raw potato from scorching &/or sticking to the bottom of the pan).
• Add the applesauce, mix well & taste. Add more applesauce if you prefer a sweeter, more apple flavored kraut.
• All we need now is some meat flavor in the kraut. If you have meat drippings for that, deglaze your meat pan & add to the kraut. If not, add a chicken bouillon cube to the kraut. Be sure it's completely dissolved & mixed in well w/the kraut. Serve it up!
• NOTES: After pan contents are combined in #3, stir freq to ck moisture & prevent any ingredients from sticking to the pan. --- After the last step, you can cont to simmer if you feel the kraut is too liquid, but is unlikely to be needed.

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.

BOHEMIAN SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Rinse sauerkraut in warm water and drain well. (Not rinsing the kraut yields a more sour end product which is the way we like it.)
• Place in a heavy saucepan with caraway seeds, berries (if used) , butter, and chopped onions. Cover pan tightly and simmer over lowest heat 15 to 30 minutes.
• Add pepper, water and white wine and cook 30 to 90 minutes longer depending on how soft you like your kraut.

BAVARIAN STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Thinly slice the onions (vertically, halves or whole slices) and set aside. Peel, core and cut the apple into quarters. Slice thinly and set aside.
• Melt a spoonful of bacon fat in a large pot on medium heat. Sauté the onions until translucent and are starting to brown. Add the sauerkraut, stir and let it cook for 5 - 7 mins.
• Add half a jar of water. Place the apple slices on top of the sauerkraut. Arrange so that the flat side is down and there isn't too much overlap. Cover and let it simmer on a low heat setting for 30 minutes.
• If you are adding meat sausages -
• Once the sauerkraut is done, place the sausages on top and let them steam with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
• Serve warm. Delicious with mashed potatoes.

BOHEMIAN SAUERKRAUT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Add Hamburger, diced bacon and onions with seasonings into frying pan and cook until hamburger is pink. Add minced garlic and continue to fry 1 additional minute. Remove from heat. Lightly grease a large casserole pan and add hamburger mixture.
• 2. Combine cream soups and water mix together until smooth. Add sauerkraut, rice and potatoes; mix well transfer sauerkraut, rice and potato mixture to casserole. Mix all together until well combined.
• 3. Cover casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover casserole dish; stir well and bake additional 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and casserole is not of a soupy consistency.