Choucroute Loaf Recipes

SHORTCUT CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Core the cabbage; cut it into wide ribbons and scatter in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Drain the sauerkraut and spread it on top of the cabbage. Halve the onions and nestle them among the vegetables. Tuck in the bay leaves and sprinkle with the caraway seeds or juniper berries and lots of black pepper.
• Put the meat and sausages on top of everything and pour in the wine or other liquid. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper and cover tightly with foil. Transfer to the oven and cook, undisturbed, for 2 hours.
• Test the pork shoulder by inserting a fork into the thickest part: If it slides out easily, turn the oven up to 450 degrees, leave the pan uncovered and return it to the oven until the meat and the vegetables brown a bit, another 25 to 30 minutes. If the pork isn't fork-tender, re-cover the pan and return it to the oven for another 30 minutes before proceeding.
• To serve, just break the pork into chunks with two forks and set the pan on the table with a serving spoon and plates, plenty of roughly torn baguettes and crocks of mustard and butter. Don't bother removing the bay leaves unless they really bug you.

CLASSIC CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Boil ham hocks in unsalted water until tender, at least 1 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, wash sauerkraut in cold water; drain. Wash again, in hot water; drain and squeeze dry.
• In a heavy, ovenproof pot, melt 3 tablespoons of the fat over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook it until soft and tender; do not brown. Add wine and 1 cup water, then bacon. Cover,and cook 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Season sauerkraut with pepper and a tiny bit of salt; add to pot,covering bacon. Combine garlic, juniper berries, caraway and bay leaf in cheesecloth and tie into a sachet. Bury this in the sauerkraut. Lay a circle of parchment paper directly over sauerkraut, cover, bring to a boil, transfer to oven and bake 1 hour.
• Add pork loin, top with potatoes, and return to oven for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
• About 15 minutes before potatoes are done,add bratwursts and frankfurters to the pot with hocks. Reduce heat to simmer, and heat through. Heat remaining fat in a skillet, and carefully brown blood sausages (they burst if overcooked).
• Add kirsch to sauerkraut; taste and add salt if necessary. Discard herb sachet.
• To serve, slice bacon and pork loin.Cut sausages and hocks into pieces. Put sauerkraut on large platter with meats and potatoes on top and around it. Serve with hot mustard and beer or white Alsatian wine.

CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Heat a 5-quart Dutch oven or pot over medium-low eat. Melt the duck fat and butter, then add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and golden but not browned, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse the sauerkraut under hot water to remove excess salt. When it starts to stick to your fingers, drain well and squeeze out as much liquid as possible with your hands.
• Add the sauerkraut, bay leaves, and juniper berries to the onions, season with salt, and stir once. Arrange the knuckles, ribs, and both bacons in the sauerkraut, partially burying them in the mixture. Top with the garlic, then add the wine. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours.
• About 30 minutes before serving, arrange the potatoes in a single layer over the meat. Cover and continue cooking until the potatoes and meat are tender.
• About 20 minutes before serving, place the knacks in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a very gentle simmer and cook until heated through, about 15 minutes. Do not let the water boil or the knacks will explode.
• Transfer the potatoes and meat from the Dutch oven to a large serving platter, let cool slightly, and slice the meat. Transfer the sauerkraut to the platter. Top with the knacks. Serve with mustard and horseradish sauce on the side.

SLOW-COOKER CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Stud each onion quarter with a clove. Layer the bacon, sauerkraut, garlic, onion quarters, herb sprigs, bay leaves, pork chops, kielbasa, apples, and potatoes in the slow cooker in the order listed, then pour the wine and gin over the top. Cover the cooker and set it on LOW. Cook until the pork is falling off the bones and the potatoes are fork-tender, at least 6 and up to 8 hours.
• Arrange the meats, potatoes, apples, onions, garlic, and sauerkraut on a large platter. Serve with pumpernickel rye bread, mustards, cornichons, and horseradish.