Polish Sauerkraut Recipes

POLISH BRAISED SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Drain the sauerkraut, keeping the juice (we won't use it here, but feel free to drink it - it's very healthy!). Have a taste - if the sauerkraut is extremely sour, it's worth giving it a rinse under running water first, then squeeze it out.
• Roughly chop the sauerkraut, so that the strings of fermented cabbage aren't too long.
• Move the sauerkraut into a deep frying pan/skillet.
• Pour in enough hot water to nearly cover the sauerkraut.
• Add in 2 tablespoons of butter (don't worry, it will melt on its own), 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of cumin, 5 black peppercorns and 2-3 allspice berries.
• Cover with a lid and braise until soft. Sauerkraut will become soft after around 40 to 50 minutes of cooking. Monitor the process from time to time, making sure nothing boils over or sticks to the pan. Add more water if necessary.
• [optional step: apple] After 25 minutes of braising (somewhere around the half-way mark), add an apple. Peel one small sweet apple (weighing roughly 3.5 oz / 100 g before peeling) and chop it finely. You can also grate it instead (using the largest holes). Add the apple pieces into the sauerkraut and continue braising.
• [optional step: bacon] As the braising is nearing the end, let's fry the bacon: Chop the smoked bacon into cubes (or small pieces) and fry them up on a separate frying pan until lightly golden. Usually bacon renders enough of its own fat, so no additional cooking fat is required - but if your bacon is very lean, feel free to grease the pan with some oil.
• Add fried bacon into the braised kraut, fold it in.
• Add chopped onions into the same frying pan (same one we used for cooking bacon). Sauté them for a few minutes until they turn translucent.
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of flour into the onions, and stir them in (with a pan-friendly spoon or a spatula).
• Add in half a cup of water and stir continuously. Increase the heat and bring into a near-boil (keep on stirring!).
• Move the contents of the frying pan (onions + roux) into the braising sauerkraut. Stir everything together.
• Have a little taste. Does it need some more salt and pepper? If so, season it a bit more, I usually do. If it tastes a bit too acidic for your liking, add a pinch of sugar. Stir everything together and switch off the heat.
• [optional step] Chop fresh dill finely and fold it into the sauerkraut. Serve hot.

KAPUSTA (SAUERKRAUT)

Steps:

• Sauté bacon bits until almost crispy. Add butter and onions and cook for about 5 minutes until onions are lightly golden.
• Rinse sauerkraut in a strainer under gently running cold water and squeeze out thoroughly to remove excess water; add to the bacon and onion mixture.
• Add the peeled, grated potato (or the carrots or apple).
• Add chicken broth, brown sugar, bay leaves, and seasonings. Stir to mix thoroughly.
• Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until everything is heated thoroughly. Transfer to a roasting pan.
• Cover and bake in 300 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes up to 1 hour until kapusta is browned slightly.
• Stir occasionally and add water or chicken broth if necessary (push kapusta aside and check bottom of roasting pan for liquid).

SAUERKRAUT WITH POLISH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF.
• Place bacon, onion and carrot in heavy large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Saute until onion is tender but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Squeeze as much liquid as possible from sauerkraut.
• Add sauerkraut to Dutch oven.
• Add wine, stock, caraway seeds and juniper berries.
• Bring to simmer.
• Cover tightly, place in oven and bake 1 hour.
• Add kielbasa to Dutch oven, pushing into sauerkraut.
• Cover and bake 1 hour.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently).

POLISH SAUERKRAUT AND CARROT SALAD

Steps:

• Place sauerkraut in a colander and squeeze out all excess liquid using your hands; chop well.
• Combine sauerkraut, onion, apple, and carrots in a large bowl and mix. Add oil and sugar and toss to combine. Season with caraway seeds, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

POLISH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• 1. Saute' the onions and apples in the butter. Brown them (be careful not to burn them!). Any additional vegetables can be added and saute'd Add meat if you like.
• 2. Add sauerkraut juice to the pan and stir well to get all the caramelized drippings blended in... the liquid will be brown. Stir in the sauerkraut, and heat through before serving. Add spices if you like.
• 3. *** I make it this way for a side dish, pork roast or brats.

POLISH SAUSAGE KRAUT SKILLET

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large skillet with a lid over medium heat; cook and stir the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the water, potatoes, carrots, beef bouillon granules, sugar, and caraway seeds; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes and carrots are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Place the sauerkraut on top of the vegetables in a layer, and place the sausages onto the sauerkraut. Cover, and cook until the sausages are heated through, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk the flour into the sour cream in a bowl, and stir into the sauerkraut mixture. Bring to a simmer to thicken the sour cream, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

POLISH "STEWED" SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot add sauerkraut and water. Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 1 hour. Drain in colander.
• 2. while sauerkraut is cooking, dice fat back into small pieces and put into a large skillet. Cook down on medium heat until pieces of fatback turn brown and crispy. Remove pieces with slotted spoon and dispose of, keeping the drippings in the pan. Add onions to drippings in the pan and saute' until tender.
• 3. When sauerkraut is cooked and drained, put back into pot and add onions as well as most of the drippings. Add pinch of salt and pepper. If it seems dry add a little more drippings.
• 4. Let this mixture cook down for at least 1/2 hour, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking and burning. Taste occasionally to check flavor. Important to learn with ethnic cooking.. become a TASTER! Add more salt and pepper if needed. When onions and sauerkraut are tender and blended remove from heat
• 5. Serve with Kielbasa, smoked ham, hot dogs, sausage - you name it!

SAUERKRAUT WITH POLISH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Place bacon, onion and carrot in heavy large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté until onion is tender but not brown, about 5 minutes. Squeeze as much liquid as possible from sauerkraut. Add sauerkraut to Dutch oven. Add wine, stock, caraway seeds and juniper berries. Bring to simmer. Cover tightly, place in oven and bake 1 hour.
• Add kielbasa to Dutch oven, pushing into sauerkraut. Cover and bake 1 hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently.)