Polish Sausage And Sauerkraut Casserole Kapusta Recipes

CREAMY AMSTERDAM MASHED POTATOES WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or stockpot, bring enough water to cover the potatoes to a boil. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to the boiling water.
• Cook the potato halves in boiling water until tender. Drain well, return to heat, and dry well, being careful not to burn them.
• Put the potatoes through a ricer and into a bowl. Beat in 3 tablespoons of butter and enough of the cream to make the potatoes creamy and fluffy.
• In a saucepan, melt the remaining butter and cook the onion over medium heat until soft. Do not brown.
• Blend in the drained sauerkraut and water. Cover and simmer 35 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sauerkraut does not burn. Add small amounts of water if necessary.
• When all the water has cooked off and the sauerkraut is tender, blend the sauerkraut well with the mashed potatoes.
• Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and serve the potato-kraut very hot.

POLISH SAUSAGE AND SAUERKRAUT CASSEROLE (KAPUSTA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bring sausage to boil and simmer 15 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Cut bacon into small pieces.
• Begin browning, then add diced onion.
• Saute together until bacon is almost crisp.
• Drain mixture, reserving bacon grease.
• Drain sauerkraut (do not rinse).
• Add sauerkraut and brown sugar to bacon mixture.
• Mix in about 2 Tablespoons reserved bacon grease and water.
• Place in large casserole dish.
• Cut Polish sausage into 3" pieces and place on top of sauerkraut.
• Cover and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour 15 minutes, checking sauerkraut mixture halfway through to add more water if sauerkraut appears very dry.
• Finish baking; remove from oven.
• Taste sauerkraut and, if desired, adjust flavor by adding salt and pepper, or a little more brown sugar, vinegar or bacon grease to your taste. (Note: In the old days, Busia (Grandma) would soak a cup of yellow peas overnight to soften them and would mix them into the sauerkraut. It was probably to stretch the quantity, but I don't do it anymore!).