Slow Cooker Choucroute Recipes

CHOUCROUTE GARNIE

Steps:

• If cooking the choucroute garnie in the oven, preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C). If cooking the choucroute garnie in a slow cooker, see the Slow-Cooker Variation beneath the recipe.
• In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is almost completely crisp, about 10 minutes. Reserve the drippings and transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.
• Put the sauerkraut in a bowl, crumble the cooled bacon over the top, and toss. Set aside.
• Return the pot with the bacon drippings to medium heat. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Add half the sauerkraut and bacon jumble to the pot with the onions and potatoes and toss to coat. Spread it in an even layer. In a small bowl, combine the bay leaves, juniper berries, cloves, coriander, black pepper, and garlic. Sprinkle half the spice mixture over the sauerkraut mixture in the pot and arrange the pork slices and sausages on top. Cover with the remaining sauerkraut and spices. Pour the beer over all. Cover and bake for 4 to 4 1/2 hours. (The "cooking" is more a matter of warming everything and allowing the flavors to get cozy with one another, so the timing doesn't have to be exact. Although the longer the choucroute simmers, the more complex the flavors.) Serve warm with brown mustard, rye bread, and beer on the side. (If you want to make the choucroute ahead of time or if you have leftovers, you can cool the choucroute garnie, cover it, and stash it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently, covered, in a low oven prior to serving.

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 hours and up to 8 hours. Arrange the meats, potatoes, onions, garlic and sauerkraut on a large platter. serve with pumpernickle rye bread, mustards, cornichons and horse radish.

ALSATIAN CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Wash sauerkraut thoroughly, put aside. In a rondeau melt the duck fat and saute the onion until tender, add garlic bay leaves, juniper berries and thyme. Saute until golden brown, deglaze with Reisling wine. Add 1/2 of the sauerkraut, place bacon slab and ham shanks in the middle and then top with remaining sauerkraut. Pour chicken stock over making sure it covers the sauerkraut (if not enough, add water). Cover the pan with foil and place in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 1 1/2 hours. Wash red bliss potatoes and steam whole for 30 to 40 minutes. Peel potatoes and set aside. Cut sausages in half and warm in boiling water. Place pork chops in oven to warm. Take sauerkraut out of the oven and remove bacon and ham shanks. Slice the bacon in half. Remove pork chops out of oven. Place sauerkraut in the center of a large oval tray, place all meats around sauerkraut, place bacon and ham shanks, on top of sauerkraut. Place warm potatoes around with the meat, Serve Dijon mustard 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.

SIMPLIFIED CHOUCROUTE GARNI FOR CROCK POT (PORK CHOPS&SAUERK

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix seasoning, salt and pepper. (I didn't measure these, I just seasoned each layer with a little sprinkle of each).
• Coat slow cooker with nonstick spray. Layer potatoes, pork chops, kielbasa, apples and sauerkraut (in that order). Season each layer with spice mix. Pour wine over top of sauerkraut.
• Cook 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Stir in thawed peas and cook additional 30 minutes.
• remove pork chops and cut each into thick slices against the grain. Stir back into mixture and serve.