Czech Red Cabbage Food

CZECH CABBAGE DISH

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Blanche cabbage briefly in boiling water, remove and drain immediately.
• In a large skillet, brown bacon over medium heat until opaque; remove and drain on paper toweling.
• Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the skillet; add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and heat over medium heat. Add onion, celery and bell pepper and saute until crisp-tender.
• In a large bowl combine the prepared cabbage, bacon, sauteed vegetable mix (with oil), vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well and serve warm, or chill and serve later.

BOHEMIAN SWEET AND SOUR CABBAGE

Steps:

• Brown the onion in the shortening, only to a golden color. Do not brown.
• Add the water, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil. (This liquid is just enough for this size cabbage.).
• Put cabbage in; sprinkle with caraway seed if you wish.
• Boil for 1/2 hour.
• Sprinkle with flour. Stir it up and boil just a few seconds for the flour to dissolve.
• Grandmother notes that you shouldn't "put cooked cabbage in the freezer -- just in box." (Box is the old-time short way of saying "icebox" -- we would say refrigerator!).

CZECH RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• In a pot, saute the onion in the vegetable oil until soft. Add the cabbage and salt, and cover. Steam over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cover, and add the apples.
• In a small bowl, mix the vinegar and sugar, and pour over the cabbage. Sprinkle with the caraway seeds, mix and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until the cabbage is soft. Adjust the seasonings to taste.

BRAISED RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Cut red cabbage into 8 wedges leaviong core attached so it remains intact during cooking.
• Melt butter in large frypan over medium-high heat and add garlic, then cabbage and cook, turning, for 2 minutes.
• Add the stock and reduce heat to low and simmer covered, for 3 minutes and then add peas and simmer covered, for a further 3 minutes or until cabbage and peas are tender.
• Top with parsley and serve.

SIMPLE BRAISED RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Fry onion in a wide shallow cooking pot until it starts browning.
• Add the caster sugar to the same pot, stir a few times to help the sugar dissolve.
• Stir in cabbage, wine, water, 1/2 of the vinegar, caraway seeds and salt. Cook for 30 minutes with the lid on.
• Pre-mix flour with a small amount of fairly warm (not boiling) water into smooth, pourable consistency.
• Turn the heat down and pour the flour in. Stir continuously to incorporate the flour into the braised cabbage to prevent lumps.
• Cook for an additional 3 - 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Adjust the taste by adding a splash of the remaining vinegar at a time. Taste in between to make sure you adjust the flavours according to your taste buds. Season with more salt if needed.

ROASTED PORK SHOULDER - CZECH VEPřOVá PEčENě

Steps:

• Rinse and dry the pork shoulder. If the meat is irregular in shape, tie it with kitchen string.
• Peel and mash the garlic. Rub the surface of the pork on all sides with garlic, salt, and crushed caraway seeds.
• Peel the onion and cut it into wedges. Grease a roasting pan with lard, spread the onions on it. Place the seasoned meat on the onion base. Pour about ½ cup (120 ml) of water into the bottom of the roasting pan.
• Roast in a preheated oven at 400 °F (200 °C) - lower and upper heating only - for 30 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 300 °F (150 °C) and roast for another hour and a half. After every half hour or so, baste the meat with the drippings. If there are not enough juices in the roasting dish, add a few tablespoons of water.
• Set the finished roast aside, transfer the roasted juices and onions to a sieve placed over a clean pot, and strain. Press the rest of the onions through the sieve.
• Slice the pork shoulder into ½ inch (1,5-2 cm) thick slices and serve.