German Sauerkraut With Caraway Food

TRADITIONAL SAUERKRAUT WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• Weigh the shredded cabbage (as cabbages vary in size and weight) to ensure the salt to cabbage ratio is correct. The amount of salt you use should come to about 1.5-2.5%, but no more than 3%, of the cabbage weight.
• In a large bowl, mix and massage the salt through the cabbage thoroughly, making sure to distribute the salt evenly.
• Let it sit to sweat a bit-maybe 10 minutes. This is simply to make the next step easier. This is a good time to get your vessel cleaned and to rest up for the next stage.
• With your pounder, pound quite energetically for about 5-10 minutes, until the cabbage is dripping with its own salty water when you pick up a handful. This part is important as you need this liquid-it's your brine.
• You can also use the dough hook of a stand mixer to do the pounding part, which can speed things up somewhat. Don't let it run for too long though, only a few minutes. Using a mixer is easy and great for people who are doing this a lot and in large batches, but it takes quite a bit of the emotional release and fun out of it.
• Next, mix in the caraway seeds (if using).
• Put the mixture into the jar, packing it down tightly as you go using the pounder. Push down well, particularly at the end to coax out any more brine. You need the brine to cover the cabbage.
• Don't pack the cabbage all the way to the top; leave some headroom at the top of the jar to allow for a bit of growth and movement and, of course, the weight. You don't want the liquid touching the top of the lid, as it will end up spewing out of your air-lock or up out of your lid.
• Cover with a cabbage leaf (the follower), the weight and then your chosen lid or system.
• Depending on your ferment, you can start trying it as soon as you'd like, but the less you fiddle with it in the first 2 weeks, the better. It is ready when you think it is delicious. With the right system and temperature, you can leave it to ferment for months before refrigeration.
• If you used a crock, you'll need to decant the kraut to smaller jars before you refrigerate, unless you have a walk-in cool room, or large cellar. (Lucky you.) It will keep in the fridge for 12 months or more. Use your senses.

SAUERKRAUT WITH APPLE AND CARAWAY

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan combine the sauerkraut, the apples, the wine, the broth, the brown sugar, and the caraway seeds and simmer the mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.
• The sauerkraut may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated.

CARAWAY SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. Dutch oven, cook bacon and onion for 8-19 minutes or until onion is golden brown. Stir in sauerkraut and caraway. Add water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add potato. Cook for 20 minutes or until potato is tender.

GERMAN SAUERKRAUT AND COUNTRY RIBS

Steps:

• Wash and cut pork into seving size pieces.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Do NOT rinse kraut.
• Simmer slowly about 3 hours, adding a bit of water as needed.

GERMAN STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Fry bacon until almost crisp.
• Add onion and cook until limp.
• Add rinsed sauerkraut.
• Add water to cover.
• Put caraway and juniper in a tea ball or wrap in cheesecloth so it can be removed later.
• Add bay leaf.
• Cover and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Add more water if necessary.
• Should be juicy but not soupy.
• Remove spices.
• Stir in shredded potato.
• The potato will melt and turn saucy.
• Stir in wine.

REAL GERMAN SAUERKRAUT AND VARIETY MEATS

Steps:

• Shred the cabbage thinly to resemble saurkraut using a knife, madeleine or food processor.
• Cut onion in half lengthwise and slice into thin half moons.
• Put the shredded cabbage in a large bowl, add the shredded onion and entire contents of the 2 sauerkraut packages. (Do not drain or rinse the sauerkraut.).
• Sprinkle in the caraway seeds.
• Using your hands, mix well. It will seem to be too much cabbage for the amount of sauerkraut but do not be concerned.
• Place a 2" layer of sauerkraut mixture in the bottom of a large Dutch oven, stockpot or non-aluminum kettle. Layer the pork ribs on the sauerkraut mixture and cover with 1/3 of the remaining sauerkraut mix.
• Cut the keilbasa into 6 - 8 pieces and layer in pot. Cover with another 1/3 of the sauerkraut mixture.
• Add a layer of hotdogs, cut in half if desired, and top with remaining sauerkraut mixture. Pour any juices that remain in the bowl into the pot.
• Cover and simmer over a very low heat for 2 1/2 - 3 hours. At the end of the cooking time you should not be able to tell what started out as cabbage or onion from what was originally sauerkraut.
• Note: A pork roast can substituted for the boneless ribs, kielbasa and hotdogs. If using a roast brown it in a separate skillet and double the thickness of the base layer of the sauerkraut mixture.
• Serve with mashed potatoes and good rye bread.

SAUERKRAUT WITH BACON, POTATO AND CARAWAY

Steps:

• Saute bacon until crisp.
• remove bacon to drain, reserving fat in pan.
• saute onion in bacon fat until browned.
• add sauerkraut and saute for 5 minutes; add potato, chicken stock, reserved bacon, black pepper and caraway.
• Bring to a boil and simmer on lowest heat for 20 minutes- stirring frequently, then cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes- stirring every 10 minutes.