Ruby Red Red Cabbage Sauerkraut Food

RED CABBAGE AND APPLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Remove any loose leaves from the cabbage head and reserve. Quarter the cabbage and thinly slice, on a mandoline if you have one. (The shreds should be about the thickness of a quarter.) Toss the cabbage in a large bowl with the pickling salt. Work the cabbage through your hands and massage for a minute or two, until the cabbage begins to "sweat" and release some water.
• Thinly slice, then julienne the green apple, leaving the peel on. (Again, use a mandoline if you have one.) Slice the ginger into coins and press with the side of your knife to bruise them slightly and release their oils. Add the apples, ginger and allspice berries to the cabbage and toss well. Let sit for an hour or two, until the cabbage has released quite a bit of water.
• Pack the cabbage mixture into a large, wide-mouthed crock and press down very firmly until the liquid the cabbage has released covers it. (Depending on the age of your cabbage, it may release less water; a fresher cabbage will release a lot of water, while a cabbage that has been stored all winter will release less.) If the cabbage is not covered, mix together 1 quart cold water and 4 1/2 teaspoons pickling salt until dissolved and pour over enough to cover the cabbage.
• Use a couple of the reserved whole cabbage leaves to cover the surface of the cabbage. Cover with a plate (or the weight provided, if you have a fermenting crock) and set something heavy on top to weight it. (You can use cans. Many people like to use a resealable plastic bag filled with the same salted water solution used above because it weights evenly and if it leaks, it doesn't ruin the fermentation process.) Store the crock in a cool, dry place.
• Check the kraut after 2 days. There should be a few bubbles around the sides. Skim any scum that has risen to the surface. Check the kraut every few days and repeat skimming, if needed. Depending on the temperature of your room, the kraut should be ready after about a week. (Some people ferment for a couple of weeks or more, depending on how funky they want their kraut to be.)
• Divide the kraut and pack into jars. Store in the refrigerator. Drain and rinse the kraut well (discarding any ginger pieces) before using.

SUNNY'S SIMPLE RED CABBAGE KRAUT

Steps:

• For the flavor base: To a large pan with straight sides or a stockpot, add the beer, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic and peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium high and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• For the braise: Stir in the onions and cabbage. Heat until the liquid begins to boil. Turn down the heat and allow the vegetables to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

RED CABBAGE WITH BEETROOT

Steps:

• 1 Mix the sugar with 1 tsp salt and plenty of black pepper. In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, layer up a handful of the cabbage, onions, apples and beetroot with the spices and sprinkle with some of the sugar, repeating with the layers until all the ingredients are used up.
• Mix the wine, vinegar and stock cube, pour over the cabbage and dot the butter on top. Tightly cover the pan and bring to the boil over a medium heat. When you can hear it boiling, turn down the heat to low and simmer for 30 mins. Stir well - the mixture will have reduced and softened - then cover and simmer for 15-30 mins more depending on how soft you like it.