Sauerkraut With Cider And Pork Food

HARD CIDER-BRAISED SAUSAGES WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the sausages all over, in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove to a plate as they brown. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the sauerkraut and toss to combine with the onions. Add the thyme, coriander and allspice and stir to combine. Season with pepper. Pour in the cider and reduce by half. Add the stock and brown sugar and return to a simmer. Tuck the sausages back into the pot and simmer, uncovered, until the kraut is very tender and the sauce is flavorful and slightly reduced, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt, if needed.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, add the butter and swirl to melt and combine. Serve topped with the parsley.
• 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.

SAUERKRAUT WITH CIDER AND PORK

Steps:

• Cut and pull away the cloth covering of the pork butt.
• Remove the stems from the apples. Peel and core the apples, and cut them into quarters. Cut the quarters crosswise into thin pieces. There should be about 2 1/2 cups.
• Peel the potatoes, and cut each in half crosswise. Let the potatoes stand in water to cover until ready to be used.
• Heat the lard in a large, heavy casserole, and add the onions and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted.
• Add the caraway seeds and cook briefly. Add the apples, stirring.
• Rinse and drain the sauerkraut. Squeeze it to extract excess liquid. Add the sauerkraut and juniper berries to the casserole.
• Place the pork butt in the center of the sauerkraut. Add the bay leaf, cider and broth. Cover closely. Bring to a boil, and cook 15 minutes.
• Arrange the boulettes of pork and kielbasa over the sauerkraut. Drain the potatoes and add them. Cover closely and continue cooking 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
• Slice the meats, and serve with the pork balls, potatoes and sauerkraut.

APPLE CIDER PORK ROAST WITH SAUERKRAUT & APPLES

Steps:

• 1. Season your roast with salt and pepper, place your pork roast in your crockpot and mix the sauerkraut and dried apple slices and place around the roast, pour the cider over and add lemon thyme sprigs.
• 2. Cook on low for approx 6 hours or until meat is tender.

PORK CHOPS WITH SAUERKRAUT AND APPLE

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the chops and brown them in hot oil or butter, about 3 minutes per side. Set aside.
• Add the apple and onions to the same skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion starts to look golden.
• Add the wine and stir, scraping up all the browned bits, and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
• Stir in the sauerkraut, and place the chops on top, including any juices that have collected. Cover the skillet, lower the heat and cook until the chops are done, about 7 minutes, depending on thickness. Do not overcook.
• Note1: I've also made this successfully with chardonnay, but riesling is the best.
• Note2: Sauerkraut packed in plastic bags and sold in the refrigerator case tastes much better than the canned.

PORK LOIN, APPLES, AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix sauerkraut, apples, onion, and caraway seeds in a large roasting pan. Stir 1/4 cup apple cider and brown sugar together in a separate bowl; pour over sauerkraut mixture.
• Stir Thai seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper together in a small bowl; rub onto the top and bottom of the roast.
• Make an indentation in the center of the sauerkraut mixture and place the seasoned roast in the indentation. Pour the remaining apple cider around the roast.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour; baste roast with juices. Continue baking roast, basting every 30 minutes, until cooked through, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH LOTS OF PORK

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the ribs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Set a medium saucepan on high heat and add the pigs' feet, wine and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, set a large Dutch oven over medium heat and add the coriander seeds, toasting them until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Using a mortar and pestle or the side of a knife, lightly crush the seeds. Set aside.
• Return the Dutch oven to the heat and add the olive oil. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the bratwurst and cook, turning occasionally, until brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Turn down the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pot. Toss in the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and cook until the apples and onions are golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and pigs' feet. Simmer for about 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the sauerkraut, rib tips, 3/4 cup water, carrots, coriander seeds, remaining teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well, then nestle the pork chop in the sauerkraut.
• Cover the pot and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Turn the pork chop and add the bratwurst. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer. Simmer, uncovered, until the juices have thickened and the meat is tender, another 30 to 45 minutes. Serve with boiled potatoes and chopped parsley.

PORK AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place pork roast in a large roasting pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix sauerkraut, water, onion, and apple together in a large bowl. Pour sauerkraut mixture over roast.
• Bake roast in the preheated oven until heated through, about 1 hour. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Continue to cook roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), adding water if sauerkraut mixture looks dry, about 2 hours more.
• Remove roast from oven and allow to rest in a warm area before slicing, about 10 minutes.