Traditional Polish Sauerkraut Food

POLISH KAPUSTA

Steps:

• Cook onion and kielbasa in frying pan until onions are translucent.
• Drain liquid from sauerkraut.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Transfer to a buttered casserole dish.
• Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

POLISH BRAISED SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Drain the sauerkraut, keeping the juice (we won't use it here, but feel free to drink it - it's very healthy!). Have a taste - if the sauerkraut is extremely sour, it's worth giving it a rinse under running water first, then squeeze it out.
• Roughly chop the sauerkraut, so that the strings of fermented cabbage aren't too long.
• Move the sauerkraut into a deep frying pan/skillet.
• Pour in enough hot water to nearly cover the sauerkraut.
• Add in 2 tablespoons of butter (don't worry, it will melt on its own), 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of cumin, 5 black peppercorns and 2-3 allspice berries.
• Cover with a lid and braise until soft. Sauerkraut will become soft after around 40 to 50 minutes of cooking. Monitor the process from time to time, making sure nothing boils over or sticks to the pan. Add more water if necessary.
• [optional step: apple] After 25 minutes of braising (somewhere around the half-way mark), add an apple. Peel one small sweet apple (weighing roughly 3.5 oz / 100 g before peeling) and chop it finely. You can also grate it instead (using the largest holes). Add the apple pieces into the sauerkraut and continue braising.
• [optional step: bacon] As the braising is nearing the end, let's fry the bacon: Chop the smoked bacon into cubes (or small pieces) and fry them up on a separate frying pan until lightly golden. Usually bacon renders enough of its own fat, so no additional cooking fat is required - but if your bacon is very lean, feel free to grease the pan with some oil.
• Add fried bacon into the braised kraut, fold it in.
• Add chopped onions into the same frying pan (same one we used for cooking bacon). Sauté them for a few minutes until they turn translucent.
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of flour into the onions, and stir them in (with a pan-friendly spoon or a spatula).
• Add in half a cup of water and stir continuously. Increase the heat and bring into a near-boil (keep on stirring!).
• Move the contents of the frying pan (onions + roux) into the braising sauerkraut. Stir everything together.
• Have a little taste. Does it need some more salt and pepper? If so, season it a bit more, I usually do. If it tastes a bit too acidic for your liking, add a pinch of sugar. Stir everything together and switch off the heat.
• [optional step] Chop fresh dill finely and fold it into the sauerkraut. Serve hot.

POLISH SAUERKRAUT PIEROGI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onion and cook until tender but not browned. Add sauerkraut and carrots. Cook, stirring often, 10 to 15 minutes or until volume has reduced and sauerkraut is tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. If the mixture doesn't hold its shape when squeezed together, add more sour cream.
• Let this filling cool completely before filling pierogi dough. If desired, store covered in the refrigerator for one day before using.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, 5 tablespoons sour cream, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and chicken broth until well mixed.
• Add flour and knead by hand or in a stand mixer until the dough is smooth. Wrap with plastic and let rest at least 10 minutes before rolling.
• Remove the sauerkraut filling from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut the dough. Gather scraps, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Using a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop, portion sauerkraut filling onto all the dough circles before folding.
• With clean, dry hands, fold dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges together, sealing and crimping with your fingers (or use a fork) as for a pie.
• Roll, cut, and fill the reserved scraps of dough.
• Bring a deep pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Reduce to a simmer and drop 12 pierogi at a time into the water. Stir once so they don't stick to the bottom. When they rise to the surface, cook 3 minutes or until dough is done to your liking (based on the thickness of the dough).
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a platter that has been smeared with butter. Pierogi will stick together if drained in a colander, even if the colander has been coated with cooking spray.
• Repeat until all pierogi are cooked. Serve as is with melted butter or fry in butter.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Add butter and 1 cup chopped onion to a heavy, large skillet and sauté until onion is translucent. Add pierogi and fry until golden on both sides and onion is tender.
• Serve hot with onion, sour cream, and bacon bits if desired.

GRANNY'S POLISH SAUSAGE WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• 1. Cut sausage into 1-inch sliced sausages and chopped onions. Add butter in a skillet until melted. Put the sausages and onions in melted butter and cover, cook for 15 minutes on medium-low heat and add sauerkraut in sausage mixture and stir well. Cover, cook for ten more minutes until they are done.

KAPUSTA - POLISH SAUERKRAUT WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Rinse the sauerkraut under the running water. Squeeze excess water and chop it.
• Place sauerkraut in a pot with water. Water should come to a level where contents are submerged.
• Add bay leaves and allspice.
• Cook on low heat for about 40-60 minutes until the sauerkraut is soft.
• If water evaporates, you may need to add hot boiling water a few times during the process.
• In the meantime, place dried mushrooms in a pot with water. Let them stand for half an hour.
• Cook the mushrooms in the same water they were soaking in for another half an hour, adding a little bit of salt.
• In a frying pan, heat up the olive oil. Add onions and cook for approximately 5 minutes until they are golden brown.
• When the mushrooms are cooked, remove them with the slotted spoon and add to the sauerkraut.
• Using a cheesecloth (or thin strainer) and ladle, pour one ladle of the mushroom water at the time over the sauerkraut (you may want to add 1-3 ladles to the sauerkraut depending on how much liquid has evaporated)
• Cook for about 10 more minutes to reduce some of the liquid (the dish should be wet but not soaking in water).
• Add onions and sugar to the pot and stir to combine.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Add salt and pepper for taste.
• Optionally you can add a tablespoon or 2 of butter and mix it well.
• Garnish with parsley and serve as a side dish.

KAPUSTA (SAUERKRAUT)

Steps:

• Sauté bacon bits until almost crispy. Add butter and onions and cook for about 5 minutes until onions are lightly golden.
• Rinse sauerkraut in a strainer under gently running cold water and squeeze out thoroughly to remove excess water; add to the bacon and onion mixture.
• Add the peeled, grated potato (or the carrots or apple).
• Add chicken broth, brown sugar, bay leaves, and seasonings. Stir to mix thoroughly.
• Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until everything is heated thoroughly. Transfer to a roasting pan.
• Cover and bake in 300 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes up to 1 hour until kapusta is browned slightly.
• Stir occasionally and add water or chicken broth if necessary (push kapusta aside and check bottom of roasting pan for liquid).

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Steps:

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TOP 10 POLISH SAUSAGE RECIPE COLLECTION

Steps:

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BIGOS (POLISH HUNTER'S STEW)

Steps:

• Place sauerkraut in a large pan or casserole dish and pour in 4 cups of boiling water. Add prunes, allspice, and bay leaves. Simmer until Sauerkraut is soft, about 50 minutes.
• Pour about 1 cup of boiling water over mushrooms and soak to rehydrate, about 30 minutes. Drain and chop mushrooms, reserving the liquid.
• Heat oil in a frying pan over medium to high heat. Add onion and sausage. Saute while stirring until onion is soft and sausage is browned, about 5 minutes.
• In a separate pan, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Add beef, pork, and bacon. Simmer until cooked through for 20 minutes, then drain.
• When sauerkraut is soft, add the drained meat mixture, sausage-onion mixture, and soaked mushrooms; mix well. Simmer uncovered over low heat, about 20 minutes.
• Pour in red wine and cook for 15 minutes until flavors are well blended. Season with caraway seeds, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Stir in tomato puree. If the stew is too dry, pour in some of the water reserved from soaking the mushrooms, and simmer so flavors combine, about 5 minutes.

BASIC POLISH PIEROGI

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Heat to boiling and simmer until potatoes are very tender.
• Drain potatoes, reserving 1 cup of the liquid.
• In a small, non-stick frying pan, saute onions in a little butter or oil until soft.
• Add onions to drained potatoes and mash using a potato masher or electric hand mixer.
• (Add reserved potato cooking water as needed to reach a smooth mashed potato consistency.)
• Add cheese, garlic, and salt. Mix well.
• Set filling aside to cool.
• Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Heat to boiling and simmer until potatoes are very tender.
• Drain potatoes, reserving 1 cup of the liquid.
• In a small, non-stick frying pan, saute onions in a little butter or oil until soft.
• Add onions and seasonings to drained potatoes and mash using a potato masher or electric hand mixer. (Add reserved potato cooking water as needed to reach a smooth mashed potato consistency.)
• Mix well and set aside to cool.
• In a small, non-stick frying pan, saute onions in a little butter or oil until soft.
• In a medium bowl, mix together sauerkraut, onions, and sour cream until combined.
• Set filling aside to cool.
• Mix the egg with the flour and dash of salt.
• Add water slowly, using only as much as needed to create a smooth and soft dough.
• Roll out to 1/8" thickness.
• (At this point, if you have your fillings ready to go, it's a good idea to get a pot of water boiling with 2 quarts of water. Once the water begins to boil, add 1 tsp salt, and turn it to a steady simmer. This way, you can start cooking the pierogi as you fill them.)
• Using a 3 ½ " cookie cutter (or the mouth of a juice glass if you don't have cookie cutters, like us) cut circles out of the dough. Re-roll dough as needed until all has been used.
• Place about a tablespoon of filling slightly off-center of the round. Moisten the edge of your dough with a little water, and fold the dough over the filling. Pinch the edges to seal well.
• Place pierogi into boiling water, and boil until the dough is tender 7-10 minutes.
• Remove from boiling water with a large slotted spoon and place in a serving dish.
• If you like, heat a little butter in a frying pan and transfer cooked pierogi directly from the water to the frying pan and saute until slightly golden. Add additional butter as needed.