German Sauerkraut Recipe

Sauerkraut is good for you, tastes great, and can be used in many dishes. If you love the flavor of this tangy dish, youll want to give this recipe for German sauerkraut a try.

It takes just 30 minutes to make this German sauerkraut and youll only need two or three ingredients! Its crunchy, tangy, and full of delicious flavor.

What is Sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut is a tangy and crunchy dish thats made from fermented cabbage. Its often used as a side dish or a condiment.

What’s The Difference Between German Sauerkraut And Regular Sauerkraut?

The main difference between German sauerkraut and Bavarian sauerkraut is the flavor. Bavarian sauerkraut is slightly sweeter and a little less tangy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• cabbage
• Kosher salt
• caraway seeds

How to Make German Sauerkraut

• Mix the shredded cabbage with the salt and caraway seeds in a large bowl. Let the mixture rest for 15-20 minutes to allow the salt to start drawing moisture out of the cabbage. You can speed up the process by massaging the cabbage with your hands for 5-10 minutes.
• Wash a quart sized mason jar well with hot soapy water. Pack the salted cabbage mixture and juices into the clean jar. Press the cabbage with the back end of a wooden spoon to pack it tightly and to remove any air pockets.
• Place a quart-sized resealable freezer bag into the jar. Fill the bag with water and tightly seal the bag. This will act as a weight and will help to keep all of the cabbage submerged. Cover the jar with a towel, cheesecloth, or coffee filter.
• After 24 hours, check on the sauerkraut. If the cabbage is not entirely submerged in brine, add a saltwater mixture of 1 tsp salt to 1 cup water to the cabbage, just until the cabbage is submerged.
• Place the jar away from direct sunlight to ferment. As noted above, fermentation can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the temperature and the flavor you want. Taste the sauerkraut every few days. When it reaches the flavor you want, remove the bag of water and cover the jar with an airtight lid. Store the sauerkraut in the fridge.

Tips and Tricks

• Sauerkraut may bubble and foam as it ferments. This is quite normal. The foam can be skimmed off before refrigerating the sauerkraut.
• If the sauerkraut takes on an odd color or starts to become fuzzy, its an indication that something in the preparation wasnt clean. Youll need to toss the sauerkraut and start again.

How Long Does It Take To Make Sauerkraut?

It generally takes 1-3 weeks to make sauerkraut thats nice and tart. The temperature can affect the timeline as sauerkraut made in the summer will ferment faster than sauerkraut made in the winter. Its a good idea to taste sauerkraut every few days or so until it reaches the flavor you want. At this point you can remove the weights, cover the jar with an airtight lid, and transfer the sauerkraut to the fridge.

What To Add To Sauerkraut To Make It Taste Better?

You can boost the flavor of sauerkraut by adding fruits and vegetables. Popular options include radishes, beets, and carrots which respond well to fermentation. Fruits like pears and apples add a subtle sweetness to sauerkraut.

How to Serve German Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut can be added to sausages and sandwiches, soups and stews. Its also delicious served alongside smoked fish and salted meats.

Is German Sauerkraut Good For You?

Yes, fermented foods like sauerkraut are good for your gut. Its also an excellent source of fiber, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and K.