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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2017)
Page 16 August 30, 2017 F OOD Homemade Sauerkraut Enjoy delicious, crisp, perfectly salty kraut for months! Only takes 30 minutes of hands-on prep. This traditionally made sauerkraut is brimming with healthy probiotics. Kielbasa tastes best when it is sliced thickly and placed on the bottom of the pot before you begin cooking. Ingredients: • 1 cup water • 1 cup distilled white vinegar, divided • 1/2 onion, diced • 2 heads cabbage, cored and shredded • 1/4 cup of salt • 2 TBSP caraway seeds • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • ground black pepper to taste • Fermentation Crock with weight (If using mason jars, use *2 quart- size mason jars or 1 half-gallon mason jar with fermentation weights and airtight lid)**see note below Instructions: 1. Get things clean - Wash all equipment, work surfaces, and your hands in warm soapy water. 2. Slice the cabbage - Remove the outer leaves and cores from cabbage. (Compost them if possible). Slice the cabbage into quarters for easier slicing. Then, thinly slice cabbage into very thin ribbons. If you have one, a food processor speeds up this process. 3. Add the salt - Place the thinly sliced cabbage in a large, clean bowl. Sprinkle the salt over it. Knead and squish the cabbage/salt with your hands for about ten minutes. At first, it won’t seem like it is doing anything at all, but be patient. After a few minutes, the cabbage will start releasing liquid and by the end, there should be enough liquid brine to cover the cabbage in the crock or jar. Add the caraway seeds, celery seed, and onion and garlic powder at this point. 4. Move it to the fermentation vessel - Stuff the cabbage very tightly into the jars or fermentation crock. Pour any liquid from the bowl into the jar. If needed, add just enough water to make sure the water/brine covers the cabbage entirely. If the cabbage is fresh, no liquid may be needed, but don’t worry if you have to add a little water. 5. Weigh and cover - Add the fermentation weights and fermentation seal (or use the fermentation crock as directed). If you are just using a basic mason jar, you can also do this by adding a smaller jar that just fits inside the lid of the mason jar and covering both jars with a cloth and a rubber band. 6. Let it ferment - Now you get to practice patience! Fermentation will begin within a day and take 2-5 weeks depending on temperature and desired tartness. After 2 weeks, check for desired tartness. The sauerkraut is technically slightly fermented after only a few days, but the best flavor seems to be at the 2-3 week mark. Taste is the best measure here, so check it often and stop the ferment when you get the desired taste. Note: It is normal to see bubbles, white scum, or foam on top during the fermentation. You shouldn’t see any actual mold, though. If you do, scrape it off the top, and make sure all the rest of the cabbage is fully submerged. All cabbage below the brine level should still be fine. 7. Cool it down - Once fermented, it can be eaten right away, or it will store in the refrigerator for up to six months. 8. Enjoy! Sauerkraut is delicious on its own or added to salads, soups, or on top of meats.
