Sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is an incredibly nutritious and healthy food that's popular in Germany. It's fermented using lactic acid bacteria, so it has a long shelf life, lasting nearly 5 years when unopened and refrigerated. Once opened, you should still refrigerate it, and it's good for 4 to 6 months.
Sauerkraut has a distinctive salty and sour flavor that enhances the appeal of anything it's added to but shines best when paired with meat. If you have some sauerkraut and meat of any animal or bird on hand, it's time to try out these sauerkraut recipes with meat. Ranging from a Polish bigos stew to szegediner gulasch (German Sauerkraut Beef Goulash), these delicious recipes will appeal to both young and old.
This comfort food is super easy to make and is deliciously moreish. Make it with good-quality sauerkraut, white cabbage, any kind of meat, browned sausage, and dried porcini mushrooms for added flavor and texture. Cook everything together in a large pot with a handful of spices to crank up the heat. Serve with mashed potatoes or rye bread for a warming meal!
This recipe will transform a simple dish like sausages and potatoes into a gourmet delight. In it, beef sausages are braised with carrots, potatoes, and onion with garlic, paprika, and mace, and finally seared on the stovetop until brown and crispy. They're then served with cooked veggies and crunchy, tangy flavored sauerkraut with a side of mustard to wrap up the meal on a flavorsome note.
There are many ways to prepare German rouladen, but the simplicity of this recipe makes it a clear winner. Fill the rouladen (which comes from the rump steak) with bacon, pickles, and onions, and then cook it with red wine, broth, and other seasonings until tender and juicy. Serve hot with sauce and sauerkraut.
Who can say no to a juicy beef burger combined with tangy sauerkraut? This recipe has a long list of ingredients, but don't let that keep you from whipping this bad boy up for family dinners. The delicious burgers are hearty on their own, but you can also serve them with a Caesar salad, fries, or chilled beer for a truly memorable meal!
This classic Alsatian dish is one of the best ways to cook sauerkraut and sausages to feed a crowd! To make, sauté onions in fat until they're softened, then add stock, wine, and spices. Next, add tenderized meat and bring the liquid to a simmer, then add parboiled potatoes and fully-cooked lean meats and cook until heated through. Pile everything on top of a heap of sauerkraut to serve.
Meatballs are divine, especially when they're paired with the bright flavors of sauerkraut. The recipe requires simmering meatballs made of ground meat and pork in a sauerkraut-infused stew. Serve it with creme fraiche, smetana, or sour cream, or with white bread or salt potatoes to soak up the delicious goodness. Pro tip: Make it ahead of time. It allows the flavors to develop nicely.
Here's an innovative way to use leftover corned beef to create a spectacular sandwich! This delicious corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich recipe uses Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, horseradish or mayo, and spicy grainy mustard to add incredible flavors to a simple corned beef sandwich. Serve it with potato salad and coleslaw or keep it light with chips and dill pickles.
This seemingly simple appetizer is OTT (over the top) delicious - perfect for summer parties or family events! Make it with pre-cooked meatballs, Bavarian sauerkraut, cranberry sauce (with whole cranberries), chili sauce, brown sugar, and Holy Voodoo rub. Prepare it in a crockpot and catch up on your favorite shows as it cooks.
Sauerkraut on pizza? Hear us out! This pizza is a fun twist on the classic Rueben sandwich! To make, spread Russian or thousand island dressing on the dough, top it with meat, cheese, and sauerkraut (rinsed and squeezed out), then bake until the cheese is melted and the dough is slightly browned at the edges. Garnish with Rotel or diced onions, and dig in!
Love the flavors of a Reuben sandwich but want to elevate it? How about you cook up a five-star gourmet meal in under half an hour! In it, the sauerkraut is cooked until golden brown and crispy, then piled on gorgeously marbled strip steaks. The steaks are then topped with a delicious sauce made of ingredients like horseradish, mayonnaise, and pickle to serve. It's like a Reuben sandwich, but without bread.
This slow-cooker recipe, made with corn beef brisket, carrots, baby red potatoes, spices, beer, and sauerkraut, yields a wonderful balance of tangy, peppery, sweet, and sour flavors. It comes together easily, and since it's made in a single pot, you'll have fewer dishes to wash and more time to enjoy the enticing aroma that permeates the home while it cooks.
These stuffed cabbage rolls served in a tomato-based soup are a delicious medley of flavors and colors. In this recipe, cabbage leaves are stuffed with a mixture made of ground beef, ground black pepper, rice, shredded onion, and Vegeta, then cooked in a pot with beef stock, all-purpose flour, and tomato sauce. Serve the appetizing rolls with a side of mashed potatoes to round up the meal.
Goulash, a type of stew, is a popular German comfort food. Make this healthy treat with cubed boneless beef shoulder, a heady dose of spices to crank up the heat, onion, garlic, seasonings, tomato paste, beef broth, dry red wine, sauerkraut, and cornstarch. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, over egg noodles or spaetzle, or with a side of boiled potatoes.