In the realm of hearty and comforting dishes, braised sauerkraut with smoked pork stands as a culinary beacon. Originating from the culinary traditions of Central and Eastern Europe, this dish is a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas. With its tender and tangy sauerkraut, smoky and succulent pork, and a chorus of aromatic spices, braised sauerkraut is a feast for the senses. This article presents a collection of diverse recipes that capture the essence of this classic dish, offering variations to suit every palate and preference.
From traditional German recipes that celebrate the rustic charm of sauerkraut and smoked pork to contemporary interpretations that incorporate modern culinary techniques, this article provides a roadmap for creating a memorable braised sauerkraut dish. Discover the secrets of infusing sauerkraut with rich flavors through slow braising, allowing the smokiness of pork to permeate every bite, and orchestrating a harmonious blend of spices that elevate the dish to new heights.
Whether you're a seasoned cook seeking inspiration or a novice yearning for a taste of culinary adventure, this article will guide you through the process of crafting a delectable braised sauerkraut with smoked pork. Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
EMERIL'S NEVER ENOUGH PORK BEER-BRAISED SAUERKRAUT
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 3h20m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place the sauerkraut in a colander and rinse briefly to remove some of the salt from the brine-don't rinse it too much, or you will lose a lot of the flavor. (Alternatively, if the sauerkraut is not excessively salty, use as is.) Press to release most of the excess liquid and set aside. In a large nonreactive skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Cook until most of the fat is rendered, about 4 minutes. Add the onions and continue to cook until they are soft but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon-onion mixture to a nonreactive roasting pan or large ovenproof Dutch oven. Add the drained sauerkraut and toss to combine. Using a small piece of cheesecloth, make a bouquet garni with the thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, juniper berries, and garlic and place in the baking dish. Add the ham hocks, chicken stock, and beer and stir to combine. Cover the casserole and bake, undisturbed, until ham hocks are mostly tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Meanwhile, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over high heat and brown the sausages on both sides. Set aside. Brown the pork chops and set aside.
- When the hocks are mostly tender, remove the casserole from the oven. Place the sausages on top of the sauerkraut. If the liquid has reduced to less than 2/3, add a bit more water. Cover the casserole and return it to the oven. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the sausages are tender and heated through. Add the pork chops and press them into the sauerkraut. Cover and return to the oven and cook until pork chops are heated through and tender, about 30 minutes longer. Remove the casserole from the oven and discard the bouquet garni. Serve immediately, with each person receiving some of each of the sausages, part of a hock, part of a pork chop and some of the sauerkraut. Pass the mustard at the table.
BRAISED SAUERKRAUT
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 9h5m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place the drained sauerkraut in the insert of a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, caraway seeds, thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries or gin, and black pepper. Combine them thoroughly with a fork or with your hands. Scatter the kielbasa on top and bury the hocks in the sauerkraut. Pour in the wine and broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 9 hours, until the juices are bubbling and the sauerkraut has lost its crunch.
- Remove the smoked hocks. If there is any meat on them, remove it and add it to the sauerkraut. Discard the bay leaves. Serve the braised sauerkraut as is with boiled potatoes, or use as a base for choucroute garni.
CHOUCROUTE ROYALE (BRAISED SAUERKRAUT)
Steps:
- Drain the sauerkraut and soak in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes. Taking it by small handfuls, squeeze out as much water as you can. Pick it apart to separate the strands.
- Remove the rind and slice the bacon into 1/2 inch cubes about 2 inches long. Simmer it in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes and drain.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Cook bacon, carrots, and onions in butter slowly in the covered casserole for 10 minutes without browning. Stir in the sauerkraut and when itis well covered with the fat and vegetables, cover and cook slowly for 10 minutes more.
- Bury the herbs and spices in the saurkraut. Pour in the wine, and enough stock to just cover the sauerkraut. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Lay a buttered round of wax paper on top of sauerkraut. Cover and set in the middle of preheated oven. Simmer slowly for 3 1/2 hours.
- Brown assorted meats in skillet. Bury them in the casserole while the sauerkraut is still braising.
- Continue to simmer in oven for another 1 1/2hours. (5 hours total).
BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH LOTS OF PORK
Two classic mixed braises always come to mind at this time of year. One is cassoulet, based on white beans and a blend of goose, duck and pork. The better alternative for my purposes was choucroute garnie, a vat of simmering sauerkraut that serves as a nice bed on which to mix and match a variety of pig parts. The beauty of a choucroute is that it lets you use whatever pork products you like or have on hand. A couple of hours later, the meat is cooked through while the sauerkraut has absorbed all the porky, smoky flavors, utterly transforming from pickled and puckery into something brawny in flavor and meltingly soft, especially if you add a couple of apples to bring out the cabbage's sweeter nature. Pigs' feet are not necessarily traditional in choucroute, but they add excellent flavor and body to the mix. If you are like my husband and prefer to eat your meat with a knife and fork (and I know that he is not alone in that department), you can always leave them out.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, main course
Time 3h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
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.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 738, UnsaturatedFat 23 grams, Carbohydrate 24 grams, Fat 43 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 53 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 1625 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BRAISED PORK CHOPS WITH SAUERKRAUT
I have been making this recipe for more years than I care to admit to. It's simple to put together and very flavorful. I usually serve with boiled potatoes.
Provided by duonyte
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Melt the butter or lard in a skillet and quickly brown the pork chops on both sides. Place on platter and set aside.
- Arrange the bacon in the bottom of a large dutch oven or braising pan.
- Rinse the sauerkraut in a colander and squeeze out as much water as you can. (You can skip this step if you like a stronger flavor). Place half of it on top of the bacon.
- Place the sliced onions over the sauerkraut and sprinkle with 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
- Arrange the pork chops on top of the onions, and pour in any collected juices.Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the garlic.
- Add the rest of the sauerkraut, sprinkle with pepper and pour over as much beer as you need to cover.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook one hour. The pot should never get completely dry.
- Note: I find 2 lbs sauerkraut to be enough, but if you have hearty eaters, you might want the larger quantity. I do not add additional salt.
GERMAN PORK CHOPS AND SAUERKRAUT
As a soldier during WWII my Dad learned to make this hearty pork dish from a local German woman during the Allied occupation of Germany. I don't know the German name for it, but it is delicious!
Provided by Pat Mathena Oglesby
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European German
Time 1h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the pork chops on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Place the chops into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Mix the sauerkraut, apple, onion, brown sugar, and caraway seeds in a bowl until well combined, and spread the sauerkraut mixture over the pork chops. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink inside, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chop should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 362.6 calories, Carbohydrate 38.6 g, Cholesterol 70.2 mg, Fat 10.4 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 29.2 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 800 mg, Sugar 32.5 g
BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH PORK
This is an oven-braised recipe using pork ribs, pigs feet, bratwurst, and a smoked pork chop. If you don't care for pigs feet, feel free to substitute a little more of the pork ribs, or use whatever you do like. But, seriously, do not fear the pigs feet, they add a nice flavor and silky texture to the broth.
Provided by threeovens
Categories Pork
Time 2h40m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Season the pork ribs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
- Heat a medium saucepan, over high heat, add the pigs feet, wine, and bay leaves; bring to a boil, dover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven, over medium heat, toast the coriander seeds for about 2 minutes, remove from heat; remove to a mortar and pestle, or use the side of a knife, and lightly crush them.
- Return Dutch oven to the heat, add the olive oil, increase heat to medium high and add the bratwurst; cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes then transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium, melt butter, cook onions until softened, about 5 minutes; add apples, cook until both are golden, about 10 minutes more.
- Add garlic, cook 2 minutes.
- Add the wine and pigs feet; simmer 2 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot for any stuck on browned bits; add sauerkray, pork ribs, 3/4 cup water, carrots, coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Nesle the pork chop into the sauerkraut.
- Cover the pot and bake for 1 hour (or transfer to an oven safe casserole).
- After an hour, turn the pork chop and add in the bratwurst; cover, and return to oven for 30 minutes.
- Simmer, uncovered, until the juices thicken up and the meat is tender, 30 to 45 minutes longer (return to Dutch oven if using an oven-safe only casserole).
- Serve with boiled potatoes and garnish with chopped parsley.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use a combination of pork belly and smoked pork shoulder.
- If you don't have a Dutch oven, you can use a large pot with a tight-fitting lid.
- Be sure to brown the meat well before adding the sauerkraut. This will help to develop the flavor.
- Add a variety of vegetables to the sauerkraut, such as carrots, celery, and onions. This will add flavor and texture to the dish.
- If you like a sweeter sauerkraut, add a few tablespoons of brown sugar or honey.
- Serve the sauerkraut with mashed potatoes, dumplings, or bread.
Conclusion:
Braised sauerkraut with smoked pork is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a delicious and comforting meal, give this recipe a try!
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