Best 5 Choucroute Garni Recipes

HOMEMADE CHOUCROUTE GARNI

Steps:

• Place sauerkraut in a colander set in the sink; rinse with warm water, and drain.
• Make bouquet garni: Place peppercorns, coriander seeds, cloves, juniper berries, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves on square of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine.
• Melt goose fat in very large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions; cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent but not brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add wine, chicken stock, and 2 cups water to Dutch oven; stir to combine. Add dry-salted bacon, smoked bacon, pig's knuckles, pork butt, carrots, garlic, salt, and bouquet garni. Lay washed and drained sauerkraut on top of mixture in Dutch oven. Add enough cold water to bring liquid to 1 inch below sauerkraut. Cover, increase heat to high, and bring liquid to boil. Reduce heat to low; cook at strong simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
• Add potatoes; simmer, covered, until potatoes are just becoming tender, about 30 minutes more. Add sausages; simmer, covered, until heated through, about 10 minutes more.
• Remove bouquet garni and discard. To serve choucroute garni on platter, remove meat, potatoes, and carrots from Dutch oven. Drain sauerkraut, and place in middle of serving platter. Slice bacon and pork butt. Arrange meat, potatoes, and carrots around sauerkraut on platter.

ALSATIAN CHOUCROUTE GARNI

Steps:

• Make a spice bundle: Place spices, bay leaves, and garlic on a square of cheesecloth; tie into bundle with kitchen twine.
• Heat oil in a very large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add bacon, pork butt, and spice bundle. Cover with sauerkraut. Add wine and enough water to come 1 inch below sauerkraut. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover, and simmer 45 minutes.
• Add potatoes and carrots. Cover; cook until almost tender, about 20 minutes.
• Using a skewer or the tip of a paring knife, poke a few holes into each sausage to prevent them from bursting. Place kielbasa in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook, turning often, until browned, about 8 minutes. Put all sausages into the Dutch oven; cover, and cook until heated through, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausages and vegetables to a plate. Drain sauerkraut, and arrange on a serving platter. Arrange sausages and vegetables on top. Garnish with parsley, and serve with mustards.

CHOUCROUTE GARNI

Steps:

• In a 24-quart pot with a lid, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent. Add sauerkraut, and stir to combine; transfer half of the mixture to a large bowl.
• Place pork loin, pork belly, pork butt, and both bacons in pot; top with reserved sauerkraut mixture. Place cloves, bay leaves, juniper berries, and cumin in a piece of cheesecloth; tie with a piece of kitchen twine to enclose. Add to pot along with wine, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer and cover; cook until meats are cooked through and tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Add all sausages to pot, and cook until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Generously salt water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until potatoes are easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Drain.
• To serve, place mound of sauerkraut in the center of a large platter. Slice meats and add to platter along with potatoes; garnish with parsley and serve with mustards.

CHOUCROUTE GARNI

Steps:

• Immerse the sauerkraut in a large bowl filled with cold water, and soak for 15 minutes.
• While sauerkraut is soaking, place the chopped bacon and the optional bacon rind in a heavy, oven proof pot over high heat. Saute for 1 minute. Turn heat to medium-low, add the garlic and saute for another minute.
• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Squeeze the sauerkraut dry, reserving 1 cup of the soaking water and add the sauerkraut to the pot. Stir well to blend with bacon. Add the reserved cup of soaking water, the white wine, the juniper berries, the peppercorns and the cloves. Bring to boil on top of stove and boil until the liquid has almost evaporated (about 20-30 minutes).
• Imbed the meats in the sauerkraut, cover the pot and cook in the oven until the meats are hot, about 30 minutes. Serve on a large platter.

SOUTHERN SMOKED CHOUCROUTE GARNI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut the potatoes and turnips and steam them until al dente. Warm the sauerkraut and bury the meats in the sauerkraut. Bring to a simmer and braise for 30 minutes covered in the oven until everything is cooked through. Add chicken stock or water as necessary to keep moistened during the cooking process.
• Rinse the sauerkraut of most of the salt in repeated cold-water washings. In the olive oil, sweat the onions until translucent. Add the wine and reduce. Add the sauerkraut and seasonings and cook to coat with the wine. Add the chicken stock, caraway seeds, bay leaves and pepper and simmer until most of the liquid is reduced. Adjust the seasoning with salt if necessary.
• Yield: 4 to 6 servings
• Mix the sugars and salts together, then spread a layer in a pan. Place your pork, duck or other meat to be smoked on top of the cure and sprinkle more on top until completely covered. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse all the sugar/salt off, pat dry and smoke in a stovetop smoker.
• Yield: 6 pounds