Fermented Apple-Caraway Sauerkraut

Try making your own fermented food by starting with a classic recipe: Sauerkraut! This variation dresses up plain fermented cabbage just a little with shredded red apple and caraway seeds.

Fermented Apple-Caraway Sauerkraut
Photo: Jason Donnelly
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Servings:
16
Yield:
1 quart

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ - 1 ½ pound thinly sliced cabbage*

  • 1 red apple, cored and coarsely shredded

  • 1 tablespoon natural fine sea salt

  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds

  • 1 cup bottled spring water

  • 1 teaspoon natural fine sea salt

Directions

  1. In a large bowl combine the cabbage, apple, the 1 Tbsp. salt, and the caraway seeds. Using clean hands, massage the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover and let stand 2 hours, massaging it once or twice during this time.

  2. Using clean hands, transfer the cabbage to a wide-mouth 1-qt. jar, packing it down using a muddler or wooden spoon. Pour any liquid remaining in the bowl into the jar over the cabbage.

  3. For brine, combine the 1 cup water and the 1 tsp. salt. Pour enough of the brine into the jar so the cabbage mixture is covered by 1/2 to 1 inch. Use a cabbage leaf slightly bigger than the jar opening to place over the shredded cabbage, to keep it submerged under the brine. Cover jar using a recap airlock lid or other airlock lid. Reserve remaining brine to add, if needed, during fermentation.

  4. Let stand at room temperature (no warmer than 75°F) for 3 to 4 weeks. In temperatures between 60°F and 65°F, fermentation will take 5 to 6 weeks. The sauerkraut is ready when it has a slightly crunchy texture and pleasantly tangy flavor. Place a plastic lid on the jar and transfer to the refrigerator. Chill 1 week before serving. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 months.

*Tip

Use a mandoline to thinly slice cabbage.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

15 Calories
4g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Calories 15
% Daily Value *
Sodium 397mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 13mg 65%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0.2mg 1%
Potassium 74mg 2%
Folate, total 15.6mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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