Sauerkraut
If you haven’t made sauerkraut before, this simple recipe is a great place to start. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s easy to double up the quantities.
Please note, if mould forms on your sauerkraut at any point, discard the batch and start again.
For this recipe you will need a 750ml/1â…“ pint clip top jar (such as a Kilner jar), a large mixing bowl, a large metal spoon, a small ladle, and a ramekin or small shallow jar.
Ingredients
- 1 tightly packed white or green cabbage (approximately 900g/2lb), shredded, washed and well-drained
- 1 tbsp flaked sea salt
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp caraway seeds (optional)
Method
First prepare the equipment. Wash everything thoroughly in hot soapy water, paying particular attention to the rubber seal on the jar lid. Rinse everything under very hot water and leave to air dry.
Put the cabbage in the clean mixing bowl and add the flaked salt. Massage the salt into the cabbage with clean hands for 8–10 minutes, or until the cabbage is limp and watery. There should be a pool of liquid left in the bowl. Reserve this to cover the cabbage in the jar. If your cabbage isn’t particularly fresh, you may need to add a splash of cold filtered water to help create a brine.
Toss the cabbage with the black peppercorns and caraway seeds (if using). Transfer the cabbage and the reserved liquid to the prepared jar, leaving a large gap at the top, and press down well with the prepared small ladle or spoon.
Place a ramekin or clean jar on top of the cabbage and fill with filtered water or baking beans to weigh it down and keep the cabbage just under the liquid. Cover with the lid and fasten tightly.
Leave the cabbage to ferment in a cool place (not the fridge), out of direct sunlight, for 4–7 days. The sourness comes from the lactic acid produced during the fermentation process. If the sauerkraut is fermented at too high a temperature it can inhibit the process. Loosen, then tighten, the lid briefly each day to allow any gas to escape that has collected as the result of the fermentation process.
Taste the sauerkraut after 4 days and, if the flavour is as you like it, you can slow the fermentation dramatically by chilling. Alternatively, leave longer to develop the flavour more fully. The sauerkraut should be tangy with a slightly salty cabbage flavour and will become crunchier.
If the sauerkraut doesn’t taste at all acidic, has an off smell or taste or is disoloured, discard that batch. Once the sauerkraut is ready, it can be labelled and stored in the fridge. I usually start eating mine when it is around 10 days old. If kept sealed, it should last for a few months and will develop a stronger, more tangy flavour. If you are dipping in regularly, you may inadvertently introduce other bacteria to the jar, so it's best consumed within a week or two.
Keep an eye on the cabbage and make sure the gases produced as a by-product of the fermentation process are allowed to escape. If your sauerkraut continues to ferment, you will need to loosen the lid occasionally, probably every 3–4 days and ‘burp’ the gas away. Eventually, no more gas will be produced.
Recipe Tips
You will need around 750g/1lb 10oz shredded cabbage for each tablespoon of sea salt. Try and stick to these quantities to make sure the recipe is as reliable as possible.
Filtered water is necessary for this recipe because tap water often contains a small amount of chlorine, which will inhibit the fermentation process. Either use a filter jug or bottled water.