How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut

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How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut

For centuries, pickled vegetables were staples in the diet of Ashkenazi Jews. But these pickled vegetables — which included cucumbers, carrots, beets, and cabbage — were not the kind of pickles we think of today, swimming in a brine of vinegar and spices. Vinegar, which was typically made from wine, would have been too expensive for most people to use as a preservative before the 19th century. Rather, these vegetables were fermented: submerged in a saltwater brine to attract good bacteria that, with time, turned the vegetable’s sugars into lactic acid, which both preserved them and made them delicious. Among the best-known of these traditional Jewish ferments is sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage.

The ubiquitousness of fermented pickles in Jewish delis, where they served to cut through the fattiness of foods like pastrami and corned beef, cemented the association between Jews and pickled vegetables in the public’s eye. Sauerkraut became a staple of Jewish delis as an integral part of the Reuben sandwich — one of the most iconic dishes in the world of American Jewish cuisine.

Today, we are rediscovering the health benefits, and distinctive tangy flavour, of fermented foods and for the past few years, fermentation has been one of the most popular DIY trends. Although it may seem intimidating, fermenting is actually quite easy to do at home and the results are extraordinarily tasty. The flavor and texture of homemade sauerkraut, for example, is vastly superior to store-bought and, unlike commercial sterilized varieties, contains healthy probiotics which contribute to digestive health and boost the immune system.

Ready to jump in?

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of green cabbage (3-3 1/2 pounds), as fresh as possible
  • Sea salt or pickling salt (avoid iodized)

Directions

  1. Begin by sterilizing a half-gallon jar by filling it with boiling water and then pouring it out and allowing the jar to air-dry.
  2. Weigh cabbage and measure out correct amount of salt, using a ratio of one tablespoon of salt per pound of cabbage. For example, for 3 1/2 pounds of cabbage, use 3 1/2 tablespoons of salt.
  3. Remove any damaged outer leaves from the cabbage and quarter it. Cut away the core from all four quarters.
  4. Finely shred the leaves with a large knife or mandoline.
  5. Place one quarter of the shredded cabbage in a bowl big enough to hold all the cabbage. Firmly massage a quarter of the salt into the cabbage in a large bowl. Repeat this process until all of the cabbage and salt have been combined in the bowl.
  6. Set the bowl aside for thirty minutes to allow the salt to draw the water out of the cabbage.
  7. After thirty minutes have passed, check the cabbage. There should be a salty brine collecting in the bottom of the bowl.
  8. Using your hands, squeeze the shredded cabbage, allowing the liquid to drain into the bowl, and pack the cabbage shreds into the half-gallon jar. Use a wooden spoon or other tool to tightly tamp it down and remove air bubbles.
  9. After all the cabbage has been packed into the jar, add the collected liquid from the bowl. The cabbage should be covered by the liquid. If it is not, you will need to add additional brine.
  10. Cover cabbage with a glass weight or small plate or ramekin. Cover the top of the jar with an airlock (or piece of cheesecloth secured with twine) to allow air to escape. Set aside out of direct sunlight in a room between 55 and 75 degrees.
  11. Check the jar daily to make sure the cabbage remains submerged in the brine. You will begin see small bubbles collect on the surface of the brine. If there is any scum (white, yellow, or bluish growth), carefully scoop it off without stirring it into the liquid, and discard. The brine will take on a darker color over time, and the odor may be pungent.
    When it is no longer bubbling and the cabbage tastes pleasantly sour, not salty, the fermentation is complete. This process can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks, depending on the temperature of the environment.
  12. Once the sauerkraut is finished, store it in the refrigerator, dividing into smaller jars if desired. It will last for several months.

Source: myjewishlearning.com

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