Top 15 recipes for making sauerkraut at home for the winter

Numerous sauerkraut recipes make a delicious appetizer that will grace any table during the winter months and beyond. This dish is rich in ascorbic acid, which means it helps fight viruses and pathogenic bacteria during the off-season. It boosts the immune system and promotes healthy digestion. But to reap its benefits, you'll need to learn how to prepare it properly.

Taste features of the dish

If we are talking about preparations for the winter, then they can be:

1. Salty and spicy, depending on the ingredients.
2. Beetroot or sugar will add a certain sweetness to the dish.
3. Cumin and other spices will make the preparation spicy.

As a rule, pickled cabbage is crunchy and has a pleasant taste; it goes well with other vegetables and can complement a meat dish.

You can chop the vegetable, cut it into pieces, pour brine over it, or add other ingredients to improve the taste of the dish.

Selecting and preparing vegetables

If you plan to make a snack at home, pay attention to the quality of the vegetables you plan to pickle.

Cabbage must meet the following characteristics:

• Preference is given to strong heads of cabbage, which, when pressed, produce a specific sound;
• The leaves should not show any signs of rot, parasite infestation or spots; it is better not to use such heads of cabbage for pickling;
• Size does not have a significant impact on the quality of the final product; small, medium, and even large heads of cabbage can be salted.

Caution! Remove the outer leaves; if the cabbage is rotten inside, do not use it for pickling.

How to deliciously ferment cabbage

If you're planning to prepare something for the winter, there are a variety of recipes worth using that can help.

Classic recipe for 10 kg

This crispy vegetable appetizer is prepared according to the following recipe:

1. 10 kilograms of cabbage are shredded using the appropriate device.
2. Cut 3 kilograms of carrots into strips, after peeling and washing them.
3. We add 234.5 grams of salt, it should be simple table salt, without iodine or impurities.
4. Before adding salt, it's a good idea to crush the cabbage with your hands to release its juices. This juice will be used to fill the jars instead of brine.

Recipe with caraway seeds

It is better to follow the following recommendations and rules:

• chop 3 kilograms of vegetables;
• cut everything finely, into thin strips;
• add carrots and cumin on the tip of a knife;
• fill the jars with boiled water.

The cabbage will soon release juice, which needs to be released by letting air into the jar. This is done using a long, sharp object (a skewer is ideal).

With beets without sugar

The appetizer will be sweet, and the cabbage will acquire an unusual purple hue. How to make the product:

1. Shred or grate the beets.
2. Cut the cabbage into pieces and shred the rest.
3. To prepare the appetizer, you will need to sprinkle all the ingredients with salt, following the classic recipe.

This sweet and crunchy snack with an unusual color will be a real decoration for the table.

Sauerkraut recipe in a barrel without brine and sugar

An old way to create a tasty and healthy snack, it is prepared according to the following recipe:

• First, the barrel is cleaned and washed, then dried;
• chop the vegetables, add a little carrot and put everything into the barrel;
• sprinkle the ingredients with salt and add a little sugar, which will make the snack sharp and a little sweet;
• After some time, the vegetable will release juice; you can put the cabbage into jars on the 3rd day, pouring juice from the barrel over it.

Apple appetizer

This recipe is worthy of a holiday table:

1. Take 3.5 kilograms of vegetables.
2. 2 medium sized apples.
3. A little caraway, 2 currant leaves.

Chop the apples and cabbage, place a few leaves of the vegetable and a crust of bread at the bottom of the jar. Then season it all generously with salt. Add a layer of cabbage and apples, season with salt. Add 2 currant leaves. Close the jar and turn it upside down.

Sourdough with whole heads

We take a barrel or a suitable container, then proceed according to the following scheme:

• We prepare the heads of cabbage by removing the first leaves;
• we immerse it in a container (barrel);
• add 200 grams of salt and a pinch of cumin;
• Fill everything with water and close the lid, check the preparation after a couple of days.

Recipe with pears

To prepare this dish you will need:

1. Chop 5 kilograms of cabbage and 2 pears, after removing the core.
2. Cover everything with 60 grams of salt, add 30 grams of sugar.
3. For the marinade, mix apple cider vinegar, honey, water, and add a couple of pinches of salt.

Place the vegetables and fruits in jars, then pour the prepared marinade over them and leave for 24 hours. After 24 hours, turn the jars over, pierce the vegetables, and add more marinade.

Preparation with cranberries and rowanberries

Prepare the dish according to the classic recipe, adding a little sugar and carrots (optional). Also, add a few handfuls of berries to the container with the vegetables.

Fresh cranberries and rowan berries will give the snack a pleasant, unique taste.

Kvasim without brine

To ferment without brine, you'll have to pour juice over everything. Cabbage releases juice after adding salt.

What to do:

• chop the vegetables finely, into strips;
• add salt, add sugar;
• leave in a container under pressure for 24 hours;
• After the specified time, place into jars, pour in the juice that the cabbage has released, and close the lid.

Grandma's recipe

An interesting way to create a dish using an old recipe:

1. You will need to finely chop the vegetable and place it in an enamel bowl.
2. Then sprinkle the cabbage with salt, without adding sugar or other ingredients.
3. They let it sit for a while to release the juices. Then they begin to knead it with their hands or a wooden spoon.
4. When the cabbage has released its juice, it is placed in jars, and the leaves cut from the head of cabbage are placed on the bottom of the jar.

Spicy, with horseradish and garlic

To properly create a delicious snack, you should:

• shred 5 kilograms of cabbage heads;
• add 1 kilogram of chopped carrots to them;
• add a couple of cloves of garlic, peel it but do not chop it;
• Peel and grate 2-3 horseradish roots;
• Mix all ingredients and add salt (70 grams).

With apples and lingonberries

Making or creating such a delicious dish is not easy, you will need:

1. Chop 5 kilograms of vegetables.
2. Then cut the apples, removing their cores.
3. Wash and dry half a kilogram of berries.
4. Add salt, pepper, spices and carrots to the ingredients.

When everything is ready, we begin to “tamp” the cabbage into the container chosen for pickling.

A simple method without adding vinegar

What you need for cooking:

• several medium-sized bell peppers, chopped and seeded;
• 3 large carrots, grated;
• 5 kilograms of cabbage, from which we remove the top leaves;
• 4 tablespoons of salt and a little cumin.

Juicy sauerkraut in jars

You will need to follow the rules and maintain proportions:

1. Select strong heads of cabbage and cut them into strips to get about 4 kilograms.
2. Grate carrots on a fine grater, about 500 grams.
3. Place everything in a bowl and sprinkle with 60 grams of salt.
4. In a container, crush the cabbage and carrots, stir everything again.
5. Place in jars in 20-centimeter layers, placing 2 bay leaves and peppercorns on the bottom.

Sauerkraut in 3-liter jars with lemon juice

To get 3 liters of delicious snack, follow the recipe:

• chop the carrots and cabbage; in the classic proportion, 1.5 kg of carrots are needed for 10 kg of cabbage;
• 3 tablespoons of sugar and the same amount of salt, you can add heaping spoons;
• We will fill everything with 3-4 liters of water, adding the juice of 2-3 lemons.

Prepare the mixture in advance and mix it with water. Place the vegetables in jars, then sprinkle with salt and sugar. Pour in the previously prepared marinade of water and juice.

Storage terms and conditions

The snack should be stored in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. It's best to store the jars in a basement or cellar. If the cabbage freezes during cold weather, it will lose its flavor and become soft.

Ascorbic acid is considered an antioxidant; it prevents jars from swelling, but if this does happen, use the vegetable as soon as possible. You can use it to make cabbage soup or another dish.

Note: You can store jars of cabbage for 12 months if you follow all the instructions.

Fermenting cabbage isn't all that easy; it's important to follow the recipe and maintain the correct proportions. This will help you create a snack that boasts a vibrant flavor and pairs well with other dishes.