Braised Sauerkraut With Smoked Pork Recipes

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH PORK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Season the pork ribs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
• Heat a medium saucepan, over high heat, add the pigs feet, wine, and bay leaves; bring to a boil, dover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven, over medium heat, toast the coriander seeds for about 2 minutes, remove from heat; remove to a mortar and pestle, or use the side of a knife, and lightly crush them.
• Return Dutch oven to the heat, add the olive oil, increase heat to medium high and add the bratwurst; cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes then transfer to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium, melt butter, cook onions until softened, about 5 minutes; add apples, cook until both are golden, about 10 minutes more.
• Add garlic, cook 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and pigs feet; simmer 2 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot for any stuck on browned bits; add sauerkray, pork ribs, 3/4 cup water, carrots, coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Nesle the pork chop into the sauerkraut.
• Cover the pot and bake for 1 hour (or transfer to an oven safe casserole).
• After an hour, turn the pork chop and add in the bratwurst; cover, and return to oven for 30 minutes.
• Simmer, uncovered, until the juices thicken up and the meat is tender, 30 to 45 minutes longer (return to Dutch oven if using an oven-safe only casserole).
• Serve with boiled potatoes and garnish with chopped parsley.

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place the drained sauerkraut in the insert of a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, caraway seeds, thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries or gin, and black pepper. Combine them thoroughly with a fork or with your hands. Scatter the kielbasa on top and bury the hocks in the sauerkraut. Pour in the wine and broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 9 hours, until the juices are bubbling and the sauerkraut has lost its crunch.
• Remove the smoked hocks. If there is any meat on them, remove it and add it to the sauerkraut. Discard the bay leaves. Serve the braised sauerkraut as is with boiled potatoes, or use as a base for choucroute garni.

CHOUCROUTE ROYALE (BRAISED SAUERKRAUT)

Steps:

• Drain the sauerkraut and soak in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes. Taking it by small handfuls, squeeze out as much water as you can. Pick it apart to separate the strands.
• Remove the rind and slice the bacon into 1/2 inch cubes about 2 inches long. Simmer it in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes and drain.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Cook bacon, carrots, and onions in butter slowly in the covered casserole for 10 minutes without browning. Stir in the sauerkraut and when itis well covered with the fat and vegetables, cover and cook slowly for 10 minutes more.
• Bury the herbs and spices in the saurkraut. Pour in the wine, and enough stock to just cover the sauerkraut. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Lay a buttered round of wax paper on top of sauerkraut. Cover and set in the middle of preheated oven. Simmer slowly for 3 1/2 hours.
• Brown assorted meats in skillet. Bury them in the casserole while the sauerkraut is still braising.
• Continue to simmer in oven for another 1 1/2hours. (5 hours total).

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT WITH SMOKED PORK

Steps:

• Boil smoked pork chops in large pot of water 5 minutes. Drain pork chops well.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Arrange half of sauerkraut in bottom of Dutch oven. Sprinkle sauerkraut with sliced garlic, bay leaves and whole peppercorns. Arrange pork chops, potato pieces and quartered tomatoes over. Cover with remaining sauerkraut. Pour 3 cups water over. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally (be careful not to break up potatoes).
• Uncover and boil until most of liquid evaporates and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove Dutch oven from heat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Discard bay leaves and peppercorns.
• Transfer pork chops, potatoes and tomatoes to large plate. Cut potatoes into large serving-size pieces. Spoon sauerkraut and any remaining liquid in Dutch oven onto center of serving platter. Arrange pork chops, potatoes and tomatoes on serving platter around sauerkraut and serve.

BRAISED PORK CHOPS WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Melt the butter or lard in a skillet and quickly brown the pork chops on both sides. Place on platter and set aside.
• Arrange the bacon in the bottom of a large dutch oven or braising pan.
• Rinse the sauerkraut in a colander and squeeze out as much water as you can. (You can skip this step if you like a stronger flavor). Place half of it on top of the bacon.
• Place the sliced onions over the sauerkraut and sprinkle with 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
• Arrange the pork chops on top of the onions, and pour in any collected juices.Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the garlic.
• Add the rest of the sauerkraut, sprinkle with pepper and pour over as much beer as you need to cover.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook one hour. The pot should never get completely dry.
• Note: I find 2 lbs sauerkraut to be enough, but if you have hearty eaters, you might want the larger quantity. I do not add additional salt.