Hungarian Sauerkraut Recipes

HUNGARIAN SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Drain sauerkraut pressing excess liquid out.
• Rinse sauerkraut once or twice until the flavor is mild.
• Melt bacon in a dutch oven or casserole; when hot add, onion and sweet paprika.
• Saute for about 8 minutes or until onions are soft.
• Add sauerkraut,stock and caraway seeds.
• Cover and simmer slowly for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• To thicken sauerkraut, stir 2-3 tablespoons flour into 1 cup of sour cream and add to sauerkraut.
• Simmer for 10 more minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar if necessary.
• If you like to add some sausages or some other"wurst" that would be fine too.
• Add it during the last 1/2 hour of cookin.

HUNGARIAN SAUERKRAUT & PORK

Steps:

• Brown the meat and onion (in lard or oil if needed) in a pot with lid.
• Add the paprika to the meat and onion mix, stir to mix in (do not burn).
• Put in the drained sauerkraut, crushed tomatos, bay leaves water and sugar.
• Stir to mix it up and then cover the pot.
• Cook slowly for about one hour, or until meat is tender.
• Add the sour cream and stir.
• Add salt & Pepper to taste.
• Serve in soup plates, with good crusty bread.

HUNGARIAN STEWED MEAT AND SAUERKRAUT (SZEKELY GULYAS)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the sausage slices over medium-high heat, tossing, until lightly browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove, drain on paper towels and set aside. In the same skillet, brown the beef and ham cubes in the sausage fat over high heat and set aside.
• In a large casserole, heat the bacon fat. Add the onions and cook over medium heat, until transparent, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the paprika and cook, stirring, until the paprika and onions form a thick paste and the scent of raw paprika disappears, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beef and ham cubes. Rinse the sauerkraut and add it, along with the broth, bay leaves and thyme. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
• Bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, covered, for about 45 minutes. Add the sausage slices and continue cooking until the meats are very tender, about 45 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool, then refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to develop.
• The following day, reheat the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Remove bay leaves. Serve with sour cream on the side, if desired.

HUNGARIAN STUFFED SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Squeeze out all excess liquid from sauerkraut into sink from and place in a bowl.
• Cook the rice (you should end up with about three cups).
• Put ground meat into another large bowl - you will need the space!
• In a large deep saucepan, in which you will be cooking the meal; braise the onion in plenty of oil, so it won't burn - until glassy.
• When done, pour off the oil, using spatula to keep onion in saucepan.
• Divide the cooked onions, leaving one half in saucepan
• Place the other half on the meat.
• Turn off the heat and put in plenty of paprika and the tomato sauce on onion left in pan.
• Pour in some water, just as much so the mixture gets creamy.
• Let cool a little, then pour on sauerkraut and mix together.
• Take the bowl with the meat and onion.
• Make a well in the middle of the meat mixture, add the egg and mix together with your hands.
• Mix in cooked rice.
• Add paprika for nice red color, salt and pepper to taste and marjoram.
• Knead until smooth.
• Make sure to taste while you are working with it. This meal should be quite spicy! But not TOO spicy!
• Place one third of the sauerkraut mixture into your sausepan and place half of the speck/ham/lean bacon on top.
• Make meatballs about the size of a kiwi - don't need to make them hard.
• Place in the pan, next to each other to make a "meatball layer".
• Put a second layer of sauerkraut mixture on top of it, then another layer of meatballs.
• Top it with the remaining sauerkraut.
• Place other half of speck on top.
• You must completely cover the meat layers with sauerkraut leaving no holes.
• Pour in water only until you can see it appear on the side - to about 3/4 of the pan.
• Cover, and cook on low heat. Do not stir!
• Occasionally lift pan up and move back and forth sideways, like you were steering your car.
• It is done when sauerkraut is so soft it melts in your mouth. You don't need to taste the meat, because it cooks sooner than the sauerkraut, so it is 100% done if your sauerkraut is cooked.
• Serve with sour cream.

HUNGARIAN GOULASH WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• In a dutch oven heat oil and brown the meat on all sides, when browned set aside.
• Add onions to the skillet, saute 5 minutes.
• Pour off excess fat and return meat to the pot.
• Sprinkle in the paprika and Majoram.
• Top with sauerkraut.
• Bake covered for 1 hour 350F degrees oven.
• Add salt.
• When ready to serve stir in the sour cream and caraway seeds.
• Serve over hot buttered noodles.

SZEKELYGULYAS (SAUERKRAUT GOULASH)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 4- to 6-quart saucepan or casserole over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat, and add 2 tablespoons water and the sweet paprika and hot paprika. Place pan over low heat, and saute 3 minutes. Add pork, garlic, caraway seeds, dill and 2 more tablespoons water. Cover, and cook until pork is tender, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally and adding a tablespoon or two of water if it seems too dry.
• Add chopped pepper and tomato to pan. Cover, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add sauerkraut and toss gently to combine. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for an additional hour.
• Combine sour cream and heavy cream and mix well. Transfer half the mixture to a serving bowl, and refrigerate until needed. Add flour to the remainder, and stir until smooth. Add to pan. Cover and continue to cooking, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with a dollop of the reserved sour cream mixture, and pass the remainder separately.