Krautnik Recipes

KRUPNIK

Steps:

• Add the chicken thighs and water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3o minutes while preparing the mushrooms and dicing the vegetables. Skim off any foam.
• Add the dried mushrooms to a small bowl or glass, add enough boiling water to cover. You might need to place another bowl or glass on top of the mushrooms to keep them immersed in the water.
• After 30 minutes, remove the mushrooms from the water; dice and add to the soup. Decant the mushroom water, adding it to the soup, but leave any sediment that has collected at the bottom in the bowl or glass. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, parsnip, celery, bay leaves, allspice, peppercorns, and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer for an hour.
• Add the potato and barley. Simmer until they are tender, 20 - 30 minutes. Carefully, remove the chicken thighs, shred the meat and return to the soup (or use as dog treats). Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with snipped parsley and dill.

KRUPNIK, A POLISH HONEY LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Pour honey into a saucepan
• Add cloves, cinnamon, lemon zest, vanilla, and allspice
• Warm (enough to thin, but keeping under a boil) and steep for 10 minutes
• Add vodka
• Remove from heat and let steep for a couple of hours
• Pour through strainer
• Pour into bottles
• Seal bottles
• Serve warm, at room temp, or chilled

KRAUTNIK

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together, gently so as not to break the dumplings if using them.
• Spray 9x13 casserole dish.
• Bake in preheated 350°F oven for approximately 50 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• To speed this up, I would cook on medium power in microwave for 20 minutes and then add the dumplings for the last 20 minutes in the traditional oven. If not using dumplings, serve with dinner rolls and tossed green salad.

LITHUANIAN KRUPNIKAS

Steps:

• Crack the cardamom seeds and nutmeg with a heavy skillet on a cutting board. Toss them into a saucepan with the caraway seed, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, saffron, ginger, turmeric, orange zest and lemon zest. Pour in the water, and bring to a boil. Cover, and simmer until the liquid is reduced by 1/2. Strain out spices, and set the liquid aside.
• Pour honey into a large pot, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Skim off any foam from the top. Stir in the strained liquid from the spices and vanilla extract. Remove from heat and place far from the stove to avoid any flare-ups from the grain alcohol. Slowly stir in the grain alcohol. Place the pot back onto the burner over low heat and cover. Heat through, being careful not to boil or even simmer. Remove from heat and let stand overnight with the lid on.
• The following day, pour the liquid into sterile bottles, seal, and allow to settle for 2 weeks. The longer you let it sit, the clearer it will become and the better it tastes. Serve warm.