Best Sunny Sauer Cabbage Recipes

SUNNY'S EASY SLOW COOKER SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• For the marinade: Season the beef on all sides with salt. Place in a large plastic bag (turkey bag!) and add the onions, red wine vinegar, pickling spice blend, honey, peppercorns and 1 cup water. Marinate, refrigerated, for 2 days.
• For the sauerbraten: Remove the beef from the marinade and reserve the marinade. Pat the beef dry. Sprinkle the flour on all sides of the beef. In a large pan on high heat, add the oil. When it begins to swirl and smoke, add the beef. Sear on all sides to a deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes; don't forget the ends!
• Add the beef to a slow cooker and pour in the reserved marinade and red wine. Cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
• Remove the beef, tent loosely with foil and rest for 10 minutes. Turn the slow cooker to high and reduce the liquid slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice the beef and serve with the sauce, boiled potatoes and Sunny's Simple Red Cabbage Kraut.
• To a large pan with straight sides or a stockpot, add the beer, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic and peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium high and stir to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the onions and cabbage and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

SUNNY SAUER-CABBAGE

Steps:

• Core cabbage and cut into 1 cm wide ribbons.
• Use a vegetable peeler to make long ribbons from the carrots (the cores will be difficult to ribbon; reserve for other use).
• Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Add caraway seeds and cook for a few seconds, until their color starts to change.
• Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add cabbage. Cover and cook 5 minutes, until cabbage is slightly softened (but still crisp).
• Mix in carrots and sauerkraut, re-cover, and cook until carrot ribbons are tender (one to two minutes). If there is excess liquid, cook uncovered in this step, until liquid is evaporated.

SWEET N "SAUR" CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a soup pot over medium high heat with extra-virgin olive oil. Add ham and lightly brown 2 to 3 minutes. Add shredded cabbage and stir in the onions and carrots as you finish chopping and grating them. Stir in the frozen hash browns and season the vegetables liberally with salt and pepper. Add in a bay leaf, cider, honey, beans, saurkraut and chicken stock. Place a lid on the pot and bring soup to a boil. Uncover and simmer 10 minutes until vegetables are tender. Stir in dill and adjust seasoning of soup. Serve the soup in shallow bowls and top with sour cream.

SUNNY'S SIMPLE RED CABBAGE KRAUT

Steps:

• For the flavor base: To a large pan with straight sides or a stockpot, add the beer, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic and peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium high and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• For the braise: Stir in the onions and cabbage. Heat until the liquid begins to boil. Turn down the heat and allow the vegetables to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

RED CABBAGE AND APPLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Remove any loose leaves from the cabbage head and reserve. Quarter the cabbage and thinly slice, on a mandoline if you have one. (The shreds should be about the thickness of a quarter.) Toss the cabbage in a large bowl with the pickling salt. Work the cabbage through your hands and massage for a minute or two, until the cabbage begins to "sweat" and release some water.
• Thinly slice, then julienne the green apple, leaving the peel on. (Again, use a mandoline if you have one.) Slice the ginger into coins and press with the side of your knife to bruise them slightly and release their oils. Add the apples, ginger and allspice berries to the cabbage and toss well. Let sit for an hour or two, until the cabbage has released quite a bit of water.
• Pack the cabbage mixture into a large, wide-mouthed crock and press down very firmly until the liquid the cabbage has released covers it. (Depending on the age of your cabbage, it may release less water; a fresher cabbage will release a lot of water, while a cabbage that has been stored all winter will release less.) If the cabbage is not covered, mix together 1 quart cold water and 4 1/2 teaspoons pickling salt until dissolved and pour over enough to cover the cabbage.
• Use a couple of the reserved whole cabbage leaves to cover the surface of the cabbage. Cover with a plate (or the weight provided, if you have a fermenting crock) and set something heavy on top to weight it. (You can use cans. Many people like to use a resealable plastic bag filled with the same salted water solution used above because it weights evenly and if it leaks, it doesn't ruin the fermentation process.) Store the crock in a cool, dry place.
• Check the kraut after 2 days. There should be a few bubbles around the sides. Skim any scum that has risen to the surface. Check the kraut every few days and repeat skimming, if needed. Depending on the temperature of your room, the kraut should be ready after about a week. (Some people ferment for a couple of weeks or more, depending on how funky they want their kraut to be.)
• Divide the kraut and pack into jars. Store in the refrigerator. Drain and rinse the kraut well (discarding any ginger pieces) before using.

TRADITIONAL SAUERKRAUT WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• Weigh the shredded cabbage (as cabbages vary in size and weight) to ensure the salt to cabbage ratio is correct. The amount of salt you use should come to about 1.5-2.5%, but no more than 3%, of the cabbage weight.
• In a large bowl, mix and massage the salt through the cabbage thoroughly, making sure to distribute the salt evenly.
• Let it sit to sweat a bit-maybe 10 minutes. This is simply to make the next step easier. This is a good time to get your vessel cleaned and to rest up for the next stage.
• With your pounder, pound quite energetically for about 5-10 minutes, until the cabbage is dripping with its own salty water when you pick up a handful. This part is important as you need this liquid-it's your brine.
• You can also use the dough hook of a stand mixer to do the pounding part, which can speed things up somewhat. Don't let it run for too long though, only a few minutes. Using a mixer is easy and great for people who are doing this a lot and in large batches, but it takes quite a bit of the emotional release and fun out of it.
• Next, mix in the caraway seeds (if using).
• Put the mixture into the jar, packing it down tightly as you go using the pounder. Push down well, particularly at the end to coax out any more brine. You need the brine to cover the cabbage.
• Don't pack the cabbage all the way to the top; leave some headroom at the top of the jar to allow for a bit of growth and movement and, of course, the weight. You don't want the liquid touching the top of the lid, as it will end up spewing out of your air-lock or up out of your lid.
• Cover with a cabbage leaf (the follower), the weight and then your chosen lid or system.
• Depending on your ferment, you can start trying it as soon as you'd like, but the less you fiddle with it in the first 2 weeks, the better. It is ready when you think it is delicious. With the right system and temperature, you can leave it to ferment for months before refrigeration.
• If you used a crock, you'll need to decant the kraut to smaller jars before you refrigerate, unless you have a walk-in cool room, or large cellar. (Lucky you.) It will keep in the fridge for 12 months or more. Use your senses.

SUNNY'S QUICK CABBAGE SAUTEED SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery seeds and let cook for 1 to 2 minutes to bloom. Add the carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cabbage, then season with salt and pepper and continue to cook until the cabbage is wilted but still has a little bite to it, about 5 minutes.
• Place the onion in a medium bowl. Add the honey, sambal and vinegar. Mix together to coat and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the onion mixture to the skillet and mix in. Transfer to a serving bowl.

SUNNY'S EASY GRILLED CABBAGE "STEAKS" WITH APPLE SALAD

Steps:

• Make the sauce. Stir together the hot pepper jelly, orange juice, vinegar, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a bowl or liquid measure. Stir and set aside.
• Grill the cabbage. Preheat the grill to 350 degrees F.
• Brush both sides of the cabbage with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the slices over the direct heat of the grill and cook until the bottom is slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Flip the cabbage and brush with the pepper jelly sauce. Cook for another 4 to 5 minutes and remove to serving plates.
• Top with the salad. Combine the apples, tomatoes, scallions, lemon juice and a drizzle of the sauce in a medium bowl (make it as saucy as you like). Toss to coat and place an equal amount of the salad on the center of each grilled cabbage slice. Top with a few basil leaves. Eat it!