Best To Sour Cabbage Leaves Recipes

HOW TO: SOUR CABBAGE

Steps:

• Determine the size of your brining container. This will vary depending on the size of the cabbage heads and the quantity you'll be souring.
• Once you've determined your container size, you'll want to reduce about 20% of the total volume and consider that to be your brine quantity. For example, 12 L tote, so I'll use 10L of brine.
• Calculate and measure out the amount of salt, vinegar, and salt necessary for your brine. The amounts are as follows:- 200g of salt / 10 litres of water- 3 tablespoons of vinegar / 10 litres of water- 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar / 10 litres of water
• Rinse your cabbage heads well to remove dirt and debris. Don't be afraid to remove any particularly ugly outer leaves. If they're split, have holes, or bug bites in them, it's best to remove them at the start.
• Using a sharp knife with a sturdy blade, cut a rectangular wedge around the core. Ensure you're cutting deep enough to remove the whole fibrous core.
• Taking from your previously weighed salt, fill the cavities where you cut the stems out. Fill the cavity about 3/4 full.
• Stack the cabbages as tightly as possible in your fermentation vessel.
• Add the previously measured vinegar, sugar, and remaining salt. If desired, add some dried dill to the brine.
• Start adding hot water to your vessel, ensuring to only add what you've accounted for in the beginning. NOTE: If you're using a very large fermentation container, it is advisable to place it where you want it to ferment to avoid moving a too heavy container.
• Place your weight on top of the cabbage to keep it submerged in the brine.
• Cover your fermentation container, and place it somewhere out of the way to ferment.
• Every 3 - 4 days, wash your hands and forearms well, then rotate the cabbage.
• The fermentation process will take between 3 and 4 weeks, depending on your ambient temperatures. You'll know the fermentation is complete when the leaves are soft to the touch and have a slight translucency. The color of the interior leaves will look quite white while the outside may look green. Another great way to tell if the ferment is complete is by tasting it! The flavor of the leaves should be salty but have that characteristic tang, and the texture should be tender, but not mushy.
• When ready to harvest, working one head of cabbage at a time, remove from the brine, and flip upside down to allow the brine to drain as much as possible.
• Gently pull the stems of each leaf, working from the outside inward to loosen them. Once you reach the middle of the cabbage, pull out any leaves that are too small to be rolled into cabbage rolls and set them aside, these are not wasted!
• Working from the outside gently remove the leaves and slice a triangle shape around the stem to remove it.
• Layer the de-veined leaves in a colander until ready to package.
• Once the leaves have been placed in the desired container, add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of brine back into the container.
• If you're making cabbage rolls within the next 2-3 days, store your leaves in the fridge until you're ready for them! If you're not planning on making cabbage rolls for a few months, your cabbage should be packed and frozen.

TO SOUR CABBAGE LEAVES RECIPE - (4.8/5)

Steps:

• Cut off bottom of cabbage heads(stump) Remove outer leaves and cut out core. Put cabbage heads in a crock or plastic tub, core holes facing up. Make brine using 3/4 c pickeling salt to 1 ice cream pail of lukewarm water. Heads must be covered in brine. To weigh down, put enough water in a garbage bag to keep heads down in brine and to form a covering for container. Place in warm shed. Leave till heads are soft and pliable. Length of time to cure depends on the weather. When ready, peel leaves off, remove rib, cut into cabbage roll size leaves. Roll into cylinders and put into jars, make sure brine covers leaves. You could also add 1/2 t cooking oil to each jar to help seal jars. Make sure lids are tight. Or easy way is to freeeze the whole pickelled cabbage head.

KACHMAN'S SOUR CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small pot heat oil.
• Add bacon and onion.
• Cook, stirring over med heat until onions are opaque and bacon is soft.
• Add dill and salt.
• Remove from heat and add to cooked rice.
• Let cool, this is the filling.
• Remove and separate cabbage leaves from head.
• Cut out hard core. (each leaf can be made into 3-4 pieces depending on the size of the leaf -- this comes with practice).
• Grease casserole dish.
• Place 1 Tbsp of filling on widest end of leaf.
• Fold sides in and roll up. Filling should not be hanging out.
• Place in casserole dish creating layers.
• Combine water and oil and pour over cabbage rolls.
• Cover with lid or tinfoil.
• Bake in a 325°F oven 2 - 21/2 hours.
• You'll have to keep an eye on them to check that they don't dry out or turn brown. If they are turning color add more liquid. And bake till tender.
• Freezes well before cooking.
• *I like to place a couple of pieces of raw bacon on the top of the cabbage rolls before cooking. Also I have made 1/2 a head of cabbage into rolls and froze the other 1/2 of head whole, with no problems*.