Polish Sauerkraut Slaw {Surówka z Kiszonej Kapusty}
[As of Nov. 2015]For those of you who don’t know, my husband is currently serving in the Army. He has a busy schedule with a 4 am wake up and food is just not a priority for him. But when away from home for extended periods of time, he misses home cooked meals and mentions it a lot. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited and the lack of it is much noticed.
He’s been training in the field for the past what seems to have been a decade. He always comes back at least a couple, three pounds lighter. Their main food supply comes from meals prepared in the Army field kitchen and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), which shouldn’t even be called food. Even though the calorie intake is sufficient, the flavor is just not there.
Before he comes home, I always ask him what he wants for dinner, and always, without fail he asks for crunchy salad. I guess a month of eating mushy mystery food does that to ya.
Aside from a big green salad, I’ve made him a sauerkraut coleslaw today. It’s crunchy and fresh, tangy and sweet. It will deliver the much desired crunch perfectly. This salad goes well as a dinner side dish, paired with a protein and a starch, like mashed potatoes. It is a must-have addition to fried fish and french fries and it is often made in the summer with freshly cut cabbage.
When I was growing up we always made our own sauerkraut. Supply would last us the whole winter, and we would use up a large barrel of it each year. You can read about how to make your own sauerkraut HERE.
Don’t be intimidated, the process is easier that in sounds. If you’re not feeling that crafty, store-bought kraut will do also. When purchasing sauerkraut though, pay attention to the ingredients. All there should be is cabbage and salt (spices and other vegetables are OK). Sauerkraut gets it’s distinctive sour and tangy flavor from undergoing a fermentation process triggered by salt.
This is a lengthy process and some producers are cutting corners by adding vinegar (or other mysterious additives) to replicate the flavor. For me, it just never works. Old school, fermented sauerkraut is the ONLY way to go.
If you happen to be near a Polish deli and buy a larger quantity of it, don’t fret. This stuff will stay in the fridge (or cold basement) for a long time. If you haven’t yet, prepare one of Polish favorites hunter’s stew {BIGOS} or sauerkraut soup {Kapuśniak}, both packed with flavor and goodness (sauerkraut is a natural probiotic). Win – win!
Polish Sauerkraut Slaw
How to prepare Polish Sauerkraut Slaw – recipe video
Sauerkraut Slaw {Surówka z Kiszonej Kapusty}
Ingredients
- 1 carrot
- 1 apple
- One 8 oz / 225 g can of sauerkraut, drained
- 1⁄4 of a medium onion, minced
- 1/2 tsp of sugar
- 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Peel carrot and apple, grate on the largest side of a box vegetable grater and add to the mixing bowl with sauerkraut. Add onion. Sprinkle with sugar and add oil.
Mix well and let sit for a couple of minutes to let the sugar dissolve. Mix again and taste. Add salt if needed.
Notes
If you have access to a Polish grocery store, buy jared sauerkraut with carrots. It comes in a bucket, jar or a sealed bag. If not, go with the regular canned stuff, but pay attention to the ingredients. All it needs to have is cabbage and salt. This means the cabbage fermented on its own, and was not treated with vinegar to give it sour flavor.
What did you think? Please let me know in comments!
Love,
AnnaPolish Sauerkraut Slaw
Polish Sauerkraut Slaw
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Do you have to squeeze out the juices of the bought sour krout before adding the rest of the ingredients?
If you add the cabbage you squeeze that out also right?
I don’t, but I like it sour. Try it both ways and see what you prefer 👍🏻😊
Wow!! Thank you for this (and all your recipes). . Reminds me of home, growing up. My mom was a wonderful cook of polish food. . . but she would never teach any of us. . (she had anger issues). She would make the egg / breadcrumb mix just like you. . SO Delicious!!! I miss those times. Thank you SO Much for making and sharing these wonderful recipes. . .
Hi
I only gave your recipe 3 stars as there is no fermentation time. We’re big sauerkraut lovers. I’ve been making it myself for a few years now and it tastes really nice. But i wondered how long the Polish people make their sauerkraut and how long they let it ferment. I have subscribed to your recipes and look forward to them.
Hi Christel, fermentation can vary depending on ambient temperature. In the warm kitchen it will take shorter than in a cool basement. I check by look and taste, it needs to look translucent and taste sour without raw cabbage taste. Good luck!