Sauerkraut Recipe
This simple sauerkraut recipe elevates your everyday store bought sauerkraut. Sauerkraut with garlic, apples, sliced onions, and caraway seeds is a flavorful blend of tangy, savory, and slightly sweet notes. The kraut’s natural acidity is mellowed by tender, caramelized onions and sweet apples, while garlic adds warm, aromatic depth and caraway seeds bring a subtle earthy, slightly nutty flavor. Cooked together, the ingredients create a comforting, well-balanced side dish that pairs beautifully with hearty meats.
Sauerkraut has been around for centuries. It originated in China over 2,000 years ago as a method to preserve cabbage for workers building the Great Wall, initially using rice wine fermentation. It was likely brought to Europe by Mongol or Tartar invaders around the 13th century, where it evolved into the salt-fermented, tangy dish synonymous with German cuisine today.
Why You’ll Like This Sauerkraut Recipe
- It’s versatile – I like my sauerkraut a little on the sweet side, so I use Honeycrisp apples. But my son likes it more on the tart side. So when cooking for him, I like to use Granny Smith apples. What’s nice about this recipe, is that you can adjust it to meet your family’s preferences.
- Budget friendly – With only 5 ingredients, it’s easy on the budget. All it takes is a jar of sauerkraut, garlic cloves, 1 apple, 1 onion, and caraway seeds.
- Quick and easy to make – You can have your side dish ready in less than 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 24 ounce jar of German Style Sauerkraut
- 1 sweet onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 apple
- Caraway Seeds
Tip & Substitutions
- Onions: I like to use sweet onions when I cook. They add flavor without taking over the dish. And they never make me cry while slicing. But feel free to use what ever onion you have on hand.
- Apples: Sweet crisp apples like Honeycrisp bring a slightly sweet flavor to the dish. While tart apples like Granny Smith offers more acidity.
- Sauerkraut: I really like the flavor of Aldi’s German Style Sauerkraut. It’s not as sour as many others you find in the grocery store. But feel free to use whatever your family prefers.
- Sausage: Turn this side dish into a meal by adding boneless, skinless smoked sausage. Just add it to the pan while warming the kraut.
More Family Favorite Side Dishes You’ll Love
Sauerkraut Recipe
This simple sauerkraut recipe elevates your everyday store bought sauerkraut. The kraut’s natural acidity is mellowed by tender, caramelized onions and sweet apples, while garlic adds warm, aromatic depth and caraway seeds bring a subtle earthy, slightly nutty flavor. Cooked together, the ingredients create a comforting, well-balanced side dish that pairs beautifully with hearty meats.
4
servings5
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Ingredients
1 jar (24 oz) 1 German Style Sauerkraut, undrained
1 1 sweet onion, sliced
4 cloves 4 garlic, minced
1 1 apple, diced
1/2 Tablespoon 1/2 caraway seed
Directions
- Drain the kraut juice into the pan. Saute onion, garlic, and apple in juice on medium high heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in sauerkraut and caraway seeds. Warm for another 5 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Onions: I like to use sweet onions when I cook. They add flavor without taking over the dish. And they never make me cry while slicing. But feel free to use what ever onion you have on hand.
- Apples: Sweet crisp apples like Honeycrisp bring a slightly sweet flavor to the dish. While tart apples like Granny Smith offers more acidity.
- Sauerkraut: I really like the flavor of Aldi’s German Style Sauerkraut. It’s not as sour as many others you find in the grocery store. But feel free to use whatever your family prefers.
- Sausage: Turn this side dish into a meal by adding boneless, skinless smoked sausage. Just add it to the pan while warming the kraut.
