Sauerkraut soup is especially delicious in the cold season. It is a quick recipe if you are looking for some great German comfort food that will not only satisfy your cravings but can improve your well-being. Did you know that sauerkraut can also have a detoxifying effect? According to tests, regular consumption can positively support your digestion.
What Is German Sauerkraut Called?
The word sauerkraut is a German (das Sauerkraut) word and means sour or acidic cabbage in English.
How Is Sauerkrautsuppe Pronounced in German?
What Is Sauerkraut?
If you are of German heritage, you may know the lactic ferment specialty from Oma's cool cellar which was made and stored in the fermentation pot. This was the preferred way to easily make the homemade power kraut.
Lactic acid bacteria sit on the white cabbage. These multiply during fermentation and create ingredients like lactic acid that are good for your gut. Lactic acid settles in your intestines and ensures a healthy intestinal flora. If these bacteria are destroyed by heat, you no longer absorb living microbes.
How Is German Sauerkraut Different?
The taste of sauerkraut is mildly acidic due to the lactic acid formed, as the name suggests. Depending on what ingredients are used to make the sauerkraut, the taste will change. When buying sauerkraut, you will notice that the products differ from each other. Sauerkraut that is offered for sale in U.S. supermarkets often has added vinegar and is therefore very sour.
What Type or Brand of Sauerkraut Is Best?
Therefore, it is better to go with freshly, traditional made sauerkraut or one of the German brands that you can find in German delis or your local European supermarkets. Many manufacturers sell their products in plastic or cans. Even these two materials have the advantage of sealing the ferment airtight, it is best if you can get your kraut in a glass jar.
How To Make Sauerkraut Less Sour or Tart?
If can find only commercially produced US sauerkraut brands, the sauerkraut should be drained well in a sieve and then rinsed thoroughly with cold water. The sauerkraut broth should not be used in any case, because certain brands contain an unpleasant sourness of vinegar.
What Meat Can You Use?
- This recipe calls for ground beef.
- You could also exchange the hamburger for pieces of sausage. Kielbasa or other smoked sausages are a great choice.
- Pork meat is also a great substitute for the beef. No matter if you use ham, a small roast, or ribs meat. All will enhance the soup perfectly.
Potatoes
If you prefer a heartier, more filling soup you can add small cubes of starchy potatoes to the soup, so it becomes more of a stew. Or serve the soup with boiled potatoes aka Salzkartoffeln.
Mushrooms
Aromatic mushrooms and flavorful sauerkraut go together just perfectly. You can upgrade the dish by adding a handful of mushrooms about 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
Tomato
If you like to enjoy an extra serving of vegetables in the soup, just add a small can of tomatoes or 2-3 fresh tomatoes (cut into small cubes) with the broth in the recipe.
Authentic German Sauerkraut Soup Recipe
German Sauerkraut Soup
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 2 large onions
- 1 large jar sauerkraut net. Weight 23.99oz. / 680g
- 6-8 slices bread & butter pickles
- 6 oz. tomato paste
- 2 cups white wine or rosé
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp. whole caraway seeds or ½ tsp. ground caraway seeds
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Brown meat and drain if necessary.
- In the meantime, cube onions and pickles.
- Drain and rinse sauerkraut if you use an American brand.
- Add tomato paste to the ground meat and fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add carraway seeds, sauerkraut, onions, pickles, and fry again for a couple of minutes.
- Add wine and broth.
- Season with sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Simmer covered for about 45 min.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
Notes
day before you are planning to serve it. You can freeze sauerkraut without any problems.
Nutrition
How To make This Soup Vegetarian or Vegan?
This soup is a wonderful choice for vegetarians as well. The meat in the recipe can simply be omitted. For the vegan version, you can also simply omit the sour cream or replace it with a dollop of vegan cream. The sugar can be replaced with a tablespoon of agave syrup.
How To Make This Soup Low Carb Friendly?
One cup of sauerkraut has about 6g of carbohydrates and 4.1g of dietary fiber, leaving only 1.9g of net carbs. Make sure to use tomato paste and pickles that don´t contain sugar. The wine can very well be replaced with bone broth and the sugar with a carbohydrate-free sugar substitute.
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