Hello fellow fermenters, experimenters and lovers of probiotic foods. I am super excited to share my first recipe with you today. It’s a good one too! I just had a taste and it’s amazing. It has all the flavors and textures that make kraut so darn delicious. It’s crunchy, crisp and sour with a hint of ginger and oranges. Not only the flavor, but the color is out of this world. How often do you get to eat fuchsia colored food? Seriously, it looks like candy.
Main benefits
- Purple cabbage and oranges are both packed with Vitamin C which is good for your skin and strengthens the immune system.
- The lacto-fermentation method used here creates a kraut that is packed with probiotics (friendly bacteria that live in your intestines). Probiotics clean out the bad bacteria, toxins and sludge that inhabit the gut.
- Eating sauerkraut daily will strengthen the immune system, reduce bloating and control weight. Along with a million other health benefits.
Apple Ginger Sauerkraut with Oranges
Prep time
Total time
Author: Fermented Food Lab
Recipe type: Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 1 head of purple cabbage shredded
- 2 green apples chopped into thin slices
- 1 orange sliced into rounds
- 2 inches of ginger grated or ¼ cup of ginger juice.
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- pure water
Instructions
- Peel off two outside leaves of the cabbage and set aside. Add the remaining cabbage, apples, ginger and sea salt into a big bowl. I used a big stock pot, because that was the biggest bowl I had.
- Use your hands to mix and massage the cabbage mixture for about 5 min. The cabbage will start to breakdown and become wet. This is the brine. Pack the cabbage mixture into a large glass container or mason jar and place the orange slices around the sides of the jar for a decorative look (optional).
- Continue to add the cabbage mixture and oranges until there is about 2-3 inches of space from the top and then fill the jar with purified water until it just covers the cabbage.
- Roll the cabbage leaves up and place them on top of the mixture. These are used to hold the sauerkraut below the water line. Close the lid and set in a cool, dry place for 5-7 days.
- Open the lid every 1-2 days to let out the gas caused by the fermentation.
- Put in the fridge after 5-7 days and eat as a side with your meals.
Notes
You can chop or shred the cabbage in any size you want. It's all personal preference. I find that a food processor is the easiest to use for this. This batch turned out sour and tangy and is great to top on salads.
DebDijour says
This was my first try, it’s been 7 days. I just ate a quart. It is delicious. Very excited to gift some of it. (I made 3 gallons–oops, lol). but if I eat it a quart at a time it really won’t last too long.
danielle says
Great job Deb! It takes as much effort to make 3 gallons as it does a quart so might as well. You’re friends and family will love it too :)
shiftkicker says
This is my second batch of your wonderful recipe. I added shredded beets for extra colour and more sweetness, extra ginger for bite, and use sour green apples for balance. So simple and so little effort for such delicious results. Thank you!