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This sauerkraut soup is a most unusual and delicious soup. It’s also the perfect example of how the farmers and common folks of Ukraine made delicious foods with simple basic ingredients. My husband’s grandparents stored sauerkraut inbarrels for winter. The sauerkraut wasone of their primaryvegetable sources during the cold months, so they got creative with it and made Kapustnyak (sauerkraut soup).
Can you evenimagine not being able to go to the grocery store and buybroccolior lettuce in the winter? We are truly blessed tolive in the US! #sothankful ?
Back to this soup, the sauerkraut gives ita lovely texture and zing and the bacon provides a subtle smokiness. ?Excellent with fresh crusty bread. It’s hearty, filling and will warm your belly. My husband and I enjoyed leftovers for several days.
This recipe was inspired by one of my readers, Oksana, who shared herrecipe for sauerkraut soup and bean soup with me. It was also inspired by Rachel Ray’s Ham, Bean and Bacon Soup. Thank you ladies for generously sharing your delicious recipes! 🙂
Ingredients for Sauerkraut Soup:
1 Tbsp olive oil
8 ozbacon, chopped
1 stick celery, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
3 medium (1 lb) potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3″ thick pieces
1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed, optional
2-3 cupssauerkraut, triple rinsed & drained (weuse 3 cups or about2 lbs)
8 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups water, or to taste
1 (15 oz can) white beans (click to learn how to cookyour own beans)
Salt, Pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning, to taste
How to Make Sauerkraut Soup (Kapustnyak):
1.Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven (here’s the one I use). Add chopped bacon and sautee until browned then remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
2. Add finely chopped celery and onion. Saute until softened and golden (5 min).
3. Add sliced carrots, potatoes, 1/4 cup quinoa (if using), 8 cups broth and 2cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 min.
4. Add 2-3 cups of well rinsed and drained sauerkraut and half of cooked bacon (I keep some for garnish), white beans with their juice, and 1 bay leaf and continue to cook until potatoes are tender(about 10min). Season soup to taste (I added 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp Mrs Dash). Serve with fresh crusty bread.
Sauerkraut Soup Recipe (Kapustnyak)
This sauerkraut soup is a most unusual and delicious soup. The sauerkraut gives it a lovely texture and zing and the bacon provides a subtle smokiness. It's hearty, filling and will warm your belly.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 35 minutes mins
Total Time: 50 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 8 large bowls of soup
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz bacon, chopped
- 1 stick celery, finely diced
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 3 medium, 1 lb potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3" thick pieces
- 1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed, optional
- 2-3 cups sauerkraut, triple rinsed & drained (we use 3 cups or about 2 lbs)
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water, or to taste
- 1 15 oz can white beans (click to learn how to cook your own beans)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt, Pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning, to taste
Instructions
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add chopped bacon and sautee until browned then remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add finely chopped celery and onion. Saute until softened and golden (5 min).
Add sliced carrots, potatoes, 1/4 cup quinoa (if using), 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 min.
Add 2-3 cups of well rinsed and drained sauerkraut and half of cooked bacon (I keep some for garnish), white beans with their juice, and 1 bay leaf and continue to cook until potatoes are tender (about 10 min). Season soup to taste (I added 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp Mrs Dash). Serve with fresh crusty bread.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Russian
Keyword: Sauerkraut Soup
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
All that coziness in a bowl ?. What’s your favorite “weird” soup? Maybe you fancy yourself a bowl of pickle soup orgreen borsch?
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
How do you make store bought sauerkraut better? Add in some bacon or duck fat, some crispy bacon crumbles, and sautéed onion. In this sauerkraut recipe, we will make some delicious, golden brown kraut that pairs perfectly with pork chops, sausage, or burgers.
What is sauerkraut soup made of? ›
ingredients
- 10 ounces sauerkraut.
- 9 ounces bacon, chopped.
- 1 onion, chopped.
- 1 large garlic clove, crushed.
- 4 1⁄4 cups cold water.
- 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika.
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill.
- 5 ounces smoked sausage, sliced (your choice of sausage)
To freshen it up without losing any flavor — better yet, while adding flavor — drain the can and then top it up with an inexpensive dry white wine instead. Draining the brine reduces the sauerkraut's salt level, while the white wine gives it a fermented flavor that's missing from canned sauerkraut.
How many calories does sauerkraut soup have? ›
Calories in sauerkraut soup
| Calories | 197.4 |
|---|
| Total Carbohydrate | 12.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.1 g |
| Sugars | 3.1 g |
| Protein | 8.0 g |
8 more rowsTips & substitutions. Rinse and squeeze - When you use sauerkraut from a jar or bag, rinse it under cold water and squeeze out any excess liquid. This helps to reduce the saltiness and tartness of the sauerkraut.
What is the tastiest way to eat sauerkraut? ›
Different Ways to Eat Sauerkraut
- Make it a Side to Your Larger Meal. The delicious, tangy taste of sauerkraut is a great side dish. ...
- Salsa. Make it a salsa! ...
- Make it a Guacamole Topping. ...
- Put it on Your Morning Egg Scramble. ...
- Spice Up Your Avocado Toast. ...
- Top Your Salad or Sandwich. ...
- Rice Bowl. ...
- Add to Potatoes.
It's so, so good—it fills your mouth with so much fermented flavor and funk, but it isn't overly astringent or too acidic. Also, hot tip: I'd say there's a hierarchy of sauerkraut packaging. Bagged krauts are crisper than jarred, but jarred krauts are so much tastier and better than canned sauerkrauts.
How long does sauerkraut need to be cooked? ›
Add squeezed sauerkraut to onion in the skillet. Stir chicken stock, sherry, brown sugar, and caraway seeds into sauerkraut mixture. Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated, 30 to 40 minutes.
What kind of cabbage is best for sauerkraut? ›
Round cabbage (also called white cabbage or simply cabbage) is the best cabbage for making sauerkraut. The cabbage is dense with smooth leaves and weighs on average around 2 kg. Light green cabbage will give you the best results!
How many times a day do you eat Cabbage Soup on the cabbage soup diet? ›
Just like the name says, the bulk of this diet is fat-free cabbage soup, eaten two to three times a day with other allowed foods assigned each day. Here's what you can add: Day 1: Fruit, except bananas. Day 2: Vegetables like leafy greens (not starchy), but no fruit.
Sauerkraut is a low-calorie food comprised primarily of carbohydrates. It provides fiber and probiotics and is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, and iron. It also provides some potassium, but it is high in sodium.
Is canned sauerkraut nutritious? ›
Store bought sauerkraut is typically pasteurized during the canning process, which destroys the active probiotics and therefore makes it less nutritious than fresh or homemade sauerkraut.
How do you make sauerkraut more palatable? ›
15 Ways To Make Canned Sauerkraut Taste Better
- Give Your Canned Sauerkraut A Bath. ...
- Add Some Richness With Fat. ...
- Sauerkraut Can Use Some Onions. ...
- Sweeten Canned Sauerkrauts With Apples. ...
- Sprinkle In Spices And Aromatics. ...
- Douse Canned Sauerkraut With Spirits Or Liqueurs. ...
- Cook With Cider, Apple Juice, White Wine, Or Beer.
Cabbage, salt, and sugar (plus some time) are all that's required to make a standout homemade sauerkraut recipe.
Should I add vinegar to my sauerkraut? ›
No need to add any vinegar! Salt alone preserves sour cabbage very well.
What kills the probiotics in sauerkraut? ›
Although heat does kill the good bacteria living in your sauerkraut, it only happens at 46°C (115°F). So if you're cooking at a very, very low temperature, you should still retain a large amount of these probiotics. Another solution could be to add your sauerkraut or kimchi to a cooked meal near the end.
