Fermented Red Cabbage (Sauerkraut) Recipe (2024)

This fermented red cabbage recipe is a delicious and easy way to add probiotics to your diet. The result is a tangy, crispy red sauerkraut that can be enjoyed on sandwiches or as a side dish. You can also mix in other vegetables, for added flavor. In this particular recipe I mixed red cabbage with green cabbage and carrots for a more pleasant taste.

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Fermented Red Cabbage Recipe

Enjoy the health benefits of fermented foods with this simple and tasty red cabbage sauerkraut. And if you feel more adventurous you should definitely try:

• Fermented red cabbage and beet recipe
• Fermented shaved carrot salad
• Fermented Cauliflower
• Fermented Tomatoes Guide
• Fermented Watermelon Recipe (Vs Pickling)
• Fermented Fresh Fish (Mackerel) Recipe

Fermentation is a natural process that preserves vegetables and creates beneficial probiotics, which can aid digestion and support a healthy gut microbiome. So not only is fermented red cabbage a delicious addition to your meals, it also brings important health benefits.

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Ingredients Needed

• Red cabbage (shredded);
• Green/white cabbage (shredded);
• Carrots(julienned);
• Celtic sea salt–high quality sea salt

How To Make Red Cabbage Sauerkraut Step By Step

• First, shred the red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots into thin slices using a mandoline. I shredded as much cabbage as it filled a 4-Quart bowl, half with red cabbage and half with green cabbage. About 22.22 ounces (630 grams) each. And then I julienned 2 large carrots on top.

• Next mix the shredded vegetables with salt, massaging them until they release their juices. You’ll want to use a really nice, coarse, unprocessed good quality salt, like thisCeltic Sea Salt. The golden ratio for fermentingis 1.5 teaspoon of salt per pound (lb) or (~500g) of vegetables.
• Then I transferred everything In a larger bowl (with plenty of space to get my hands in and mix it around).

• After massaging let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to give it time to break down more and release more juices.

• Transfer the mixture into a jar or crock, pressing down firmly to remove any air pockets it should submerge in its own juice. Leave about 1½ inches of space from the top of the jar.
• You can use afermentation kitbut if you are willing to improvise like I do, just use a regular50 oz glass jar with a locking clamp.

• Cover the top of the mixture with a weight to keep it submerged under its juices. You can use theseweights or improvise with something like a small heavy glass jar filled with water like I did. Keeping the red cabbage kraut in an anaerobic environment (submerged in the liquid) during the fermentation period is the key to prevent spoilage of the upper layer.

• Cover the top of the jarwith a coffee filter secured with a rubber band, this will prevent contamination with other bacteria and will give the red cabbage sauerkraut enough oxygen to keep fermenting.
• Allow the mixture to ferment for up to 1 week or so at room temperature(65-70°F is preferred). The number of days for fermenting will depend on the room temperature.
• When the red cabbage and carrot starts to ferment, usually the second or third day, small bubbles will rise to the top and maybe some scum may form, that’s totally normal.

• Once fermented to your liking (somewhere between 4 and 7 days), transfer the red sauerkraut in the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process. You remove the weights and close the lid when storing.
• You can start eating after 10 days or so. The longer it stays out the more sour it becomes, so this is a matter of personal taste.
• Once refrigerated, the red cabbage kraut will keep for up to a year.

Sauerkraut Serving Suggestions

Serve as a delicious and crunchy topping for sandwiches or salads, or as a side dish to your favorite meals.

• Toss into a green salad;
• As a topping in a poke bowl;
• Use in a tortilla, on a burger bun, or any wrap sandwich;
• As a soup ingredient for tanginess like this red cabbage soup.

Related: Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole

Tips For Success

• Always use clean utensils, equipment and jars to prevent contamination. And if your fermented red cabbage kraut smells bad or looks discolored, discard it and start over.
• Sometimes if the upper level is not entirely submerged in liquid it will start to spoil and get a brown color. To fix this, just remove that discolored layer and keep the rest submerged in the liquid until you transfer the lacto-fermented red cabbage in the fridge.

FAQs

More Lacto-Fermenting Recipes