fbpx
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Image from https://bit.ly/2IErJqu

Image from https://bit.ly/2IErJqu

Fermented Foods: How To Make Sauerkraut And Why You Should Add This Cabbage Dish To Your Diet

Lynda Chalker by Lynda Chalker
December 14, 2020
in Food
Reading Time: 5 mins read
69 1
0
84
SHARES
466
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

Identified as a staple dish in Germany since 1960 and native to the Chinese, Sauerkraut is an invention that has graced multiple tables for centuries. This fermented cabbage dish is widely recognised for its versatility, health properties and the fact that you can make it without needing much ingredients nor equipment. 

Ingredients

  • Cabbage
  • Salt to taste
  • Mason jar or crock to store

Preparation

  1. Shred the cabbage.
  2. Put the shredded cabbage in a container, or bowl.
  3. With clean hands add salt and massage the salt into the cabbage. At first, the added salt might not seem to be enough but slowly the cabbage will start to become watery and limp. This process takes 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle some on top of the cabbage before packing it into a jar.
  4. Pack the cabbage into a crock (for large quantities) or a mason jar (for small quantities). At the same time tamp down the cabbage using your fist to release any excess water. Pour the liquid released then seal tightly the crock or mason jar using a lid or clean cloth respectively. Use rubber bands or twine to secure the cloth.

A few pointers to note; 

  • The cabbage should remain submerged in the liquid during fermentation.
  • Cabbage produces a lot of water, which makes those near the surface float. Hence to make tasty sauerkraut, tamp down the floating cabbage or place a large leaf of cabbage on the surface of the shredded cabbage to keep everything submerged in the liquid.
  • Keep the jar covered at all times to prevent airflow and contaminants from entering the dish. You can use a clean cloth or cheesecloth for this. 
  • The longer the sauerkraut is fermented the tastier it gets. Therefore, depending on the amount of sauerkraut you make give it ample time for it to ferment. You may transfer it to a fridge once you deem the taste is as preferred. 
  • If you get a very active fermentation, the contents might bubble up or fail to fit the container. Thus, it is always advisable to use a slightly larger container for packing the cabbage.
  • Since there’s no maximum or minimum time this dish is fermented for, it is necessary for you to keep tasting the sauerkraut from time to time. Once the desired taste is achieved, the sauerkraut can be stored in cellar temperatures or in a refrigerator. The fermentation period will also depend on the amount of sauerkraut you’re making. For instance, smaller batches can take up to 3 days to ferment while sauerkraut fermented in crocks can take more. 
  • You know you’re doing it right when you see bubbles or white scum on the surface of the sauerkraut. This scum can be skimmed off before storing the sauerkraut in the fridge. If mould forms on the surface, it indicates the cabbage isn’t fully submerged or the room temperatures are high. 
  • Fill your sauerkraut jar to the brim to get the best results. 
  • Store it in a fridge to preserve.

Pairing

Sauerkrat is a great condiment for a variety of dishes. It can be used as a topping for meat or layered in a sandwich or hotdog. Due to its crunchiness, delightfully sour and great taste it can also be used as a side dish as done mostly in Asian cuisines. 

Benefits of sauerkraut

  • As it is made through a process known as Lacto-fermentation, Sauerkraut is rich in probiotics that are found in other cultured foods like yoghurt or sour milk. Probiotics have a tremendous influence on the immune system, enabling it to fight against respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal diseases/disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gas and bloating.
  • Sauerkraut is a low-calorie food which makes it a great choice to include in your diet.
  • This fermented cabbage dish is packed with multiple nutrients such as vitamin K, Vitamin B6, thiamin, folate, riboflavin and vitamin C, all of which are essential for normal body functioning. 
  • It contains minerals such as copper, manganese, potassium, magnesium and iron, which help the body to stay healthy. 
  • A study done by the University of Mexico reported that eating sauerkraut could lower the risk of getting breast cancer by 74%.

Hence, to reap the benefits of this dish, consider including this sauerkraut in your diet.

Check out more benefits of fermented foods. Here is another fermented food you should try – Health: Benefits Of Kombucha & How To Make It

The Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Cabbage

Lifestyle: 6 Ways To Improve Your Gut Health

Share34Tweet21SendShare6Pin8
Previous Post

Travel: Everything You Need To Know About The Nairobi Commuter Train Schedule

Next Post

Our Friendship Turned Into A Competition & Then She Stole My Man – Revenge Part 3

Lynda Chalker

Lynda Chalker

I am a writer with interest in hair, beauty and fashion. I also like telling stories, but most of all I enjoy listening and reading them. If I'm not doing any of the above, I will be trying to crack a game of chess or monopoly. My biggest fear is being ordinary.

Next Post
Image from https://bit.ly/3a6LCBU

Our Friendship Turned Into A Competition & Then She Stole My Man - Revenge Part 3

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Red hibiscus flower and tea in a glass cup

Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Hibiscus

February 17, 2022
76
man holding gift boxes. Image from https://lerablog.org/general/think-about-the-real-value-of-giving-gifts/

6 Ways To Give Back During The Holiday Season

December 20, 2020
52

Popular Stories

  • Black man admiring his date. Image from https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/06/12/188643185/for-black-singles-a-big-gender-split-on-views-of-long-term-relationships

    The Singlehood Series: The Date Who Couldn’t Keep His Eyes Off Other Women

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • A Public Proposal Exposed The Cracks In Their Relationship

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • The Singlehood Series: He Took Me To A Kibanda On Our First Date As A Test

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • The Singlehood Series: The Beautiful Date With Bad Table Manners

    9 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 2
  • The Singlehood Series: Breaking Up With My Rich Boyfriend Humbled Me

    38 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 10

Potentash Blog

Potentash

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Explore

  • The Singlehood Series
  • From Stairs To Ramps
  • Man Around Nairobi
  • Pearls And Heels
  • Personal Finance
  • Food + Beverage
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Reviews

Get the Potentash Newsletter

  • Newsletter Archive
  • Subscribe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In