Go Back
–+ servings
a large plate with bavarian sauerkraut and a spoon.
Print Recipe
4.69 from 16 votes

Bavarian Sauerkraut

Bavarian sauerkraut – a regional recipe for the famous German sauerkraut. This is the perfect side dish for many German meat dishes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: German Sides
Cuisine: German
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 130kcal
Author: Adina

Ingredients

  • 1 can sauerkraut about 800 g/ 1.8 lb. (Note 1)
  • 1 tablespoon bacon fat Note 2
  • 1 onion about 75 g/ 2.5 oz
  • 2 oz bacon 50 g, Notes 3,4
  • 1 medium apple about 150 g/ 3.5 oz
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider Note 5
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • about ½ teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
  • about ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
US - EU

Instructions

  • Prepare: Drain the sauerkraut. Finely chop the onions and cut the bacon into small cubes. Peel and dice the apple.
    1 can sauerkraut/ 800 g/ 1.8 lbs + 1 onion + 2 oz bacon/ 50 g + 1 medium apple
  • Heat the fat in a saucepan. Cook the onions and the bacon for about 3 minutes on medium-low heat. Add the apple and stir for another 3 minutes.
    1 tablespoon bacon fat
  • Caramelize: Sprinkle the sugar on top, stir, and let caramelize slightly for about 1-2 minutes.
    1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • Simmer: Add sauerkraut, salt, pepper, caraway seeds, cider/white wine/ apple juice. Stir well, cover, and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes.
    about ½ teaspoon fine sea salt + about ¼ teaspoon black pepper + 1 teaspoon caraway seeds + 1 cup apple cider/ 250 ml
  • Serve immediately or reheat.

Notes

  1. Sauerkraut: Either fresh (homemade or from the butchers), from a can, jar, or bag. Search for a German product for genuine taste and texture. I recommend Mildessa/Hengstenberg. (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
  2. Fat: You can also use lard or schmalz, vegetable or olive oil. 
  3. Bacon: I had lean bacon cubes, but regular bacon is also perfect. Preferably, the one sold unsliced, as it is nicer to have the cubes in the dish than some thin chopped slices.
  4. Vegetarian or vegan version: Use oil and leave out the bacon.
  5. Substitute apple cider with white wine or apple juice. If using dry white wine, you might want to adjust the taste with another ½ to 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1204mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g