Right now I can ask how this stuff is actually made!I've had it in Czech Austria and Slovakia and love the stuff,I bought it in the UK and it was awful.Is it raw pickled cabbage?How do you you make it,what versions are out there ?
Hyposmurf, It's a funny question on a Czech board, but what the heck, there is some link to the Czech republic. I bet there are families there that still make the stuff themselves. I'm a dutch bloke, and maybe some termonology is incorrect, but I'll give it a try Sauerkraut is German for Sour cabbage. It's made from white cabbage. You rasp or slice the cabbage and place it in a stone yar, a barrel, or anything alike (plastic or glass is fine too) After a layer of cabage, you add some salt. Keep repeating this till it's full, or you run out of cabbage. (A minimum of 1,5 % of salt is to be used. The more slat, the safer you are concerning the quality of the food. Too much salt, and you may end up rinsing the stuff before eating it, and thus also rinsing away some of the flavour) You then wait a few hours and then can then press the stuff together so the moist comes out of the cabbage. The idea is to have the cabbage in a salt water solution. All the cabbage should be submersed in it's own liquid, and if not, add water. Milk acid bacteria will then convert the sugars that are present in the cabbage from nature into milk acid. This gives the sour taste to the food. Also spices or berries can be added to enhance the flavour. Keep the stuff fermentating for three day's at room temperature. Then hold it in a cooler place for eight weeks (like in a cool cellar) It is important that no Oxygen can get into the jar. For that purpose you can get water locks, to let the gasses out, but keep the oxygen out. In some recipies they are talking about placing a stone in the yar, for keeping the stuff compressed. Good Luck!!! Saurkraut, the legend! Around 200 vC during the construction of the Chinese wall the Tartars took schredded cabbage along on their trips. The sweat of the horses made the cabbage sour after a few weeks in the bags hanging along the horse. Dutch sailors went all over the world, and they took saurkraut (zuurkool in Dutch) along on their journeys, since one can keep it good for long periods. More info can be found at Goggle or so!
Thanks appreciate it.Reason I asked is that its food that is eaten all over Czech.Whenever I go out for meals in Czech youll usually find sauerkraut with a few dishes.Yes it originally German,but I guess that has to do with the german infulences within Czech years back.
My grandma used to make her own sauerkraut. I remember her doing a lot of grating when I was little... We'd keep the sauerkraut in a stone jar, with a heavy stone inside, and made sure there was always water filling the rim of the jar. I never knew why (and never cared to ask), but now I know! Thanks Maarten!
Most of the Czech sauerkraut I've had contained small seeds called "kmín" (carraway seed). The seeds give the Czech "zelí" a distinct taste from the "usual" German sauerkraut. Note, I have seen sauerkraut with carraway also called "Bavarian style" sauerkraut here in the U.S. Dobrou chuť!
My grandmother used to make carraway 'seedcake' in the UK when I was small. They are lovely - it is a really nostalgic taste. I think you can still buy carraway seeds in supermarkets, although I'm not sure, will have a look. On the German market stall here they are selling sauer cabbage - but it is sweetish. I bought some sauerkraut in the local store back in he year, and couldn't stomach the saltiness. This sweeter stuff is just called 'sauer cabbage - and appears to be pineapple/vinegar tastewise. This is what i like!! Could eat loads!
So do Asda! I'm baking a seedcake in the week, so will buy their seeds. Waitrose is good for continental ingredients if you are in the UK. They sell a lot of interesting stuff, although it is pricey. I don't buy regular English groceries from there as I won't pay their prices for normal everyday goods, but for specialities you cannot get elsewhere it is worth going in! Waitrose do Budvar too - only it maybe just a Christmas promotion.
For those who find it hard to live without it, Waitrose stock both Budvar and Pilsner Urquell all year round , at least I have never not been able to get it there.
JD weatherspoon now do Kozel beer now in bottles and in some they have staropramen beer on tap!I actually prefer the Czech beer,its less bubbly and just better than the english.
I had Staropramen in JD's a while ago, bottled, not sure if it's on tap in my local branch. Maybe will pop and have a look later.
Ive only seen it one of them so far.Is there something they put in Czech beer or chemicals they leave out?Its just so completely different.They have a slight history behind making it I guess!
