Tangy & Crunchy: What Does Sauerkraut Taste Like?

Do you enjoy the taste of pickles in foods? Or love fermented vegetables like kimchi or curtido? Bet you can’t get enough of sauerkraut.

If you still haven’t tried sauerkraut, we suggest you try it. It might be your new favorite side dish.

Sauerkraut is not only healthy and delicious but is also versatile and pairs well with all kinds of food, such as tacos, sandwiches, and vegetable dishes.

You can also get creative with it and enjoy sauerkraut in different ways.

You must be interested to know what sauerkraut tastes like.

Keep reading. We’ll tell you all about this nutritious fermented pickle.

What is Sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and is full of flavor. Interestingly it provides numerous health benefits.

Sauerkraut is highly popular in Germany, and if you’ve been there, sure you must have had it along with other foods.

In German, sauerkraut means “sour cabbage,” and the taste lives up to its name.

Although Germans are known for their love of sauerkraut, and have been a staple for centuries, it was originally invented in China over 2,000 years ago.

Sauerkraut is made using simple ingredients readily available in your kitchen.

This traditional fermented food is prepared by allowing it to ferment for several days or weeks.

We’ll get into the details later.

Aside from its distinct taste and popularity, sauerkraut is highly nutritious and offers numerous health benefits.

It’s rich in iron, potassium, and vitamins such as A, C, and D, and it also aids in weight loss and improves digestion.

What Does Sauerkraut Taste Like?

Have you tried kimchi? It has a similar taste but without spices.

But don’t assume they taste the same. Kimchi is spicy, while sauerkraut has a salty flavor.

Sauerkraut is a bit crunchy, has an acidic and sour taste, and can quickly satisfy your appetite.

It makes a great combination with chicken, sausages, and burgers, and who doesn’t love them?

You can easily find sauerkraut in most stores.

It can have a wide range of flavors depending on the ingredients used.

Some recipes use vinegar but traditionally, salt is used.

The longer it’s fermented, the more flavorful and sour it tastes.

Typically, sauerkraut has a soft texture. It’s smooth and has a bit of crunch.

Besides, you can always be creative with fermented foods and add spices to create a new flavor.

When preparing sauerkraut, it can be firm, but it softens with time.

Though you might want to relish it immediately, a little patience is required.

By 4-6 weeks, you can enjoy the pickled vegetable with your favorite food.

This versatile dish adds extra flavor to your dish. You can use it as a side dish or topping.

The advantage is that it can also be eaten alone, like pickles and kimchi.

Though you might not enjoy eating fresh cabbage, this nutritious veggie can change your mind.

With fermentation, it brings out a new taste and flavor, making it healthy and delicious.

How to Make Sauerkraut at Home?

Food prepared at home with love always tastes the best, and you’d be glad to know that this healthy fermented pickle is super easy to make.

It requires only a few ingredients compared to other fermented foods, and the result is satisfying.

If you’ve made pickles before, preparing sauerkraut at home is as easy as pie.

To make sauerkraut, you only need cabbage, salt, and a container.

Here’s how:

• Wash the cabbage, trim the outer leaf, and cut it in half or quarters.
• You can either leave the core to make shredding easier if you’re doing it by hand or remove it and use a food processor to shred the vegetable.
• Then, put the shredded cabbage in a large bowl and add salt, depending on the quantity of the vegetable, and massage it thoroughly. .
• Once done, let it sit for a few minutes to let the salt draw water from the cabbage.
• Put the cabbage into a clean jar and press it to avoid air pockets. Cover it with a breathable fabric and let it ferment for about 1-4 weeks.

When preparing sauerkraut, ensure to use fresh vegetables that are juicy enough to give a good amount of brine.

Brittle leaves are preferred as they tend to be juicier.

The required temperature is 65-72 degrees F, and keep it away from sunlight.

If the fermentation has not produced your desired taste, you can re-seal the jar and let it ferment for a week or so.

The taste improves with time.

What Do You Serve Sauerkraut with?

Since sauerkraut is highly versatile, you can serve it with several dishes, from soups to salads and sandwiches.

If you haven’t tried sauerkraut with pierogis, you should try it.

Top the dumpling with homemade sauerkraut.

They’re a fantastic match; you won’t want to stop eating.

Since sauerkraut has a tangy taste, it pairs exceptionally well with several food items.

You can serve it with mashed potatoes, cheese sandwiches, egg scrambles, sausage, salad, pork chops, hot dogs, or burgers.

The advantage of serving sauerkraut as a side dish is that it can enhance the flavor when the food tastes bland.

It can save you big time.

Typically, sauerkraut is served cold, and with a little bit of experimentation, you’d be surprised how it brings taste to unsavory meals.

You should also try sauerkraut with roasted carrots.

Sprinkle it with salt and pepper on your carrots, and you’re done.

You’ll be enjoying a highly nutritious and satisfactory meal.

Conclusion

Now you know how versatile sauerkraut is, and it pairs exceptionally well with many food items.

If you haven’t tried this fermented vegetable pickle, how about giving it a try? It’s super easy to make, and anyone can prepare sauerkraut without an ounce of sweat.

It also goes well with soups and vegetable stew.

Once you start pairing this fermented vegetable pickle with various foods, you’ll realize why it has gained popularity over the years.

If you need a side dish that complements almost any dish, you should go for sauerkraut.