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This sauerkraut soup is a most unusual and delicious soup. It’s also the perfect example of how the farmers and common folks of Ukraine made delicious foods with simple basic ingredients. My husband’s grandparents stored sauerkraut inbarrels for winter. The sauerkraut wasone of their primaryvegetable sources during the cold months, so they got creative with it and made Kapustnyak (sauerkraut soup).
Can you evenimagine not being able to go to the grocery store and buybroccolior lettuce in the winter? We are truly blessed tolive in the US! #sothankful ?
Back to this soup, the sauerkraut gives ita lovely texture and zing and the bacon provides a subtle smokiness. ?Excellent with fresh crusty bread. It’s hearty, filling and will warm your belly. My husband and I enjoyed leftovers for several days.
This recipe was inspired by one of my readers, Oksana, who shared herrecipe for sauerkraut soup and bean soup with me. It was also inspired by Rachel Ray’s Ham, Bean and Bacon Soup. Thank you ladies for generously sharing your delicious recipes! 🙂
Ingredients for Sauerkraut Soup:
1 Tbsp olive oil
8 ozbacon, chopped
1 stick celery, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
3 medium (1 lb) potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3″ thick pieces
1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed, optional
2-3 cupssauerkraut, triple rinsed & drained (weuse 3 cups or about2 lbs)
8 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups water, or to taste
1 (15 oz can) white beans (click to learn how to cookyour own beans)
Salt, Pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning, to taste
How to Make Sauerkraut Soup (Kapustnyak):
1.Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven (here’s the one I use). Add chopped bacon and sautee until browned then remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
2. Add finely chopped celery and onion. Saute until softened and golden (5 min).
3. Add sliced carrots, potatoes, 1/4 cup quinoa (if using), 8 cups broth and 2cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 min.
4. Add 2-3 cups of well rinsed and drained sauerkraut and half of cooked bacon (I keep some for garnish), white beans with their juice, and 1 bay leaf and continue to cook until potatoes are tender(about 10min). Season soup to taste (I added 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp Mrs Dash). Serve with fresh crusty bread.
Sauerkraut Soup Recipe (Kapustnyak)
This sauerkraut soup is a most unusual and delicious soup. The sauerkraut gives it a lovely texture and zing and the bacon provides a subtle smokiness. It's hearty, filling and will warm your belly.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 35 minutes mins
Total Time: 50 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 8 large bowls of soup
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz bacon, chopped
- 1 stick celery, finely diced
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 3 medium, 1 lb potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3" thick pieces
- 1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed, optional
- 2-3 cups sauerkraut, triple rinsed & drained (we use 3 cups or about 2 lbs)
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water, or to taste
- 1 15 oz can white beans (click to learn how to cook your own beans)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt, Pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning, to taste
Instructions
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add chopped bacon and sautee until browned then remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
Add finely chopped celery and onion. Saute until softened and golden (5 min).
Add sliced carrots, potatoes, 1/4 cup quinoa (if using), 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 min.
Add 2-3 cups of well rinsed and drained sauerkraut and half of cooked bacon (I keep some for garnish), white beans with their juice, and 1 bay leaf and continue to cook until potatoes are tender (about 10 min). Season soup to taste (I added 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp Mrs Dash). Serve with fresh crusty bread.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Russian
Keyword: Sauerkraut Soup
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
All that coziness in a bowl ?. What’s your favorite “weird” soup? Maybe you fancy yourself a bowl of pickle soup orgreen borsch?
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
Kapusniak (Polish Potato, Kielbasa, and Cabbage Soup) Simple, delicious, and deeply nourishing. Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site.
What is sauerkraut soup made of? ›
The main ingredients in kapustnyak are sauerkraut and pork. Then various root vegetables like onion, carrot, potatoes, and garlic are added. In Ukraine, we ate soup every day year-round. Kapustnyak is more of a winter soup because fresh produce is not available during colder months.
Where did sauerkraut soup originate? ›
Although "sauerkraut" is from a German word (Sauerkraut), the dish did not originate in Germany. Some claim fermenting cabbage suan cai was already practised in the days of the building of the Great Wall of China.
What can you eat with sauerkraut for dinner? ›
As a Side Dish: Serve it as a side with pork dishes, sausages, or roasted meats. The tanginess of sauerkraut complements rich, fatty meats wonderfully. In Salads: Mix it into salads for an extra crunch and flavor. It pairs well with leafy greens, apples, carrots, and a light vinaigrette.
Why is it called mulligatawny soup? ›
Mulligatawny (/ˌmʌlɪɡəˈtɔːni/) is a soup which originated from South Indian cuisine. The name originates from the Tamil words miḷagu (மிளகு 'black pepper'), and taṇṇi (தண்ணி, 'water'); literally, "pepper-water". It is related to the dish rasam.
What is that Japanese soup called? ›
Miso soup (味噌汁, misoshiru) is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a dashi stock into which softened miso paste is mixed. In addition, there are many optional ingredients (various vegetables, tofu, abura-age, etc.) that may be added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and personal preference.
What's the difference between German sauerkraut and regular sauerkraut? ›
In Poland, the typical kraut gets made with shredded cabbage and shredded carrots. Another variety uses beets with the cabbage. This also gives it a very cool color as well I might add. In Germany, caraway seeds and juniper berries often get added to cooked sauerkraut.
Why is sauerkraut good for your gut? ›
Sauerkraut is a good source of fibre as well as vitamins and minerals and being a fermented food it promotes the growth of beneficial probiotics which are important for digestive health. The nutritional value of food, like cabbage, can be enriched by fermentation and it makes the food easier for us to digest.
Why do Germans eat sauerkraut? ›
Generations ago, the Germans likely felt better after eating their beloved fermented cabbage and recognized sauerkraut's digestive and immune-boosting properties.
What country eats the most sauerkraut? ›
Germany is considered a sauerkraut nation - especially in international perception. During world war, English and American opponents even called Germans "Krauts". And the term is still used today. As a side note, however, the per capita consumption of sauerkraut is higher in the US and France than in Germany.
During the First World War any reference in the USA to things German was deemed unpatriotic, and this included foodstuffs. An alternative name had therefore to be found for sauerkraut, and the choice fell on liberty cabbage.
Is sauerkraut Ukrainian or German? ›
Americans most often associate it with German cuisine—and rightfully so, it is a national dish of Germany—but many Central and Eastern European countries have their own sauerkraut varieties, including Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Slovakia, and Czechia, to name a few.
Is it OK to eat sauerkraut at night? ›
For a good sleep, you need to be kind to your gut and eating fermented food such as yoghurt, sauerkraut or kimchi before bedtime could help overcome insomnia.
Can you eat sauerkraut every day? ›
You can eat sauerkraut every day. But if you're looking to benefit your gut bacteria, you can also eat other fermented foods and beverages like kimchi and kombucha. Yogurt also contains beneficial probiotics. Each product can contain different strains of bacteria, which may vary in their benefits.
Is it OK to eat sauerkraut on an empty stomach? ›
It's most optimal to eat enzyme rich fermented food at the beginning of the meal, so they can begin the work of helping digestion as soon as they land in the stomach.
What is the national soup of Kazakhstan? ›
Sorpo (also called shorpo or shurpa), a flavorful broth created with leftover meat from the national dish besbarmak, is the most common soup in Kazakhstan. After a lamb has cooked, the broth is poured into large bowls and some of the chopped meat is then added.
What is the national soup of Chile? ›
Cazuela. This soup is made with chicken, beef or lamb, and you may also find squash, corn cob or potatoes in it. It's as hearty as it sounds, a good, warming dish, flavored with peppers, chili, and corn. Made with chicken, it's called cazuela de ave and is Chile's national dish.
What is the national soup of Slovenia? ›
Prežganka ("browned" soup with eggs) is Slovenian national soup made of flour, caraway seeds and beaten eggs. The brown color comes from browning the flour in oil or butter.
What is the name of a Russian soup? ›
Shchi is the main soup to be found in Russian cuisine. There were some types of shchi that were called “rich”, while “poor” shchi were made from just one cabbage and onion.
