Riesling Braised Sauerkraut And Apples Food

BRAISED SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place the drained sauerkraut in the insert of a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, caraway seeds, thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries or gin, and black pepper. Combine them thoroughly with a fork or with your hands. Scatter the kielbasa on top and bury the hocks in the sauerkraut. Pour in the wine and broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 9 hours, until the juices are bubbling and the sauerkraut has lost its crunch.
• Remove the smoked hocks. If there is any meat on them, remove it and add it to the sauerkraut. Discard the bay leaves. Serve the braised sauerkraut as is with boiled potatoes, or use as a base for choucroute garni.

RIESLING-BRAISED SAUERKRAUT AND APPLES

Steps:

• Cover sauerkraut with cold water by 1 inch in a large bowl and soak 5 minutes, then drain in a colander. Repeat soaking and draining once more, pressing on sauerkraut.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Peel and core apples and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Cook shallot and onion in butter in a 4- to 5-quart pot over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add apples, bacon, wine, broth, thyme, juniper berries, and bay leaf and bring to a simmer, then stir in sauerkraut. Cover pot with foil, then lid, and braise in middle of oven until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Discard bay leaf.
• Meanwhile, simmer cream and schnapps in a 2-quart saucepan until reduced to about 1 cup, about 40 minutes.
• Add cream mixture, salt, and pepper to sauerkraut and stir well.
• Available at many supermarkets and Penzeys Spices (800-741-7787).

PORK CHOPS WITH SAUERKRAUT AND APPLE

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the chops and brown them in hot oil or butter, about 3 minutes per side. Set aside.
• Add the apple and onions to the same skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion starts to look golden.
• Add the wine and stir, scraping up all the browned bits, and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
• Stir in the sauerkraut, and place the chops on top, including any juices that have collected. Cover the skillet, lower the heat and cook until the chops are done, about 7 minutes, depending on thickness. Do not overcook.
• Note1: I've also made this successfully with chardonnay, but riesling is the best.
• Note2: Sauerkraut packed in plastic bags and sold in the refrigerator case tastes much better than the canned.

BAKED SPARERIBS WITH SAUERKRAUT AND APPLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F degrees.
• Cut ribs into serving pieces.
• Place in 13x9-inch pan; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 350°F degrees.
• Remove ribs; drain fat from pan.
• In same pan, combine sauerkraut, sugar, apples, onion, and water.
• Spread it all out evenly.
• Put ribs on top; bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hrs, stirring occasionally.

SAUERKRAUT AND APPLES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring often, until fat has started to render, about 5 minutes.
• Toss onion and apples in the fat and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in sauerkraut.
• Add beer and season with pepper and caraway seeds. Bring mixture to a boil, then cover the pot. Reduce heat so mixture is just simmering and cook for 45 minutes. Or transfer the covered pot to a 350-degree oven and bake for 1 hour. Stir and serve hot.