Sauerkraut 35 day ferment

[WstTxSmokes]

Been a busy day for me smoking ribs and vac sealing kraut. I let this batch sit for 35 days and it smells awesome. Umami is high in this batch. Ingredients were simple, besides the salt added garlic cloves, peppercorn and a few bay leaves. Will make kraut with half and save the whole leaves for cabbage rolls. I’ll save the leftover to drink and make sour soups with. Definitely recommend adding to stews etc for a flavor bomb.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Never done whole heads before, I’ve seen it though. Did you fill the core hole with salt? Or just salt the water?

 

[WstTxSmokes]

I put salt in the core hole. And also add salt to the water.

 

[indaswamp]

Nice! I have never seen whole cabbage ferment before...very interesting!

 

[jcam222]

Interesting! I've made quite a bit of homemade kraut but never whole head.

 

[Steve H]

Interesting. How big were the heads? And what size crock are you using?

 

[WstTxSmokes]

It’s a 3 gallon crock with a water seal top. The cabbage heads were medium size. The water seal crock is great.

 

[Steve H]

It’s a 3 gallon crock with a water seal top. The cabbage heads were medium size. The water seal crock is great.

I have a 7 liter water seal crock. Probably couldn't hold more then a head or two. I like making my own kraut. This method looks interesting. How hard is to shred for kraut after it is done?

 

[WstTxSmokes]

Not hard, especially since the leaves have softened quite a bit.

 

[WstTxSmokes]

Finally got around to making some cabbage rolls with product I fermented. It was amazing, if you have a fermenting crock you simply have to make cabbage rolls. If you don’t, you can make them
With fresh leaves but results are not even close to fermented whole cabbage. This batch contains sausage I smoked for that Smokey flavor. I also add green chile to the ground pork since I’m from NM. I also kept the cement juice and incorporated that as a stock so the soup juices are super sour/smokey goodness.

 

[WstTxSmokes]

The cabbage leaves are super translucent and soft.

 

[JLinza]

Very cool , the Mrs & I have just begun our kraut making. She wants it cause they say it's healthy... I just like it with a brat & mustard lol. Will have to learn more about your method.

 

[bigfurmn]

Consider this mind blown. Looks amazing.