I Made Raw Sauerkraut and YOU Can, Too!
Sauerkraut is very good for you and very tasty too.
It is made by a natural process of lacto-fermentation. You can read more about lacto-fermentation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauerkraut [3]
Safety information from Wikipedia:
"Once made, sauerkraut is a very safe food because its high acidity prevents spoilage. USDA also recommends pasteurizing sauerkraut for storage. This is not necessary if the raw sauerkraut has been properly made and stored, and will needlessly diminish the nutritional value. A slimy or excessively
soft texture, discoloration, or off-flavor may indicate spoilage."
2 large (4 cup) wide mouth jars with lid
Large bowl
Good knife or Grater or Food processor
1 large head of green cabbage
1 tbs salt
Peel off any outside leaves that are wilted and throw them away. Then peel the first good leaf of the cabbage and set it aside. This leaf will top the cabbage while it ferments.
Slice fine, grate or chop with slicing blade in food processor, 1 head of green cabbage.
Put cabbage
in a large bowl, add 1 tbs salt, stir well and pound for 10 minutes, until it's very juicy.
Transfer the salted, pounded, juicy cabbage and the juice into large jars, packing it down tight as you go. Don't leave any air inside. Air bubbles will mess up the fermentation. Leave at least one inch of space at the top of the
jar.
Cut the leaf you set aside to size that fits inside the jar. You want to cover the top of the cabbage so no air, dust or bacteria can get in. Set the lid on but don't tighten it. The kraut will swell and juice will drip down the sides. I put it in a cool, dark place, a cupboard. I set it on a towel to catch the drips and don't touch
it for 3 days.
In three days (less if its warm, longer if it's cool) your sauerkraut will be ready. It should smell sour and taste salty and sour and it should be crispy and crunch when you bite it.
