How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut

For centuries, pickled vegetables were staples in the diet of Ashkenazi Jews. But these pickled vegetables — which included cucumbers, carrots, beets and cabbage — were not the kind of pickles we think of today, swimming in a brine of vinegar and spices. Vinegar, which was typically made from wine, would have been too expensive for most people to use as a preservative before the 19th century. Rather, these vegetables were fermented: submerged in a saltwater brine to attract good bacteria that, with time, turned the vegetable’s sugars into lactic acid, which both preserved them and made them delicious. Among the best-known of these traditional Jewish ferments is sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage.

Turks and Tartars traveling along the Silk Road from China introduced the process of lacto-fermentation — so named for the beneficial lactobacillus bacteria — to Russia as early as the Renaissance. From there the technique spread westward. Sauerkraut, or sour cabbage, was among the most popular ferments. From Russia, Jews brought sauerkraut with them to Germany, France and even England, until it became one of the most important dishes in all of northern Europe. Sauerkraut required so little to make — just cabbage and salt — kept for months, and provided an important source of vitamin C. For poor people living in harsh climates, few foods were as beneficial.

In pre-industrial times, Ashkenazi families began fermenting cabbage and other vegetables in large barrels around Sukkot. Once the fermentation process was complete, after two to four weeks, the finished sauerkraut was stored over the winter in a cool spot and appeared frequently at mealtime — on its own served with black bread or mixed in with noodles, potatoes or meat — as a welcome addition to an otherwise bland and monotonous diet.

Immigrants to America brought sauerkraut with them in the 19th century. Indeed, the special kosher dining room at Ellis Island regularly had sauerkraut on its menu. The ubiquitousness of fermented pickles in Jewish delis, where they served to cut through the fattiness of foods like pastrami and corned beef, cemented the association between Jews and pickled vegetables in the public’s eye. Sauerkraut became a staple of Jewish delis as an integral part of the Reuben sandwich — one of the most iconic dishes in the world of American Jewish cuisine.

Today, we are rediscovering the health benefits, and distinctive tangy flavor, of fermented foods and for the past few years, fermentation has been one of the most popular DIY trends. Although it may seem intimidating, fermenting is actually quite easy to do at home and the results are extraordinarily tasty. The flavor and texture of homemade sauerkraut, for example, is vastly superior to store-bought and, unlike commercial sterilized varieties, contains healthy probiotics which contribute to digestive health and boost the immune system.

Sauerkraut is an easy entrée in to the world of lacto-fermentation: Unlike most other vegetables, cabbage ferments in its own juice, so all you need to make sauerkraut is cabbage and salt. Furthermore, you will not need a lot of special equipment: a half-gallon Mason jar is perfect for fermenting your sauerkraut. I recommend investing in a few additional pieces, neither of which are expensive, to facilitate your fermentation experiments: some glass weights to keep the cabbage submerged in the brine and a lid with an airlock to contain any strong odor while still allowing carbon dioxide to escape. Here are some of my favorites:

• Brooklyn Brew Shop Kraut Kit
• Fermentation Creation Food Fermentation Kit
• Fermentation weights
• Lids

Note: Once the sauerkraut is finished, store it in the refrigerator, dividing into smaller jars if desired. It will last for several months.

Ready to jump in? Here’s a straightforward recipe for a small-batch sauerkraut using only one head of cabbage.

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