Easy Christmas Kraut is the perfect way to add A gut-friendly & festive ferment to your holiday table!
I particularly love this ferment with MY RASPBERRY GlAZED HAM…
You know how much I love fermenting my vegetables. It’s one of my all-time most favourite AIP rituals. This little number is so easy to whip up and the addition of a little fruit and spices adds a lovely twist.
I am a BIG fan of creating healthy habits and rituals to support adding nutrient density. That is making daily choices that serve me.
Learning to ferment is one of the earliest things I taught myself as I embarked on my AIP caper. I love it.
If you are new to the art of fermenting your own vegetables, it is one of the tastiest, economical and gut-healthy ways for you to add more veggies to your plate.
You can learn more about fermentation and just how easy it is here:
The added bonus of creating homemade goodies like this Easy Christmas Kraut is that it makes for GREAT presents, too.
Who doesn’t appreciate a homemade wee something?
We all have so much ‘stuff’, don’t we? The longer I live this AIP way of life, the more I appreciate gifts of time and connection from those who matter to me. And, what could be more thoughtful than a jar of gut-healing Chrissie kraut?
The big thing to remember with ferments is that they are both an art and a science. Each one is different because there are so many variables at play.
Have fun with this easy Christmas kraut number and have a wonderful silly season, too!
- 1 red cabbage (approximately 2 kilos)
- 2 Granny smith apples
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt
- 125 grams fresh blueberries (or substitute craisins)
- 2 oranges
- Using the slicer blade of your food processor, shred the red cabbage and place into a large bowl. Using the grater blade of your food processor, shred the apples. (NB - shredding can easily be performed by hand and the addition of a sharp knife and a box grater, but this will take longer)
- Add the cloves and cinnamon. Sprinkle over 2 tablespoons of salt.
- Set a timer for ten minutes, roll up your sleeves and start massaging. Rotate the bowl as you go and make sure to get right to the bottom, firmly massaging the vegetables and mixing them all up. The best way to tell you have massaged enough is when you can squeeze a handful and its like wringing out the kitchen sponge.
- Taste for salt and adjust as needed. The kraut-mix shouldn’t taste overly salty, but should have plenty of flavour.
- Add the juice of one orange and the fresh blueberries. Stir to mix.
- Cut a couple of thick slices from your second orange.
- Now, carefully fill your jars of choice with the kraut-mix. Pop in your orange slices as you go. Leave an inch below the lip to allow for expansion. Take some time here – tightly pack your vegetable mixture, pushing down with the back of a spoon as you go. The most important thing to remember is that the vegetables must be submerged in the liquid.
- Cover the jar with a tight lid, airlock lid, or coffee filter secured with a rubber band.
- Pop into a cool part of your kitchen away from direct sunlight and allow nature to work its fermentation magic. This will take anywhere from 7 days to three weeks, depending on many factors – the season, the air temperature, the humidity levels, how much salt you have used, and personal preference - until desired flavor and texture are achieved. Take a taste after 7 days and see what you think. Use your judgement.
- If using a tight lid, remember to burp daily to release excess pressure.
- Once your Christmas Kraut is ready, carefully decant your ferment into well cleaned jars of your choice. Just as before, be sure the vegetables are submerged in the liquid.
- Pop your jars into the fridge (or give them away as presents to deserving friends and family). These babies will keep an awfully long time in the fridge.
E N J O Y !
