The typical Ukrainian Kapustnyak, a filling sauerkraut soup, is the perfect dish for autumn, be it as an appetizer or for a dish that is not heavy on the stomach. The sauerkraut not only gives the soup a pleasant aroma, but is also good for digestion. Traditionally, sauerkraut soup is made with meat, but if you prefer it vegetarian, simply leave out the meat.
Autumn ingredients for the soup with sauerkraut
No matter if you do thatMake your own sauerkrautOr use store-bought, the aromatic sauerkraut soup does not need any unusual ingredients to be really tasty:
- 900 gPork ribs
- 2,8 LWater
- 3Bay leaves
- 2slicesSpeck
- 1sizeOnion, finely diced
- 2sizeCarrots, finely diced or grated
- 4sizePotatoes, peeled and diced
- 600 g sauerkraut
- 1 to 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1TLSalt (or to taste)
- 1/2TLfreshly ground black pepper
- 1HEfresh dill (optional), chopped
The quick and easy preparation of autumn soup
- Boil the ribs in water with the bay leaves.
- Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a pan until crispy, about 3 minutes.
- Then add the onion and carrots and fry them too.
- Set the pan aside.
- Remove the ribs from the water and set aside.
- Bring the water to the boil again, this time adding the sautéed vegetables, potato pieces, garlic, sauerkraut, salt and pepper.
- Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender, 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, remove the meat from the bones and cut it into smaller pieces.
- Add the meat to the soup, remove the bay leaves and season with pepper and salt.
More tips for soup with sauerkraut
- Fresh, chopped dill is perfect for serving. But you can also use other herbs.
- A dollop of sour cream can be added to each serving just before serving.
- If you want the soup to serve as a main course and be more filling, serve it with bread. Rye bread, for example, is well suited, but alsoa simple baguette.
- Instead of ribs, you can also use minced meat or, as already mentioned, leave out the meat completely if you want the sauerkraut soup to be vegetarian.
- The bacon is also not absolutely necessary. If you're cooking spontaneously and don't have one at home, simply replace it with a tablespoon of olive oil.
Two more recipes for sauerkraut soupis here.
