Korean Sauerkraut

We recently got a head of cabbage, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. Then James mentioned he thought some sauerkraut would be good, but I didn't want to risk making a whole cabbage's worth of sauerkraut only to not have it turn out since I remembered the last time I did, and we ended up discarding most of the batch. So I thought maybe I could make a few different batches. As luck would have it, I was also reading through Nourishing Traditions, and they have four sauerkraut recipes! I figured if I made 4 different batches, at least one would turn out, right? Plus, if they didn't, at least we wouldn't have to eat too much before moving onto the next flavor. I'll share these four sauerkraut recipes (regular, Latin American, Korean, Japanese) with you over the next weeks.

This time, we're making another sauerkraut with an international flair. This Korean-inspired sauerkraut captures the spirit of kim chi without being overly spicy. (Although you could easily add chili pepper flakes if you're so inclined.) :) Often, when eating a Korean-style meal, you'll have one main dish, and a plethora of sides, the most common being kim chi. This Korean sauerkraut doesn't taste exactly like kim chi, but it definitely gets the idea across!

Do you prefer your food spicy or mild?

Korean Sauerkraut

by CJ Huang

A Korean-inspired sauerkraut brings together the traditional flavors without being overly spicy.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: none
Total time: 10 minutes + fermenting time
Yield: 1/2 quart

Materials:

Mass	Weight	Volume	Number	Material	Notes
294 grams	10.375 ounces		1/4	cabbage, shredded
104 grams	3.75 ounces	1/4 cup		carrots, grated
		1 teaspoon		ginger, grated
		1 teaspoon	1 clove	garlic, minced
		1 teaspoon		chili pepper flakes
		1 teaspoon		salt
		1 tablespoon		whey	I strained some from my kefir. You could also strain it from yogurt. Just make sure it's got some cultures in it! :) Or if you prefer not to use whey, you could increase the amount of salt.
12 grams	0.375 ounces			green onions, sliced

Methods:

	1. Gather all materials.
	2. Combine all materials and mix together.
	3. Place mixture into a jar, and press/beat down until liquid covers all solids.
	4. (Optional - Place a layer of plastic film on top to decrease exposure to oxygen. I like to use this layer of plastic film to slow evaporation and decrease air exposure, but as long as the sauerkraut is covered in liquid, you should be fine.) Allow to ferment at room temperature, tasting the sauerkraut to determine if it has fermented enough. Once fermented to your taste, store refrigerated.

Shared with: Delicious Dishes, Wonderful Wednesday, Waste Less Wednesday, What's Cookin' Wednesday, Wednesday Showcase, Creative Ways, Pinworthy Projects, What's For Dinner? Sunday, Happiness is Homemade, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Sustainable Sunday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, What'd You Do This Weekend?, Turn It Up Tuesday