kielbasa and kraut recipe?

[TimeforMe]

How do you make yours? I need to make a large tray for a party and was looking for some suggestions. Please HELP!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

My dad does this all the time! Since he's not here, I can give you a good run down on what we do.

First start out by purchasing high quality kielbasa-we usually use about 2-3 lbs.You can get great stuff from butchers, but I like the low fat kind from Hillshire Farms a lot, too! Use whatever you like.

If you will be making this in advance, you don't even need to cook the kielbasa as when you reheat it in the oven or on the stove, the kielbasa will cook- just slice it before you begin making the kraut. (on the bias is nice) If you prefer, or if you will be serving immediately after cooking, you can bake it in the oven, and then slice it, or grill it and then slice it (different flavor). Some people boil it, but I think a lot of flavor is boiled into the water.

We start out with bags of the vat cured sauerkraut (not cans, about 2-3 lbs.), 2 finely minced Vidalia onions, 2 cloves minced garlic and a piece of salt pork.

First, dice the salt pork very finely and fry it. (you can use bacon, if you prefer) When the salt pork is brown, add the onions and saute until golden. While onions are sauteeing, drain the sauerkraut. We usually rinse half and leave the other half so that the vinegar taste is not too strong or too weak.

To the onions, add the garlic and cook about 1 minute longer- don't let the garlic brown or burn as it will become bitter. Add the sauerkraut and stir. Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tsp. mustard and 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (those are the two secret ingredients) and stir through. heat sauerkraut and taste.

If the kraut dries out, you can add a few spoonfuls of water, sauerkraut juice or beef broth, depending on your tastes. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also soak borowik mushrooms (the Polish dried ones) in beef broth, water or wine and add them when you saute the onions, if you like. Some people also like to add caraway seeds. When kraut is as you like it, add kielbasa.

If you will be reheating in the oven,you're done until you're ready to reheat! Just be sure to cover it so it doesn't dry out. Again, if you like your kielbasa moist, make sure you cover the slices with the kraut and cover the whole tray with foil. If you like the browned slices, leave the kielbasa on top and uncover it towards the end of the cooking time.

A tray of cold kielbasa and kraut this size will take about 1 1/2 hours to heat up in a 350 oven. Oh, and if you're using disposable trays, double up so the trays don't "twist" and spill.

Hope this helps!

 

[donac]

My fatherin law always threw in caraway seeds. I cook mine in a crockpot or the microwave depending on how much I am doing. If I am only doing 1 poud I would use the micro. Anything more I use the crockpot for about 3 to 4 hours.