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Soltner's Choucroute Garni a la Juive (Episode
4)
"Sauerkraut with Corned Beef and Sausages Jewish Style"
Jews were known for being in the Charcuterie business in France.
This kosher adaptation of Sauerkraut with Corned Beef and Sausage
is fabulous. I love to make it for a big crowd and, happily, it
tastes better made in advance.
4 pounds sauerkraut
3 tablespoons goose, duck fat, or vegetable oil
¼ pound pastrami or smoked goose breast, diced
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced thin plus 1 whole onion, peeled
2 cups dry white Alsatian wine, (about)
2 cups water (about)
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon juniper berries
1 tablespoon caraway
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
4 whole cloves
Freshly ground pepper to taste
6 medium potatoes, peeled, washed and quartered
2 pounds corned beef (cured and cooked)
6 kosher frankfurters or sausages
- Wash the sauerkraut in cold water. Drain. Then wash it a second
time, in very hot water. Drain again. Squeeze the water out of
the sauerkraut by forming it into balls and pressing it between
your hands.
- In a heavy-bottomed oven-proof pot, melt the goose or duck fat.
Add the pastrami or goose breast and the diced onions. Sauté
for a few minutes. Do not brown. Add the wine, 1 cup of the water,
and 1 of the bay leaves.
- Place the remaining bay leaf, half the juniper berries, and
the caraway seeds in a piece of cheesecloth. Peel and smash the
garlic cloves and place on top. Tie with a string and place in
the pan.
- Peel the remaining onion and stick the 4 cloves into the outer
layer. Place in the heavy pan.
- Add the sauerkraut, pepper, and the potatoes to the pot. Add
more wine and/or water as needed for the liquid to go half way
up the pan. Bring to a boil.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Cover the pot and transfer to the preheated oven, and cook for
an hour.
- Add the corned beef to the sauerkraut, return to the oven and
cook for 15 minutes.
- Then add the frankfurters to the sauerkraut. Bring to a simmer,
but not a boil.
- To serve, put the sauerkraut in the center of a serving plate.
Slice the corned beef against the grain and arrange it on top.
Surround the sauerkraut with the frankfurters and the potatoes.
Accompany this choucroute garni with mustard and horseradish sauce.
Yield: 8
- 10 servings.
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