This Thread is lacking some serious German food, so let me tell you how to make your very own Sauerkraut from scratch (also you can learn some microbiology on the way.
Sauerkraut
What you need:
Salt, Cabbage, some oil (preferably one that has no smell, salad oil for example), an airtight container (if you don´t have this you can also use a bowl and plastic wrap).
<--this kind of cabbage
Day 1 Accumulation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides
-Cut the cabbage in small stripes and put it inside the container
-mix 2.5g salt with 100ml water, how much you need depends on your container. You should have enough to cover the cabbage. Mix until the salt is solved. Then pour it into the container.
-stomp the cabbage with a spoon to get all the air out (Very important)
-put some oil on top of the cabbage to keep air away (you can skip this if you want, it´s not super important).
-Put the lid on your airtight container
-Keep it at room temperature for one day.
Chemical process that is happening:
Since there is no air we have anaerobe conditions, so instead of a normal fermentation, we get lactic acid fermentation:
C6H12O6 ---> 2 H3C-CH-COOH
|
OH
On Day 2 you can open the lid and smell, it should have created some gas (CO2) and smell sour. The cabbage should still be hard and white. Get rid of the liquid and it is ready to serve as a salad.
Since I know, most americans like it soft and ontop of a hotdog so here a very quick guide on how to do that:
You will need, the Sauerkraut, some bacon, some onions and any kind of soup powder.
-get a pot and make enough soup to cover around half of the sauerkraut.
-cut the onions and bacon in dice form, put them in a pan with some oil and fry them.
-put everything together in a new pot and mix thoroughly. Cook on middle flame until all liquid is gone.
-Put it on your hotdog
-Eat it and become the manliest man around
Send me a PM if you want any other german recipe.
Sauerkraut
What you need:
Salt, Cabbage, some oil (preferably one that has no smell, salad oil for example), an airtight container (if you don´t have this you can also use a bowl and plastic wrap).

Day 1 Accumulation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides
-Cut the cabbage in small stripes and put it inside the container
-mix 2.5g salt with 100ml water, how much you need depends on your container. You should have enough to cover the cabbage. Mix until the salt is solved. Then pour it into the container.
-stomp the cabbage with a spoon to get all the air out (Very important)
-put some oil on top of the cabbage to keep air away (you can skip this if you want, it´s not super important).
-Put the lid on your airtight container
-Keep it at room temperature for one day.
Chemical process that is happening:
Since there is no air we have anaerobe conditions, so instead of a normal fermentation, we get lactic acid fermentation:
C6H12O6 ---> 2 H3C-CH-COOH
|
OH
On Day 2 you can open the lid and smell, it should have created some gas (CO2) and smell sour. The cabbage should still be hard and white. Get rid of the liquid and it is ready to serve as a salad.
Since I know, most americans like it soft and ontop of a hotdog so here a very quick guide on how to do that:
You will need, the Sauerkraut, some bacon, some onions and any kind of soup powder.
-get a pot and make enough soup to cover around half of the sauerkraut.
-cut the onions and bacon in dice form, put them in a pan with some oil and fry them.
-put everything together in a new pot and mix thoroughly. Cook on middle flame until all liquid is gone.
-Put it on your hotdog
-Eat it and become the manliest man around
Send me a PM if you want any other german recipe.