Russian Pickled (Sour) Cabbage
Sauerkraut (pickled, sour, salted cabbage) is very traditional for Northern and Eastern Europe. Widely known in the world is Sauerkraut of German origin and it is slightly different from traditional Russian sour cabbage. German Sauerkraut has a very sharp salty and sour taste while the Russian pickled cabbage is more sweet and sour. In Russia sour cabbage was and still is made in huge volumes; sometimes once in the autumn for the whole winter ahead. Russian sauerkraut is massively eaten during the Great Lent by the Orthodox church followers, when no meats are allowed. Salted cabbage (sauerkraut) has some health benefits as it is row fermented product. The ferments (enzymes) are produced in the process of salting (pickling) which is fermentation.
Here is a recipe for Russian sour cabbage from my Mother and Grandmother. This recipe has been tested in our family for years. My mother’s recipe mostly requires Russian white cabbage and it’s a bit different from what you can get here in England. Russian white cabbage is large and juicy so it gives out lots of juice of its own during the pickling (salting) process. Local cabbage here in Britain is mostly used for slaws, it is small and tight, quite firm and it doesn’t have much juice in it. Sometimes you can buy this big and juicy white cabbage for pickling in a Polish shop.
Traditional Russian sour (pickled) cabbage (Sauerkraut) recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 kg (2.2 pounds) thinly and long cut raw white cabbage
- 150 g (0.330 pounds) largely grated row carrots
- 20 g (1 Tsp) fine salt (natural, not iodised!). If you use sea salt by spoon add some more (as it takes more room so weighs less)
- 5 g (1 tsp) sugar
- 1 Tsp caraway seeds (optional)
- handful of cranberries (optional)
Method:
You can slightly change the proportions to your taste. Mix freshly cut cabbage with grated carrots in a large glass or enamelled container (don’t use plastic or metal), add evenly salt, sugar and caraway (if you use it) and mix well with hands, squeezing cabbage as you go (it will help it give out some juice right away). Now add cranberries if you are using them, mix them in evenly. Press the cabbage mix to the bottom of the container tightly (see how my mother does it in the pictures), put a plate on top of the cabbage (not the container!). The plate should just press the cabbage down as it is being salted. On top of the plate put a full tin or jar for some weight.
Keep the container with the cabbage mix in a room or slightly warmer temperature for the first 3 days. Every day prickle the cabbage mix down to the bottom of the container with a long wooden sticker (skewer). This will let the gas out which is produced during the fermentation process. The first day should see your cabbage covered with the juice (yes, this sour cabbage juice is a popular folk hangover cure). If there is too much juice, do not let it escape the container, just reduce the weight on top. If there is not enough juice and the cabbage mix is not covered, add some boiled water to cover the cabbage at least for 0,5 cm (1/4 in). After 3 days move the cabbage into the cold (refrigerator). You can eat it the next day, it is ready!
See also: Pink pickled (marinated) cabbage recipe (pink sauerkraut)
Hi Oksana
The water absorbs completely by the cabbage after few days in the fridge. Do i need to top it up with water?
Hi Simon,
By the water do you mean cabbage juices? It is very unusual, I wonder where did they go? Perhaps you should add the liquid (salted water?) as the cabbage should not get dry. You can use press to have it covered by the liquid. I hope it helps. Happy Easter!
Hi Oksana,
Thanks for getting back to me. I did not see your response till now. It is the cabbage juice. It settles to the bottom of the container after putting in the fridge.
Do you put the lid tightly on the top while fermenting or just a piece of cloth.
Hi Simon, you are not supposed to put the lead tightly as the fermentation process produces gases and they need to escape. Cabbage should be covered by the juice though as the air should not be present during fermentation. Hope this helps.
Hi there
I wonder if you can help me? Do you by any chance take orders? I wanted to look into whether ordering 20 medium jars of your Sour Cherry preserve for October- would be possible?If you could let me know as soon as possible, that would be great. Kind regards, Tara
Hi, sorry, I don’t take orders. Hope you will find what you need soon.
Hello. Na zdorovie! Thanks for your comment. I’ve never tried it with horseradish, should do! As for the cranberries I would recommend fresh or frozen but not dry. We need some juice from them and tartness and the dry ones are usually sugary and not juicy. But you can try dry ones in the pickled cabbage salad when it’s ready: pickled cabbage, finely chopped onion and unrefined sunflower oil
After it is done, will I keep it with the brine or will I discard the brine and keep the cabbage&carrots only??
Hi, yes, you should keep it in the brine. This way it will keep fresh for long
Thanks for this recipe I cant wait to try it. How long will it keep after it is made?
Hi Jimmy, thanks for your comment. Pickled cabbage usually keeps very well in the refrigerator for 2-3 months or even longer. Good luck!
I buy this in State College, PA at the East European store. It is AMAZING! I could eat it all day long! (well, no…) What I’m wondering is where in Pennsylvania I can buy White Cabbage to make on my own? I have yet to find it at Wegman’s, Giant, WalMart or Weis. Is it only available certain times a year? Then again, I would miss shopping there…they have the best imported stuff for an Ugly American like me! My Russian friend used to serve it fresh, so I know she bought in State College, PA. Also, go brined pickles! You Eastern Europeans/Russians make GREAT FOOD! (except for the awful fish). Let me know where I can find White Cabbage – I’ve been searching online with few results.
Hi Karen. Thanks for the comment. I really don’t know where to buy white cabbage in Pennsylvania. I tried to search Google for you but it gives me local results mostly (I am nr. London). Is it worth trying farmers markets and local ethnic stores? Hubby says that there is a large German community in PA and pickled white cabbage is their big national favourite. How about that? Good luck anyway.
What do you mean by ‘awful fish’? Seledka (pickled herring)? LOL
Hi Oksana, I saw that one of your followers was looking for “white cabbage”. There was a large Russian community in Oregon (where I used to live) and it was available in October at the local farmer’s market. When I moved to central Washington it was nowhere to be found. My Sauerkraut is just not the same without it. I finally found a source for seeds to grow it, on eBay, it’s also available on etsy. It is very very easy to grow (could be easily incorporated into an existing home landscape ). I have a problem with white butterflies here, so I keep it covered using an old pair of sheers (curtain) from the thrift store. I usually get a 5-8 lb cabbage per planting. If interested, just do a google search for “Giant Russian White Cabbage”. Hope this is helpful.
Hi Lynda, thanks so much for a useful tip for our readers! I do grow broccoli and greens here easily but I have always had problems growing any white cabbage in my garden. It just does not curl in and stays green, no idea why.
It’s this time of the year here again to do the pickled cabbage.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
What a fabulous recipe! I am now making my third batch of the first one you give on the page. It tastes just right. Whenever I’ve looked up the recipes for pickled cabbage Russian style they were always too complicated. Using jars or tins as a weight is ingenious and works great. Thanks so much!
Hi Anya, thank you so much for your comment! I love salted cabbage very much. And it’s also so good for you! Full of vitamins and ferments