Thank you Libby’s for sponsoring this post.
As you can probably tell, I eat Asian/Vietnamese food most of the time. But I grew up in the Midwest, and that environment definitely shaped my tastes! During the holidays, my family goes all out making all the classics: mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc. However, I like to try a new side dish every year to spice things up. The bae inspired this braised sauerkraut with apples and crispy bacon dish, which brings much needed brightness and acidity to your table.
Pin Braised Sauerkraut with Apples and Crispy Bacon to try later!
Ever since I started dating the bae, who is German by heritage, sauerkraut has been a huge part of my life. Libby's Vegetables makes an amazing canned crispy sauerkraut. I've bought some mushy sauerkraut in my life, and the Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut product has a great texture that holds up the braising in this dish. It's a super easy way to add vegetables, as well as probiotics to any meal!
I love this dish because it has a little bit of everything: tart sauerkraut, sweet apples and onions, and crispy, fatty bacon. Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut is shelf-stable, which is super convenient. The dish comes together in one pan, with only a few ingredients, for an easy family meal. This dish will have a place at my holiday table this year, but you can also use it any time of year as a side or in sandwiches!
🥬 Ingredients
You will need:
- 4 slices of bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter (optional)
- 1 small onion
- 1 sweet apple, peeled and sliced thinly (I used a Granny Smith because that's what I had, but I recommend using a sweeter apple to complement the already tart sauerkraut.)
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 2, 14oz cans of Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut
- 12 oz beer, any kind
- salt and pepper to taste
🔪 Instructions
Sauté the bacon on medium heat in a heavy-bottomed pan or dutch oven until the fat has rendered out and the bacon is crispy. Set the bacon bits aside but keep the fat in the pan.
Add some butter if you did not get enough rendered fat out of your bacon (mine was pretty lean) and add your onions and apples and fennel seeds. Cook them until the onions are softened, about five minutes.
Add two cans of Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut and mix well before adding the beer. Bring to a boil and lower the heat, simmering the mixture uncovered until the beer has evaporated, about 30-45 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with crispy bacon before serving!
💭 Tips and substitutions
If you do not cook with alcohol, you can use chicken/vegetable broth, apple cider, or a combination of the two to get the liquid you need to braise the sauerkraut. If you decide to use all apple cider, you might want to use a granny smith apple, as the cider is already quite sweet.
I used a darker Christmas beer, but if you want to preserve the bright color of your sauerkraut, I recommend a lighter beer. Choose a beer whose flavor you like to compliment the cabbage!
If you're a vegetarian, you can omit the bacon entirely and this dish will still taste delicious. Add a dash of liquid smoke to mimic the bacon flavor.
🍽️ Serving suggestions
Sauerkraut and pork are a match made in heaven. I served this with a pork tenderloin with mustard cream sauce. Roasted asparagus added some green to the plate and an apple sausage stuffing brought the whole meal together. Libby’s Crispy Sauerkraut brings brightness and acidity to an otherwise very rich meal.
The bae and I love using this braised sauerkraut in bratwurst sandwiches. Toast up some buns, add your favorite bratwurst, kraut, and spicy mustard and you've got a delicious sandwich in your hands! Libby's Vegetables hold up well in this sandwich, which has quickly become a favorite of mine ever since we started dating. You wouldn't think sauerkraut could bring us together like this, but it did!
🥡 How to store or make in advance
I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish, but it can be made 2-3 days in advance if you are planning a holiday meal and need to cook your sides in advance. Keep the bacon in a separate container until you are ready to serve in order to keep it crispy.
👪 Serving size
Making this dish with two cans of Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut will comfortably serve 6-8 as a side dish. If you want to make sandwiches with it, it'll be enough for about 12 bratwurst sandwiches. Cut the recipe in half and eat the other half of your apple easily! You can still use a whole onion if you'd like, or use a shallot instead if you don't want half an onion laying around.
Libby’s Vegetables can be used to create fun, easy holiday dinners, and appetizers. Recreate this recipe and learn more about Libby’s Vegetables!
📋 Recipe
Braised Sauerkraut With Apples And Crispy Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter (optional)
- 1 small onion
- 1 sweet apple
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 14 oz cans Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut
- 12 oz beer, any kind
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the bacon on medium heat in a heavy-bottomed pan or dutch oven until the fat has rendered out and the bacon is crispy. Set the bacon bits aside but keep the fat in the pan.
- Add some butter if you did not get enough rendered fat out of your bacon and add your onions and apples and fennel seeds. Cook them until the onions are softened, about five minutes.
- Add two cans of Libby's Crispy Sauerkraut and mix well before adding the beer. Bring to a boil and lower the heat, simmering the mixture uncovered until the beer has evaporated, about 30-45 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with crispy bacon before serving.
Nutrition
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Chu' Hung says
It is reallly delicious. I tried to cook this recipe and add some bratwurst sausage.
Suzanne Nuyen says
My boyfriend and I also love eating this with bratwurst! Thank you for trying this recipe!