I'm not a superstitious person, and I don't think my mother was either, however, we ate this meal every New Years Day for good luck. I think it worked, because we have all lead rather charmed lives. I expect it is a combination of all good education on the ethics that my family, especially my mother, continually filled our heads with.
This dish is a good combination of savory and sour, with just a bit of sweet and loaded with umami. The flavors burst in your mouth. The feel of this dish on the tongue is so satisfying that I eat way more than I should. Oh that never happens, OH yes it does all the time. OK here is the Good JUJU meal for 2013.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 Tablespoons grape seed oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Sausage, Polish, kielbasa, smoked-I like the kind that comes in a ring. Chicken or turkey work here, but you may need a little more oil. I found some good beef, pork and chicken combos.
- 1-1/2 Cups Rhine white wine
- Large Jar Sauerkraut-Drained and rinsed well; I used Eden Brand organic
- 2 cooking apples-cored and sliced-organic see this article about organic apples
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar or 3 Tablespoons Sucanat
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 crush juniper berries
- 1 bay leaf
- Ground pepper to taste
- Boiled Potatoes-I left the skins on. I scrubbed them well with a brush and cleaner I cubed them and cooked them at same time.
Procedure
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large dutch oven. I really like to use my ceramic-over cast iron, covered one here, as you don't want to use anything reactive/metallic as you will get an off flavor from the high acid content, and the cast iron will keep even heat and nothing will burn in it. *I did see some new research on the iron skillet concept though, and it looks as though using one to cook acidic food is a good way to get iron into your diet. As a chemist I realize that this would be true, but also, it might be hard on the pan also. I'm going to try this some time, but not now. See recommendation here.
- Place the onions in the hot oil (do not get it hot enough to smoke). Cook and stir for about 2 minutes and add the garlic, cook until onions are soft.
- Toss in the sausage and let this brown well, then remove from the pan.
- Pour in the white wine and deglaze the pan.
- Throw in the kraut, apples sugar, and spices; cover and cook until apples are done and falling apart into the sauerkraut, about 15 minutes.
- Throw the sausage and boiled potatoes into the Sauerkraut mix; cover and warm for about 10 minutes so the potatoes and sausage pick up the kraut flavor.
- Plate and enjoy. This is an excellent winter food; very balanced.
I hope you enjoy this dish. It is a winter favorite at our house.
Namaste
