Sauerkraut Hot Dog Topping ~ 5 Minute Recipe ~ This Wife Cooks™ (2024)

FAQs

Do you serve sauerkraut hot or cold on hot dogs? ›

Warm sauerkraut that's lightly seasoned with brown sugar, salt and pepper adds so much flavor to hot dogs. Simply serve sauerkraut on top of mustard, ketchup, relish or any other toppings of choice. Freshly warmed or leftover weiner dogs can be chopped up and mixed into a warm bed of sauerkraut for quick dinner.

In a medium saucepan, combine cabbage, vinegar, salt, and 1 1/4 cups water. Cover, and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, 30 to 35 minutes (if bottom of pan starts to brown, add 1/4 cup more water). To store, refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

Weigh the cabbage, then calculate the amount of salt you'll need based on that. You want 2% salt by weight, so 20 grams of salt for every kilogram of cabbage, or roughly one tablespoon of Diamond Crystal kosher salt per pound of cabbage.

Birmingham Special Dog

Similar to the New York hot dog, the "Special Dog" is dressed with yellow mustard, onions, and sauerkraut, but to differentiate themselves, the Greeks added their own signature "special" sauce – typically a beef-based sauce with various spices.

Cold sauerkraut is the best bet to reap all the natural health benefits. Sauerkraut should be kept in the fridge, even if you bought it off the shelf. Take the jar out of the fridge early if you want to have your sauerkraut at room temperature with your meal.

Fermentation Temperature, Time, and Management

At these temperatures, sauerkraut will be fully fermented in about three to four weeks; at 60°–65°F (15°–18°C), fermentation may take six weeks. Below 60°F (15°C), sauerkraut may not ferment. Above 80°F (26°C), sauerkraut may become soft and spoil.

In order to reap the probiotic health benefits of sauerkraut, buy refrigerated sauerkraut available in bags or pouches instead of in cans or jars. Avoid sauerkraut that has vinegar or sweeteners.

Sauerkraut is the name given to cabbage that has fermented with lactic acid bacteria. More simply, sauerkraut is picked cabbage. It is delicious and nutritious. Raw sauerkraut refers to sauerkraut that has never been heated or pasteurized.

No need to add any vinegar! Salt alone preserves sour cabbage very well. I add 1/4 cup of shredded carrot for colour. Sometimes, I add a laurel leaf and 1/2 teaspoon of caraway seeds.

Danish Ballhead, Late Flat Head and Premium Late Dutch are good cabbage varieties for sauerkraut. Krautman is one of the most popular varieties for making sauerkraut, and growers are encouraged to try new varieties as well.

What happens if you don't put enough salt in sauerkraut? ›

Canning or pickling salt draws out the cabbage juice so it can be fermented. Using too little salt not only softens the cabbage but also yields a product lacking in flavor.

Potato salad: Sauerkraut is an appealing addition to both classic and German potato salad. Give it a try at your next gathering. Egg salad: Add new dimension and crunch to classic egg salad with the addition of sauerkraut. Bagel and lox: Sauerkraut adds a caper-like zing to a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Put the hot dogs into the buns and sprinkle with a tablespoon of caramelized onions. Top with a tablespoon of lardons and 2 tablespoons of corn mixture. Sprinkle each with 1/2 tablespoon of Cotija cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Squeeze a little lime on each hot dog and serve.

Hot dogs wrapped in or topped with bacon are popular throughout the western United States, but in the San Francisco area, it's common to find creamy mayo and other cooling toppings in addition to the smoky bacon.

Toast buns over hot side of grill, if desired. Serve hot dogs with buns, mustard, and sauerkraut.

Heating and cooking will dramatically reduce the health-protective properties with which sauerkraut is credited.

Empty the contents of a bag of sauerkraut into a large skillet (include sauerkraut juice). Add spices or seasonings, as desired. Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately!

Unlike your typical hot dog topped with ketchup and mustard, the New York Hot Dog is topped with sauerkraut, onion sauce, and spicy brown mustard. To say it's packed full of flavor is an understatement!