Sweet Latvian Sauerkraut

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (28 ounce) jar wine-cured sauerkraut
• 2 diced apples or 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 onion, finely chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seed
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 3 -4 tablespoons brown sugar or 3 -4 tablespoons demerara sugar
• 1 tablespoon lard or 1 tablespoon bacon drippings

Recipe

• 1 drain the sauerkraut only if it is too salty, otherwise use it with its own liquid.
• 2 heat the lard in a large saucepan.
• 3 take a handful of the sauerkraut and squeeze it dry.
• 4 put it in the hot lard and fry it until the sauerkraut has brown edges.
• 5 add the sauerkraut, apples, bay leaf, onion (if using), caraway seeds and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.
• 6 add water to just barely cover the sauerkraut.
• 7 bring to a boil; lower the heat and simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• 8 add more sugar, if needed, gradually while the sauerkraut is cooking, tasting often.
• 9 the sauerkraut should be pleasantly sweet-sour but not too sweet.