Kapusniak (Ukrainian Sauerkraut Soup with Pork Ribs)
Local name: Капусняк
In short: A hearty soup of sauerkraut, pork ribs, potatoes and a little millet, with a fried onion and tomato base and garlic at the end. It takes about 2 h 5 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Total
- 2 h 5 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 235 kcal
Kapusniak is the sauerkraut soup of Ukrainian winters, a pot of sour cabbage simmered with pork ribs, potatoes and sometimes a handful of millet. Cooks fry onion, carrot and tomato paste first and stew the sauerkraut in that mixture, which softens its sharpness. The soup is thick and sour, and it tastes even better on the second day. Serve it with a spoonful of sour cream and dark rye bread.
Instructions
- Put the ribs in a large pot with the water, bay leaves, peppercorns and 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, skim the foam and simmer partly covered for 1 hour, until the meat is tender and pulls from the bone.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan and cook the onion and carrot for 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 2 minutes, then add the sauerkraut and 1 ladle of broth. Cover and stew for 15 minutes.
- Take the ribs out of the broth. Add the potatoes and the rinsed millet, if using, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the sauerkraut mixture to the pot and simmer for 15 minutes more, until the potatoes and cabbage are tender. Pull the meat from the bones and return it to the soup.
- Add the garlic and salt to taste and rest the soup for 15 minutes off the heat. Serve with dill and sour cream.
Tips
- Taste the sauerkraut first. If it is very sour or salty, rinse it, and use less salt in the soup.
- Stewing the sauerkraut with onion, carrot and tomato paste first softens its sharpness and adds a little sweetness.
Questions and answers
Can I make kapusniak without meat?
Yes. Use water or mushroom stock and add 15 g (1/2 oz) dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped. The soup is just as good.
How long does kapusniak keep?
It keeps for 4 days in the fridge and improves each day. It freezes well for 3 months.
What is the difference between kapusniak and borshch?
Kapusniak is built on sauerkraut and has no beets, so it is sour and golden rather than red.
How long does it take to make Kapusniak (Ukrainian Sauerkraut Soup with Pork Ribs)?
About 2 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kapusniak (Ukrainian Sauerkraut Soup with Pork Ribs)?
About 235 kcal per serving, with 14 g of protein, 21 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 235 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
