Kapustnica: Slovak Christmas Sauerkraut Mushroom Soup

My Father’s ancestral roots are Czech and Slovak. I’ve always been interested in the ethnic foods of these regions and love trying the foods that they may have eaten. Kapustnica mean Sauerkraut Soup and is often served on Christmas Eve as well as throughout the winter months. Imagine the ingredients of these foods were preserved for use during the winter months. The soup is smoky and a bit sour due to the sauerkraut. The broth is delicious. Serve the soup with a nice crusty bread to complete the meal.

While this is a traditional Christmas soup, I prefer this soup in the cold, dark days of January.

Kapustnica: Slovak Christmas Sauerkraut Mushroom Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 to 1.5 lbs. Sauerkraut (Frank’s refrigerated is recommended)
• 1 tsp. caraway seed
• 1 bay leaf
• 2-3 links of smoked sausage
• 3 quarts water
• 1 oz. dried mushrooms (porcini recommended)
• pasta (I cooked 1 cup of dried Kluski noodles)
• Roux:
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • Paprika to taste
  • 1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add three quarts of water to a large pot. Add sauerkraut, caraway seed, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
2. Soak mushrooms in cold water for 15 minutes. Drain and discard liquid. Add to soup.
3. Using a fork, poke many holes in the smoked sausages. Add to soup.
4. Simmer soup for 1-2 hours.
5. Prepare the roux: Add oil to pan. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute. Add flour and stir until mixture is light brown. Add salt, pepper, paprika and ____. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup water. Whisk and cook until mixture thickens. Add to soup. Continue simmering soup.
6. Remove smoke sausage from soup and slice into pieces. Add back to soup.
7. Remove bay leaf.
8. Cook pasta separately. When cooked, add to soup.

Recipe from YouTube

or

https://tasteisyours.com/slovak-sauerkraut-soup-kapustnica/

Kapustnica ( Slovakian Christmas Stew )

https://cookpad.com/uk/recipes/274784-kapustnica-slovakian-sauerkraut-sausage-soup