Cooking with Music

Zuurkool (sauerkraut in english) is one of my favorite dishes. I used to pick out the “zoutvlees” (pickled beef) out of it when my mum prepared her version of it. Today though I am making a sauerkraut oven dish another one of my favorites.
It is relatively simple to make ( depending on the caliber of cook you are :-p )

What you need ( or what I used)


• Potatoes about 6 or 7 big ones
• Packet of Gekruide Zuurkool ( spiced sauerkraut)
• Minced Meat (beef) – 200 gram
• Diced bacon bits
• Sliced mushrooms
• 3 or 4 onions
• Half of a madam Jeanette (NOTE: only if you can stand extreme heat!)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Couple of leaves of celery, basilicum and dille
• Small tin of tomatoe paste

& an ovendish and potatoe masher!

Step 1Peel and boil the potatoes cut in small blocks so they boil quicker. Prick them from time to time to see if they are soft.
When done drain the water out add two tablespoons of butter and a little bit of milk let’s say 5 tablespoons. Some pepper and salt are added and them mashed into a smooth mash.








Step 2Blend the onions, garlic and the herbs and the madam Jeanette until fine and put it to the side.





Step 3Take a frying pan and put in a tablespoon of margarine/butter and fry the bacon bits for about 5 to 8 minutes. Scoop the bacon bits in a little bowl for later.






Step 4Using the same pan add the onion mix and stir for a minute then add the minced meat to it and let it fry until turned brown and starts curling. Then add bit of pepper, salt, paprika powder and a bit of ginger paste or powder if you have any . Stir and add small tin of tomato paste to it to give it that red color and fry for 5 minutes more or so then switch it off.






Step 5Open the pack of sauerkraut and drain it in a sieve squeeze the extra liquid out with your hands.



Step 6Thinly coat the inside of your baking dish ( mine is a bit more than necessary, but am a sucker for butter). First put a thin layer of the mashed potatoes.
Followed by half of the sauerkraut then a layer of t all he minced meat mix then a layer of the sliced mushrooms on top of it. Followed by another layer of the sauerkraut. Then sprinkle the bacon bits all on top and cover this all with the rest of the potato mash. I sprinkle a bit of black pepper on the top and voila! Some people put breadcrumbs on the top for a crunchy top, guess it depends on what you like.











Step 7
Put the dish in a pre-heated oven on 200 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes and serve with some pickled red onions and a teaspoon of sambal oelek.For the meatlovers like me add a fried lambschop to it. Yummy!








Tip:
*add a couple of capers (kappertjes) between the layers
*Sometimes instead of sliced mushrooms I use sliced pickles ( augurken) or just add it to it.
* I am not a fan of eggs but my mum used sliced boiled eggs instead of mushrooms.



Music to go with it