Jägerkohl -- Hunter's Cabbage
(Cabbage & Kielbasa Soup)






INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
  • 3 half-rings of Kielbasa, cut into 1/3-inch slices (*)
  • 4 slices bacon, cut into roughly 1/2-inch square pieces
  • 6-8 medium potatoes, diced
  • 1 medium to large head cabbage, quartered and cut into thin strips
  • 1 yellow onion, diced finely
  • 4 medium-sized cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 large green apple, peeled (sourer apples are best for this)
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoon cider wine vinegar (though any vinegar will do)
  • 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon powered black pepper
  • (optional) 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare a very large cooking pot (the largest you have :) and a large frying pan.

 Peel the apple and potatoes, core the apple, and chop the apple, potatoes and cabbage into the pot, along with the spices, vinegar and flour.  Add enough water to just cover everything in the pot.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

While the water comes to a boil, fry the bacon on medium heat, until quite crispy but not burned.  Stir the bacon into the pot but keep the grease in the pan.

Add the oil to the frying pan, and sautee onions and garlic for 5 minutes or so on medium heat.  Then stir them into the pot.

Add the chopped kielbasa into the pan and brown lightly.  Then add to the pot along with all remaining grease and scrapings.

Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are soft, but not mushy.

When serving, offer sour cream, Maggi (**), Marmite, Worcestershire sauce, or malt vinegar as garnishes.  A personal, if not entirely traditional, favorite of mine is tzatziki.


(*) Tuchowska Kielbasa (usually a rough orange skin and fatty, grainy meat) is preferable to Wiejska, which has a red skin and is more solid.  Kabanos, which are smaller versions of Tuchowska, can also be used.  Tuchowska is what is usually called "Kielbasa" in the USA.  Harder to find in the UK!

(**) Maggi: Accept no substitutes!  Use only the "Würze" Maggi manufactured in Germany or Austria. This is available, if not at your local German/Polish/Russian deli, on Amazon.






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