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Beetroot & Red Cabbage Sauerkraut

5 days + 20 min

Side

10 ingredients or less

No cook
Pickles, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut - there's just something irresistible and delicious about sour and pickled foods. The tangier, the better! This sauerkraut recipe is a wonderful, zesty addition to burgers, tacos, sandwiches, nourish bowls, salads and soups. Beet sauerkraut adds an especially vibrant touch and makes for a stunning, thoughtful homemade gift!

Servings

(¼ cup per serving)

Total

5 days + 20 min

Prep

20 min

Ferment

5 days

Free from

Soy symbol

soy

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Gluten symbol

gluten

Ingredients

Beet sauerkraut

  • 8 cups (560 g)
    shredded red cabbage
  • 2
    medium raw beets, peeled, grated
  • 1 Tbsp (18 g)
    coarse sea salt (iodine free)†
  • 1 Tbsp (5 g)
    whole coriander seeds

Directions

  1. Ensure the container that will hold the fermenting sauerkraut is sterilized. Carefully rinse jars with boiling water or run them through a hot cycle in a dishwasher.
  2. Add the cabbage, beetroot, and salt to a large bowl.
  3. Firmly massage the salt into the vegetables with clean hands* for 10 - 15 minutes. The cabbage will soften and liquids will naturally release to create a brine.
  4. Mix in the coriander seeds.
  5. Transfer the mixture, including the brine, into a clean glass jar. Firmly push down the mixture until the vegetables are fully submerged in brine**. If not fully submerged, mix ½ teaspoon of salt in 1 cup (240 mL) of water and add this to the jar.
  6. Place a clean weight on top of the vegetables to keep them fully submerged under the brine throughout the fermentation process. For our weight, we used a small glass jar filled with rice.
  7. Close with an air-tight lid and allow the sauerkraut to ferment for 5 - 10 days, away from direct sunlight and at a moderate temperature, about 18 - 24°C (65 - 75°F).
  8. Every day, pop open the lid of the jar to allow the gas to escape*. If needed, press down the weight on top of the sauerkraut to ensure all the veggies remain submerged.
  9. Taste test after 4 days to determine when you’d like to stop fermentation.
  10. Once fermented to your liking, seal the jar airtight and place it in the fridge to enjoy as desired.

Notes

  • †The salt must be iodine-free, otherwise the salt may inhibit the fermentation process.
  • * The salt may irritate cuts on your hands. Consider using clean gloves if desired.
  • ** Do not fill the jar beyond ¾ full as the sauerkraut needs some "breathing" room.
  • * Bubbles will naturally form on top throughout the fermentation process, this is normal and not a cause for concern.

Storage

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Nutrition info

Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician. While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.

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More for the eyes

a plant-based person making homemade beet kraut a fermenting jar of homemade sauerkraut with beetroot, cabbage a jar of beetroot kimchi a vegetarian enjoying a serving of fermented beets and cabbage a vegan taking a forkful of the probiotic rich red cabbage sauerkraut

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Chelsea - Aug. 18, 2024, 1:09 a.m.

Would this be considered a probiotic?

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 18, 2024, 11:22 a.m.

Hey Chelsea, yes, homemade sauerkraut is considered a probiotic! The fermentation process naturally encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, which are great for gut health. Enjoy your sauerkraut!

Reply
Steve Elliott - Aug. 8, 2024, 5:37 p.m.

Having never had sauerkraut before making this, I bought a good branded shop one to compare tastes. Shop one. "Oh dear, what have I done 🤦‍♂️" Yours "WOW!!😁 I'm so glad I made this" Healthy Gut = Happy Gut 😊

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 10, 2024, 4:29 p.m.

Aww so glad that the homemade sauerkraut was enjoyed, Steve 🥰

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Julia - May 24, 2024, 5:34 p.m.

How lovely 😍 is it also working with precooked beet root?

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 24, 2024, 11:36 p.m.

Hey Julia, good question! We haven't tried it, but probably wouldn't use it. We think raw beet would give a better texture to the fermented sauerkraut, although, if you do give it a try, let us know what you think!

Steve Elliott - Aug. 8, 2024, 5:39 p.m.

I used up some shop bought 'baby beets dipped in vinegar' and mine tastes amazing 😀

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Cathy G - Feb. 1, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

Hi Sadia and Robin!

I made a half recipe and it turned out great, but the coriander seeds were way too strong (and we like them in Indian food, etc.). Second time I made a full recipe (no seeds) and mixed in an extra 1 cup water with 1/2 t. salt to make sure the cabbage was submerged. After about 48 hours, there was a layer of brown cabbage on the top and it didn't smell so good. Yikes. Perhaps the cabbage wasn't submerged well enough?

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 1, 2024, 7:16 a.m.

Hey there, Cathy, thanks for sharing your experience with the sauerkraut. Adjusting the seasoning to your taste preferences, like reducing the coriander seeds, is a lovely idea.

Ensuring all the cabbage is submerged under the brine can help prevent the browning. It could also be due to oxidation or the presence of certain bacteria during the fermentation process. Being sure to use a sterilized container may help too 🤗

Reply
Lara - Jan. 18, 2024, 2:12 p.m.

Absolutely lovely, would highly recommend!

Reply
April Parekh - Jan. 7, 2024, 6:48 p.m.

This is delicious and different from what I expected. It could be helpful to have a ballpark idea on the size of beet you used. Any suggestions for different spice/seed I could use in place of the coriander. It's good but in general I don't love coriander seeds so I want to try something different next time.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 9, 2024, 2:16 a.m.

Hey April, thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the sauerkraut! We used two 2 medium raw beets, which are equal to around 80-110 grams each. You could try whole peppercorns, juniper berries, nigella seeds, or even mustard seeds! If you give any of those a good, let us know what you think of it! 😊

Reply
Elyz - Nov. 27, 2023, 6:58 p.m.

Tastes amazing!!!

Reply
Lea Becker - Nov. 26, 2023, 8:57 a.m.

I am very much looking forward to trying this recipe! I was just wondering if I should let the vegetables ferment in a dark or rather in a light room (of course without any direct sunlight). Thank you!!

PUL Team - Nov. 26, 2023, 10:16 p.m.

Hey there Lea, we're excited for you to try the sauerkraut recipe! For the fermentation process, either a darker room or an area away from direct sunlight in a lighter room will work. Just be sure the temperature of whichever one you choose is around 18 - 24°C (65 - 75°F) 😊

Lea Becker - Nov. 27, 2023, 9:53 a.m.

Thank you very much!!😊

Reply
Tariq Qureshi - Nov. 5, 2023, 4:01 a.m.

A refreshingly beautiful design of the website. The instructions were nicely done as well.

Reply
Leah - Aug. 22, 2023, 3:52 p.m.

Why is it that every time I look for recipes, Pick up Lime always has what I'm looking for? :)
My kraut is on Day 9 and ready to eat! Thank you so much for another clear recipe, included on your so thoughtfully put together site

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 24, 2023, 8:07 a.m.

Sounds like it's meant to be, Leah 😜 We hope you enjoy the sauerkraut!

Reply
Kate - Aug. 6, 2023, 4:22 p.m.

This looks delicious! How would you suggest incorporating this in meals? I want to make sure I use it all and get the probiotic benefits.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Aug. 6, 2023, 4:32 p.m.

Hey there Kate! I use it as a condiment on the side of my meals, whether it's a nourish bowl, or a burger, a casserole, or a soup. It's just nice to snack on in between bites of the main meal. I hope this helps!

Reply
Marianne - June 9, 2023, 2:34 a.m.

This seems like a promising recipe. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Beth - March 5, 2023, 2:30 p.m.

Great recipe even better with fresh dill and some kimchi juice

Reply
Angela Donovan - Jan. 29, 2023, 12:32 a.m.

I found the squeezing didn't give me the liquid I needed and I was preparing to add the water and salt. But as I pushed it down into the mason jar with a wooden spoon, heaps of liquid came out and I needed the tiniest top-up. I can't wait to try it! I used my own home grown red cabbage. Thank you for sharing your recipes and YouTube channel - Love your work, both of you.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 30, 2023, 2:38 p.m.

Mmm thank you for taking the time to share your experience with it, Angela! Home grown red cabbage sounds lovely 🤗

Reply
Alice - Oct. 6, 2022, 11:12 a.m.

Hi, Sadia ! I just call to say i looove you :)
No, joke .*but that too !
I have a question - what could i do with circa 2 kilos of aubergines with fractured skin (but not mouldy) that i got from too good to go 2 days ago ?
Sorry for posting under beets, but i thought this is one -veggie recipe i bumped into, so maybe you've got ideas ;)

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 6, 2022, 7:07 p.m.

Hey there, Alice, aw thank you for the kind words! A few of our recipes that you may enjoy with them include:
- https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…
- https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…
- https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…
- https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…
- https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…

Happy cooking 🤗

Alice - Oct. 6, 2022, 10:43 p.m.

Hey! Thanks alit for the response , these are indeed great dishes , I was more thinking about sth like preserves- aubergines in jar that I can store outside the fridge for like a year ;p
Or even caviar d’aubergine that I can freeze .?
These can be good ideas for recipes to create- how to close in a jar summer :)

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 9, 2022, 10:25 p.m.

Oooh yes, we haven't given eggplant preserve a try before. We'll note down the idea. Thank you, Alice 😊

Reply
Michaela - Dec. 19, 2021, 12:56 p.m.

I'm sooo sad😭. I made the Sauerkraut, but now after 10 days it has mold. I dont know the Problem.🤷‍♀️ I will make it again, because the recipe sounds so so good.
Can you tell me the weight of the beets?
Greetings and a wonderful Chrismastime to all of you!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 21, 2021, 3:50 a.m.

Oh no - we're so sorry to hear the disappointing results, Michaela! The beets we use are generally around 80-90 grams in size. Two things to consider that may help prevent the recipe from moulding again include:
1) Wash the glass jar well before using it to be sure it's clean to start
2) Make sure the brine fully covers the mixture, this helps to reduce exposure to air that can promote mould growth 🙂

We hope this helps for now, and wishing you a very happy holidays as well, Michaela!

Michaela - Jan. 3, 2022, 5:29 p.m.

So, i make it again😎.
I think my fault was the weight of the beetroots. It was not the first time for me making Sauerkraut, so i know how important the salt% of the brine is. In Germany a medium beet has the weight of ca. 200g. I think i had it overbeetrooted and the brine was not salty enough🧐. Thank you very much for your answer. I will keep you updated, on the result of the Sauerkraut.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 3, 2022, 7:07 p.m.

Thanks for the update, Michaela! It's so interesting how the sizes might vary worldwide. We'll take note of that as a point to consider for future recipes. We hope you enjoy the sauerkraut 😊

Reply
O B - Sept. 19, 2021, 8:06 a.m.

Thanks for the recipe!

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Silvia - July 24, 2021, 6:18 p.m.

This looks like a wonderful recipe and I will definitely try this out. I always have too much red cabbage left over after making "Rotkohl" and that is a wonderful idea.

I have a question to step 10.: Do you put some of the liquid in the smaller glasses or do you drain the liquid beforehand?

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 25, 2021, 11:45 p.m.

Hi Silvia, that's a great question! We recommend keeping the liquid in the smaller glasses for flavour and to help keep the sauerkraut stay fresh for longer 🙂 We've updated the recipe to make it a bit more clear - thank you!

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Amanda - July 13, 2021, 8:08 p.m.

Salty crunchy and such a gorgeous colour!

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Katherine Broberg - July 9, 2021, 8:25 p.m.

My mom requested that I make this for her as a Christmas present this year. So tasty and healthy!

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Susanna - July 8, 2021, 8:46 p.m.

Excellent recipe! Works every time, thank you so much, PUL!

Reply
Alicsar - June 23, 2021, 2:26 p.m.

Just curious why the plastic lid is recommended over a metal one??

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 24, 2021, 6:13 a.m.

Hi Alicsar, that's a wonderful question! In our experience metal tends to corrode and break down due to the acidic environment from the brine. If you only have a metal lid, you can wrap the lid in some plastic wrap before sealing to prevent any metal from leaching into the sauerkraut. I hope this helps for now ☺️

Reply
Almira Dominguez - April 22, 2021, 8:27 p.m.

Love your videos! Will try it and tell how it was!

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 24, 2021, 2:23 a.m.

Enjoy the recipe, Almira!

Reply