Choucroute Garnie

We continue the inspiration of Anthony Bourdain on a second recipe which is linked to the region where he was last found. (View previous recipe here). Bourdain died in Kaysersberg, France which is a small village in the Alsace region of France. It shares a border with Germany and has a thriving wine and food culture. Although he has been known to dine in the fanciest restaurants in the world, Bourdain's roots are traced to street food and simple dishes that represents the terrior and tell stories.

Choucroute Garnie is a classic Alsatian recipe for preparing sauerkraut and sausages. Although the dish is of German origin, the French annexation of Alsace brought the dish back to the French culinary history. This is a typical Alsatian family dish and can be paired with a crisp and dry Riesling from Alsace. The recipe can be timely so make time for it or you can prepare it in advance.

Choucroute Garnie

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 pounds pork back ribs or baby back ribs, cut into 3 sections
• 6 pounds sauerkraut (in plastic bags), drained
• 1/4 cup duck or goose fat or peanut oil
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 20 juniper berries
• 3 large bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cups Riesling or Pinot Gris
• 2 pounds Polish kielbasa, skinned and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 10 skinless hot dogs
• One 2-pound piece of boneless boiled ham (3 to 4 inches wide), sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 2 pounds medium potatoes (about 10), peeled
• Assorted mustards, for serving

Cooking Instructions:
1. In a large, sturdy, resealable plastic bag, combine the 1/3 cup of kosher salt with the sugar. Add the pork ribs; shake well to thoroughly coat the ribs with the seasonings. Seal the bag and refrigerate the ribs overnight or for up to 24 hours.

2. The next day, preheat the oven to 300°. Rinse the sauerkraut in cold water and squeeze dry. Set a large roasting pan over 2 burners on high heat and melt the duck fat. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the sauerkraut, juniper berries, bay leaves, caraway seeds, black pepper, stock and wine and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

3. Meanwhile, rinse the pork ribs under cold water and pat dry. Nestle the pork ribs in the sauerkraut and bring back to a boil over moderately high heat. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

4. Remove the pork ribs from the sauerkraut. Cut down in between the ribs. Return the ribs to the sauerkraut and nestle in the kielbasa, hot dogs and ham. Cover and bake until the meats are hot, about 25 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.

5. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water, add salt and bring to a boil over high heat; cook the potatoes until tender when pierced. Drain the potatoes and cover to keep warm.

6. To serve, mound the hot sauerkraut in the center of very hot dinner plates and partially tuck in the pork ribs and the kielbasa. Arrange the hot dogs and ham around the sauerkraut. Alternatively, pile the sauerkraut on a large heated platter and garnish with the meats. Serve the choucroute with the boiled potatoes and assorted mustards.

Make Ahead
The choucroute can be prepared through Step 3 and refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat before proceeding.

Recipe from Food & Wine.