With the crunch of fresh veggies and the zing of fermented cabbage, this kraut salad is nothing short of next-level magical coleslaw. 😉
"I've made this several times and we love the flavor!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Jayne, One Happy Dish reader
Get this recipe in your inbox
Enter your email below and we’ll send it right to your inbox. Plus, you'll get our latest recipes emailed each week!
I couldn't wait to publish this classic recipe, and I'm not even sure what took me so long to do it. If you're a sauerkraut fan like me, you'll want to run (not walk) to make this one. It's that fabulous, even though it's really quite a simple little old-fashioned dish.
And if you're on the fence with sauerkraut but love a good coleslaw, I'd also recommend you try it: it's a great twist on that classic side as well, and it pairs perfectly with all of the summer-inspired fare you'd serve slaw with. Think burgers, hot dogs and the like.
Did you know?
Sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is arguably one of the most beloved fermented foods on the planet. It is made by using only salt to create a watery brine around the cabbage and then letting the natural microbes on the cabbage proliferate and change the nutritional profile and flavor of the cabbage into the something truly enchanting through a process called lacto-fermentation.
If you're looking for other slaws or salads to go along with your next meal or event, definitely try this delicious red potato salad, this simple jicama slaw or this classic Greek salad recipe. Or for other fermented food sides, try these savory fermented carrot sticks or these sweet potato latkes with beet kraut. You can also check out these other recipes with sauerkraut for even more kraut goodness.
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Takes just 10 minutes of prep time
- Uses only easy to find ingredients
- Great way to use up that extra jar of sauerkraut!
- Lightened up version of coleslaw (no mayo needed)
- Kid tested and approved
🌿 Ingredients
As promised, these ingredients are all easy to find and flexible (no worries if you have to leave something out!) If your kraut already contains caraway seeds, feel free to leave those out of this recipe. If you're really ambitious, you also make your own sauerkraut. 🙂
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
Step 1: Chop the red pepper, onion and celery into small bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Place all of the veggies into a large mixing bowl and then drain the sauerkraut. (Tip: don't rinse it though; you'll want to preserve all of its delicious flavors.)
Step 3: Add the sauerkraut and the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and stir to combine well.
Step 4: Chill your salad for at least an hour in the fridge to let the flavors meld before serving. (This is optional, but recommended.)
📋 Substitutions
As mentioned, this recipe is truly forgiving; feel free to make any of the following substitutions as necessary:
- Sauerkraut - use any variety of raw or shelf stable sauerkraut, or try carrot or beet kraut for a delicious twist
- Red bell pepper - use orange, yellow or green pepper instead, or substitute pimentos
- Sweet onion - regular yellow, white or red onions work too!
- Celery - substitute another crunchy vegetable such as green pepper or carrots, or use chopped apples
- Olive oil - substitute avocado oil or canola oil
- Apple cider vinegar - use white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar instead
- White sugar - substitute coconut sugar, brown sugar or honey (or leave out for sugar-free)
- Caraway seeds - use celery seeds instead, or just leave out; you can also leave these out if your sauerkraut already contains caraway seeds in the ingredient list
📖 Variations
There are so many ways to customize this kraut salad; here are a few great ones:
- Beet sauerkraut salad - use beet kraut instead of regular kraut (it's delicious!)
- Sauerkraut salad with apple - add a peeled chopped apple into the salad for a little extra natural sweetness
- Sweet sauerkraut salad - double the amount of sugar if you like the sweetness factor of this recipe
🔪 Equipment
I used the following equipment to make this recipe:
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
🍱 Storage
Cold sauerkraut salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It does not stand up well to freezing.
🎉 Top tip
You can look for raw sauerkraut in the produce section to get the benefits of the live cultures (or make your own sauerkraut), but shelf stable sauerkraut in the condiment aisle will still be delicious as well.
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
You can use any variety of raw or shelf stable sauerkraut to make a traditional sauerkraut salad. Keep in mind that only fresh, raw sauerkraut contains live cultures if you'd like the benefit of those.
You'll want to drain the liquid from the sauerkraut before assembling your salad, but don't rinse it as the natural flavor of the sauerkraut gives the salad its characteristically savory flavor.
You can use extra sugar in your sauerkraut salad recipe if you like it on the sweet side, or use honey instead for a natural sweetener.
Sauerkraut salad is a great side dish or condiment for burgers, sausages, hot dogs or sandwiches of any kind. It also pairs well with pork chops or grilled meats or other proteins.
🍳 Recipe
Classic Sauerkraut Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep: Chop red pepper, onion and celery and set aside. Drain the sauerkraut but don't rinse it.
- Mix: Place all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine well.
- Chill: Chill your salad for at least an hour in the fridge to let the flavors meld.
- Enjoy: Serve alongside your main dish or store for later. Enjoy!
Jayne
I've made this several times and we love the flavor! I do use honey or maple syrup in place of sugar. It's great to eat in place of green salads all the time.
Allison
Thanks for the 5-star review, Jayne! Love the honey/maple syrup substitution and I totally agree; it's a great way to mix up the usual salad routine. 🙂
Allison
I made this salad to go with chicken sandwiches last night and it was delicious!