Sauerkraut Recipe for the GAPS Diet

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Homemade fermented foods have more friendly bacteria than probiotic supplements! Boost your gut health with this easy sauerkraut recipe.

Sauerkraut recipe GAPS diet

Sauerkraut recipe for the GAPS diet

Sauerkraut is simple and easy to make. It is also one of the most powerful foods we can eat for good health. If you’re doing the GAPS diet, or planning to, sauerkraut is one of the first fermented foods that you’ll need to know how to make.

Making sauerkraut at home is also a really thrifty way to drastically improve health. Purchased probiotic supplements definitely have their place. But they can be pricey!

Consuming a lot of homemade fermented foods, which actually have many times more friendly bacteria than probiotic supplements, is a great, cost effective way to really effectively improve gut health.

Read more about what gut dysbiosis is here, and read all about sauerkraut benefits here. If you want lots of ideas for what to eat with sauerkraut, get 38 ideas here. Get my fermented beets recipe here.

For those following the GAPS diet, it’s good to know that both the solid cabbage and the brine are important. At first, the liquid will be added to foods in the beginning of the introduction diet. Later on we’ll eat the cabbage itself.

Looking for a GAPS diet meal plan? Check out GAPS to Go, my 30 day meal plan for GAPS intro here.

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Sauerkraut recipe for the GAPS diet that is simple, easy, raw, & probiotic #gaps #gapsdiet #ferments #probiotic #raw #foodheals

Look to history

Some of the healthiest traditional cultures around the world regularly consumed fermented foods, like sauerkraut.  I think it’s pretty neat that many different cultures around the world have their own version of fermented cabbage.

Korean sauerkraut is kimchi, while curtido is Latin American sauerkraut.  Chinese sauerkraut is hum choy. All of these versions of sauerkraut are simply combined with different vegetables and spices to achieve unique flavors.

Get creative with your own sauerkraut recipe

You can make your own variations of sauerkraut, too! I’ve experimented with adding some purple cabbage, shredded carrots, and even apple chunks to my homemade sauerkraut recipe. It’s really fun to try different things and see how it changes the look and flavor.

I will share some of my sauerkraut variations later on. But for now, let’s learn how to make this simple, two ingredient sauerkraut recipe.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure here.

What equipment do I need?

For this simple sauerkraut recipe, you really don’t need any special fermentation equipment at all! You can use any glass jars, but my favorite for sauerkraut is half-gallon wide-mouth mason jars. If you’re interested in learning to ferment in a crock and are looking for one, I share my fermentation crock comparison here. Learn how to make sauerkraut in a crock here.

For lids, I like to use the white plastic mason jar lids. I just put them on loosely to allow gas to escape during the fermentation process. While the jars are sitting on the counter, I put a towel underneath them, in case any liquid bubbles up and leaks out. If you’re in the market for some fermentation lids, check out my complete fermentation lid review and comparison here.

Other than jars and lids, you really only need kitchen equipment that you most likely already have: a knife, a cutting board, a bowl, and a wooden spoon.

Sauerkraut recipe probiotic raw simple easy

Cleanliness is key

Whenever you’re making fermented foods, whether that is fermented vegetables or a homemade sourdough starter, you want to make sure that your hands, utensils, containers, and work area are very, very clean. We only want beneficial bacteria growing in our ferments. Having everything as clean as possible helps to ensure that unwanted bacteria don’t grow in our sauerkraut.

The process

Sauerkraut is one of the easiest homemade fermented foods to make. It really just involves shredding cabbage, mixing in some salt, pounding a bit, and packing it into jars. Then all it takes is time to turn cabbage and salt into delicious, probiotic sauerkraut.

For shredding the cabbage, you can either use a knife or a food processor. Either works well. I usually end up using my food processor, since it is so fast and easy that way.

After washing your cabbage and before you shred it, be sure to take off a few whole leaves and set them aside. We’ll use these later to hold the sauerkraut down in the jar while it ferments.

Any outer leaves that have spots or just don’t look so great can be composted or fed to chickens.

How long to let it sit?

The minimum amount of time is 5-7 days, but I often let my sauerkraut sit out on the counter much longer. 6 weeks seems to be an ideal amount of time. If we don’t have any other jars of ferments we’re finishing up, we will start to eat new sauerkraut after 5-7 days, but I personally like the flavor best after it’s sat out for around 6 weeks or so.

I recommend to start tasting it after 5 -7 days, and then beyond that, go with how you like the taste. Feel free to experiment with the fermentation time and find out where you like the flavor best!

Tips for sauerkraut recipe success

Make sure that your sauerkraut is packed tightly down into the jar. You want the liquid to completely submerge the cabbage at all times. If any cabbage is exposed above the brine, it can mold. During the fermentation process, check the sauerkraut regularly and add more filtered water if the cabbage becomes exposed.

Do make sure to use filtered water, not tap water. The chlorine and other chemicals in tap water will kill the beneficial bacteria and prevent healthy fermentation from happening. We use filtered water from our Berkey water filter.

I recommend using organically grown cabbage. I’ve used conventionally grown cabbage before, but I’ve noticed that it tends to mold and not turn out as well. If I stick with organic cabbage, and follow the rest of the tips I’ve mentioned here, this sauerkraut recipe always turns out wonderfully.

If you’re looking for another delicious probiotic topping or mix-in, check out my lacto fermented zucchini relish recipe here.

Just too busy?

I definitely get it! There are very busy seasons of life. And if you’re starting a new endeavor, like just beginning the GAPS diet, you might feel overwhelmed with everything you have to make. Don’t let those things stop you from regularly eating your fermented foods!

Thankfully, there are quite a few good options for live, probiotic ferments that you can buy, like this sauerkraut here. Just grab some already made ferments (make sure they’re truly raw and probiotic!), eat those, and don’t feel guilty. Make your own ferments as you have time.

Sauerkraut recipe

Sauerkraut recipe directions

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Wash cabbage heads.
  2. Remove outer leaves and compost.
  3. Remove two more outer leaves and set aside. 
  4. Cut into fine strips, or shred cabbage in a food processor.
  5. Put cabbage in a large bowl with salt.
  6. Mix to incorporate salt, then let sit for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Pound cabbage until juices start to come out.
  8. Pack cabbage tightly into glass jars.
  9. Top with a whole cabbage leaf to hold shredded cabbage down.
  10. If enough liquid does not rise to the top to completely cover the cabbage leaf, make a brine with 1-pint water and 1 tsp salt. Add this brine to the jar to cover the cabbage leaf.
  11. Allow sauerkraut to sit out at room temperature for 5-7 days before eating. Can also be left longer, for around 6 weeks, if desired. 
  12. Store in the refrigerator once you like the flavor. 

More GAPS diet recipes

GAPS chicken soup

Meat stock

Veggie gummies

Homemade eczema cream

Do you already enjoy eating fermented foods?

What ferments do you enjoy? Or are they something you’re just starting to add to your menu? Tell me about it in the comments!

Join our traditional health community, and grab a free GAPS diet essential recipes ebook when you subscribe!

This free eBook includes recipes for everything you’ll need to know how to make for the GAPS introduction diet: meat stock, soup, sauerkraut, yogurt, sour cream, kefir, herbal teas, ghee, pancakes, and apple sauce. Grab your copy below!

GAPS diet essential recipes free ebook

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My food processor

Half gallon mason jars

White lids

Berkey water filter

Live, raw, probiotic sauerkraut you can buy

Looking for a GAPS intro meal plan?

GAPS to Go is a 30 day meal plan for the GAPS introduction diet that tells you what to eat each day, with complete cooking instructions, and guidance on when to move to each intro diet stage. Check out GAPS to Go here.

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Yield: 3 quarts

Probiotic Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut recipe GAPS diet

Homemade fermented foods have more friendly bacteria than probiotic supplements! Boost your gut health with this easy sauerkraut recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 heads organic green cabbage
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • filtered water

Instructions

  1. Wash cabbage heads.
  2. Remove outer leaves and compost.
  3. Remove two more outer leaves and set aside. 
  4. Cut into fine strips, or shred cabbage in a food processor.
  5. Put cabbage in a large bowl with salt.
  6. Mix to incorporate salt, then let sit for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Pound cabbage until juices start to come out.
  8. Pack cabbage tightly into glass jars.
  9. Top with a whole cabbage leaf to hold shredded cabbage down.
  10. If enough liquid does not rise to the top to completely cover the cabbage leaf, make a brine with 1 pint water and 1 tsp salt. Add this brine to the jar to cover the cabbage leaf.
  11. Allow sauerkraut to sit out at room temperature for 5-7 days before eating. Can also be left longer, for around 6 weeks, if desired. Store in refrigerator once you like the flavor. 
GAPS™ and Gut and Psychology Syndrome™ are the trademark and copyright of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride.

11 thoughts on “Sauerkraut Recipe for the GAPS Diet”

  1. Hi Marrissa – Thank you for your helpful videos. I am preparing to start the GAPS diet. I have histamine intolerance, and my symptoms are skin break-outs which have become worse in the past when I took probiotics or yogurt or anything fermented. So I am petrified to take probiotics or sauerkraut. What do you recommend?

    Reply
  2. I am making fermented cauliflower and carrots (to put in my salads) and pickles today for the first time! I hope they come out okay. I LOVE Bubbies pickles (I used the brine as a starter as suggested) and Bubbies sauerkraut – but they ARE expensive! So, I am so looking forward to making my own. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. We never seem to finish our sauerkraut batches (we’re not huge fan over here). Is there a point when I should throw it out and start over?

    Reply
  4. Hi! I just made this sauerkraut in the half gallon jar. Test after 5-7 days or leave up to 6 weeks in the half gallon jar? Am I just looking for a taste I like? I’ve never made my own and am not sure when to refrigerate it? Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Yes, you can just watch for a taste you like 🙂 5-7 days is the minimum, and the taste will always get better with time 🙂

      Reply
  5. Hi! I love your blog! So much valuable information!
    So I have a question for you…if I open my saurkraut after say 10 days and I don’t like the taste can I close it up and let it ferment longer or do I have to refrigerate it immediately? And if it gets low on liquid while fermenting can I add more liquid?

    Reply
    • Thank you so much! Yes you can! You will introduce outside air, but it’s usually not detrimental. Yes, I often add more water if I see the need 🙂

      Reply
  6. Hi, I was wondering how to keep the acid reflux at bay ,all the oil & fish & cod oil are really giving me heartburn , thanks so much for all the gaps help! JERRY COTRELL

    Reply
    • Thanks for the kind words! This is a great question. Dr. Natasha says that acid reflux is due to low stomach acidity. To boost stomach acidity, she recommends sauerkraut, sauerkraut brine, herbal bitters, and supplementing with hydrochloric acid supplements. Also, following GAPS longterm helps this. I hope that helps!

      Reply

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