German Sauerkraut Soup (Sauerkrautsuppe)
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Celebrating one of Germany’s most famous “superfoods”, Sauerkraut, this wonderful soup is satisfying to both tummy and soul. The combination of tangy sauerkraut, caramelized onions, smoky paprika, savory bacon and earthy caraway is deliciously irresistible!
Each year when Autumn arrives I automatically start to think about my favorite German Fall dishes like Zwiebelkuchen and flavorful soups and stews. My thoughts also turn to sauerkraut. Yes, sauerkraut. Autumn is cabbage harvest time and it’s during the cold months that sauerkraut is traditionally made; the cooler weather allows for a long and slow fermentation process which yields a superior-tasting product. And while I make sauerkraut throughout the year, I always make a big batch in the Fall.
If you’ve ever lived in Germany and spent a good deal of time eating out, you’ll know that sauerkraut is surprisingly versatile. While it most certainly is eaten along with stereotypical foods like Wurst and Schweinehaxen, you’ll also find sauerkraut in things like casseroles, savory pastries, breads, meatballs, pasta, fritters, salads, quiche, sandwiches, pizzas, soups and stews.
Today I’m sharing a German Sauerkraut Soup with you that is similar to how my mom used to make it for us in Germany. There are several variations of Sauerkrautsuppe and this “red” version utilizing paprika is a popular one and my personal favorite.
This soup always takes me back to Germany, to the homes I grew up in and the places I loved to visit.
One of my favorite German castles to visit in the Fall, and any time of the year, is Schloss Bürresheim. It isn’t one of the more widely known or heavily touristed castles like those of King Ludwig. It’s a lesser known gem but well worth the visit. It’s in the northern part of the Eifel mountain range in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany just outside the town of Mayen.
Built in the 12th century, it is one of only a few castles that was never conquered or devastated and has remained largely intact all these centuries. It’s located out in the country, surrounded by a river and hiking trails.
Incidentally, if you’re an Indiana Jones fan, Schloss Bürresheim was one of the filming locations in The Last Crusade. In the film it was called Castle Brunwald, where Indiana’s father is kept prisoner.
Let’s get back to the FOOD.
The combination of tangy sauerkraut, caramelized onions, smoky paprika, savory bacon and earthy caraway is simply irresistible! Stir in some crème fraîche or sour cream, serve the soup hot with some crusty bread and a leafy green salad, and you’ll have yourself a truly satisfying meal!
In Germany I would normally use something very flavorful like speck, pancetta or a heavily smoked bacon from the Black Forest, close to where I grew up, but regular bacon will do as a substitute.
For this soup I’m enlisting our favorite brand of broth, Aneto, made in Barcelona, Spain. Aneto makes their 100% All-Natural Chicken Broth like we make it in our kitchen: They select the freshest vegetables and chicken, put them in large pot, and let them slow-simmer for hours. They don’t use any powders, extracts, concentrates, additives, flavor enhancers or anything else. They only use real, whole ingredients. We took a tour of their factory in Barcelona a few years ago and saw the entire process from start to finish. It was incredibly inspiring.
Aneto’s broths and paella cooking bases can be found in store locations across the U.S.. You can also purchase their chicken broth and other broths here on Amazon.
So without further ado here is a wonderful soup celebrating one of Germany’s most famous “superfoods,” Sauerkraut!
German Sauerkraut Soup Recipe
Let’s get started!
In a soup pot, fry the bacon until done. Add the onions and fry until lightly caramelized, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Stir in the tomato paste and spices and cook another minute.
Pour in the chicken broth.
Stir in the drained sauerkraut and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Stir in the crème fraîche or sour cream and heat through (do not boil).
Serve hot with a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream.
Crusty bread and a leafy green salad make perfect accompaniments.
Enjoy!
For more delicious German recipes be sure to try our:
- Gaisburger Marsch
- Flädlesuppe
- Rouladen
- German Goulash
- Rotkohl
- German Potato Dumplings
- Sauerbraten
- Schnitzel
- Spätzle
- Maultaschen
- Semmelknödel
- German Potato Dumplings
- German Potato Salad
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German Sauerkraut Soup (Sauerkrautsuppe)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces flavorful smoked bacon or speck , diced
- 2 medium to large yellow onions , chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon quality smoked Hungarian paprika (preferably Kalosca or Szeged) (mild, not hot)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram (very traditional herb in German cooking)
- 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds , lightly crushed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 4 cups quality chicken broth (we recommend Aneto 100% All-Natural Chicken Broth)
- or Aneto low-sodium chicken broth
- 18 ounces German Sauerkraut, drained (about 3 1/2 heaping cups) Do NOT substitute with American sauerkraut **see Note below
- How to Make Sauerkraut (it's easy! Click link for recipe tutorial)
- 1/3 cup crème fraîche (can substitute full-fat sour cream)
Instructions
- In a soup pot fry the bacon until done. Add the onions and cook until lightly caramelized, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Stir in the tomato paste and spices and cook another minute. Add the chicken broth and sauerkraut and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Stir in the crème fraîche or sour cream and heat through (do not boil).
- Serve hot with a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream. Crusty bread and a leafy green salad make great accompaniments.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
HI Kimberly,
Well I didn’t win first place again this year but lots of good comments and recipe requests and it was all eaten. I live in Waterloo Region, ON, so a large German Heritage. I made a double batch with home made chicken stock, good local German Sauerkraut, caraway, marjoram from my garden and a good quality smoked paprika. I also used a combination of bacon and Oktoberfest sausage. I tried a different butcher at Market though and wasn’t completely happy with the quality of the sausage (this may have been my downfall).
The winner this year was a Lentil soup with sausage – it was certainly worthy; rich and flavourful (and good quality sausage).
The Creamed Dill Pickle soup last year won for being a big hit with the kids and it actually tasted good – simple, creamy and savoury (maybe chicken) broth, probably heavy cream and then the chopped dill pickles.
Anyway – I’m passing on your link to a few people who asked for the recipe. Thanks again – you’re in my favourites file.
Prosit!
Paul
That’s wonderful, Paul, I’ve no doubt your soup was fantastic! Thanks for letting us know how it went and thanks so much for sharing my site with your friends.
Another outstanding recipe — thanks so much, Kimberly! Spices are great! (But for the first time ever I changed something in one of your recipes: I switched out the smoked paprika for a combination of sweet and hot, just to suit my personal tastes.) SO GOOD!
Thanks so much, Bryan! Lol, definitely no rules about having to stick entirely to the recipe. So glad you enjoyed this, thanks again!
True for most other cooks, but your recipes are just exceptional!
Have always liked Sauerkraut soup but never had it with smoked Paprika. I also love that you use Marjoram and just a touch of Caraway. This is my new favourite. In fact, I’m entering it into our church “soup off”. I’m going to load it up with diced local Oktoberfest sausage as well as the bacon.
Last year I came in second with a lentil soup. Lost out to a creamed dill pickle soup.
Hi Paul, that’s fantastic, thank you! You’ll have to let us know how your soup does at the church “soup off” this year. I must say I’m pretty intrigued by that creamed dill pickle soup. Did it win because it actually tasted good or simply because it was a novel idea? ;)
I squeezed 3 cups of juice out of my home made sourkraut and didn’t know what to do with it. Found this recipe. Decided to try but replaced the broth with the juice and I added grated veggies in stead of the sourkraut. A M A Z I N G!!!!!!
That’s a nice twist, Iryna, thanks for sharing and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This was incredible! It was tangy, rich and filling. The whole family loved it. Also, now that I’ve tried the real stuff I’m never going back to American “sauerkraut”. Thanks Kimberly. I love your recipes!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kitten, thank you!
I am of German descent and make some recipes from my grandmother including spetzels and stollen. I had never heard of this soup but love sauerkraut and it sounded good. It is fantastic! It tastes like a Ruben sandwich. I served it with rye bread. It’s a keeper! I’m so impressed. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Joanne, I’m thrilled you enjoyed it!
Sauerkraut soup was excellent. Do you also have a recipe for making sauerkraut, both raw and canned?
Thank you, Lindsay, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I do and will be posting both to my blog in the near future :)
Also Kimberly, I wanted to thank you in general for sharing such an eclectic collection of your recipes. Especial kudos for the niter kibbeh. Well done.
I made this soup over the weekend – my husband and I both like sauerkraut, but I was a little skeptical. This soup is delicious! I had never had sauerkraut soup, but this recipe is a keeper! We had a cold, rainy weekend here in East Tennessee and this soup was perfect. Thanks for posting this recipe, we will be making it again.
Wonderful, Stephanie, I’m so glad you both enjoyed it, thank you!
Easy and tasty. Thank you for posting.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mike, thank you!
First of all, this soup is so pretty! I just love the ingredients, and the creme fraiche! I’ve been to Germany, mostly in the black forest area. It was so beautiful. And i do remember the bacon from there. I’ve been able to order it online once; I should check again. I remember Burg Elz the most. Just stunning, but not in a fancy way. A beautiful country.
Thanks so much, Mimi! YES, Burg Eltz is one of my favorites and it actually looks similar to Schloß Bürresheim. You chose a beautiful area of Germany to visit :)
Previously, I never tried this dish. But now I am delighted with this soup. Wonderful combination of ingredients. Looks very tasty and beautiful. Of course I want to try this recipe.
Greetings from Norway! My German husband just made a new batch of Sauerkraut which is fermenting on the kitchen counter as we speak! I’ve never heard of this soup, but I might well surprise him with it for dinner one night this week. I’m vegetarian so I will omit the bacon- let me know if you have any suggestions for something to replace it! Thanks for another great recipe.
Hi Katie, friendly greetings to Norway! Well that is perfect timing :) You know, there is already a lot of flavor going on in this soup, I think you can simply omit the bacon and it will still taste excellent. What you can do though if you want to add a little “umami” element that will be missing from the loss of bacon, is add a few shots of Maggi sauce. It’s very popular in Germany and I’m assuming it’s probably used or at least available in Norway as well (just be sure it’s the one made in Germany, there is also a version made in China). It’s the European version of “soy sauce” though significantly different. It adds a nice depth of flavor and is especially great for vegetarian dishes because it adds a kind of “roasted” flavor without the presence of meat or animal fats. If you’re not already familiar with Maggi sauce I’d recommend giving it a try. It’s used as a very versatile, “all-purpose” seasoning and as I mentioned it’s especially great for adding an umami element in vegetarian dishes. Happy cooking! :)
Is the bacon fat drained after?
Hi Kyle, you can if you want but I leave it in for the flavor. The bacon fat is also what is used to fry the onions in.
Is the sauerkraut drained before adding to the pot?
Hi Irene, yes, first drain the sauerkraut. Happy cooking! :)
Looks incredibly amazing! Craving for this tasty and flavorful recipe, absolutely a must try!