My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Cadry Nelson
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Today I’m talking about my favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes and uses – from veggie reubens, to salads, pizza, sandwiches, and more.

My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (1)

When you think sauerkraut, two things usually come to mind – sausages & hot dogs.

So while sauerkraut itself is vegan, it’s often associated with some very non-vegan things.

What’s a kraut loving vegan to do?

No worries.

There are still plenty of ways to have your kraut and eat it too.

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses.

In this post:

Jump to:
  • What is sauerkraut?
  • Where can I find sauerkraut?
  • Don’t forget about kimchi

What is sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut means sour cabbage in German.

Although, fun fact: It was actually invented in China!

Over 2,000 years ago, Chinese people were fermenting cabbage in rice wine.

Then in the 16th century, Europeans started fermenting cabbage in its own juices.

It is made by shredding fresh cabbage, adding salt, and pressing down the mixture. That releases water and causes fermentation.

It was created as a way of preserving cabbage.

Fermenting cabbage helps promote the growth of probiotics, like you might associate with yogurt.

Probiotics are known to help with digestion and balance your gut after a round of antibiotics.

In addition to its probiotic power, it is high in vitamin C.

Where can I find sauerkraut?

My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (2)

Look for sauerkraut in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

It’s sold in glass jars or resealable bags.

Most canned sauerkraut has been pasteurized, which kills off the good bacteria.

So I recommend seeking out the fresh variety in the refrigerated section instead. Gold Mine is my favorite.

Prefer to make your own?

Check out this recipe from The Kitchn showing how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar.

Sauerkraut recipes & uses

Here are my favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes and uses.

They will keep you digging in for more – jar after jar.

Vegan reuben

Of course, kraut is wonderful on a veggie reuben sandwich along with a drizzling of vegan Thousand Island.

As for the filling? There are plenty of options!

  • Make a reuben with a corned jackfruit filling using this recipe for a vegan reuben jackfruit sandwich (above).
  • Make a seitan reuben using the official Chicago Diner vegan reuben sandwich recipe.
  • Or have a cozy bowl instead with this jackfruit reuben nourish bowl.

Top your veggie sausage

My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (4)

Pile sauerkraut onto your favorite veggie sausage or veggie dog along with a slathering of mustard.

The kraut adds a cool, tart compliment to a savory sausage.

That’s an Herbivorous Butcher beer brat above along with an easy spinach salad.

Make beer brats with sauerkraut

Brown some vegan bratwurst in a skillet. Sauté onions, and add a healthy glug of beer.

Once it’s cooked off, add sauerkraut.

Serve the whole thing alongside mustard mashed potatoes or vegan pierogi.

Now, that’s some savory goodness!

Add kraut to a green salad

My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (6)

Kraut is a cool, crunchy addition to a big salad.

It fills out the plate, adding another contrasting flavor that mixes especially well with a kale salad and avocado.

Pizza topping

It makes a terrific pizza topping, especially if you prefer a cheeseless pie like I do. It gives zing to each slice.

Some people throw sauerkraut on the pizza before cooking. But I prefer to add it cold by the spoonful after the pie is cooked.

It adds a cool, crunchy element on top of a hot, steamy pizza.

And it means that the kraut maintains all of its probiotics which can be killed off by heat.

Sauerkraut goes well with lots of pizza toppings like onions, garlic, tomatoes, red bell pepper, mushrooms, potatoes, or seitan sausage.

Sauerkraut is also a terrific topping on a vegan chili dog pizza along with a drizzle of stoneground mustard and diced onions.

Pierogi quesadillas

Sauerkraut plays very nicely with potato and non-dairy cheese in this pierogi-style vegan quesadilla.

It has all of the flavor of a pierogi but without fiddling with dough for hours.

Vegan Philly cheesesteak

Use kraut as a briny addition to homemade vegan cheese.

I often like to make my own cashew cheese. Adding sauerkraut to the blender brings some rich, pungent undertones.

Use sauerkraut in this cheese sauce on top of your vegan Philly cheesesteak.

Don’t forget about kimchi

And while you’re adding fermented cabbage to your plate, don’t forget about kimchi!

This spicy Korean fermented cabbage can often be found near the sauerkraut in the refrigerated section. Or look for it next to the miso paste.

Just be sure to read the ingredient labels. Not all brands are vegan.

Here are some ways to use kimchi:

  • Bulgogi tofu bowls with kimchi
  • Bulgogi tofu sandwich with kimchi
  • Kimchi fried rice

Content updated January 18, 2023. Originally posted September 25, 2014.

More Vegan cooking resources

  • Top 20 vegan recipes of 2023
  • 40 easy Veganuary recipes for 2024
  • 28 vegan tofu recipes that everyone will love
  • 58 vegan recipes for Easter

About Cadry Nelson

Cadry Nelson is the writer, recipe creator, and photographer behind Cadry’s Kitchen. She's also the author of Living Vegan For Dummies, 2nd edition. Cadry loves sharing vegan comfort food classics that come together quickly. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Mashable, Yahoo, Buzzfeed, Parade, Huffington Post, VegNews, and Vegan Food & Living.

Reader Interactions

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  1. nowyat

    This opened my mind, because, yeah, why not throw some in a sandwich or in soup! Maybe in a vegan cheese sandwich or in a salad!

    Reply

  2. Randi (laughfrodisiac)

    This is super helpful! We got some free jars of pickled red cabbage at Vegfest this weekend and I had forgotten about the glory of seitan reubens!!!

    Reply

    • Cadry

      Oh, excellent! There’s not much better than a good seitan reuben.

      Reply

  3. Jojo

    Oh my goodness, I love sauerkraut on hot dogs and in mac and cheese and, of course, in seitan reubens but I’d never considered most of these other options! I wish they sold Gold Mine sauerkraut here, I’d totally try some!

    Reply

    • Cadry

      You can add it to the list for Austin! 🙂

      Reply

  4. Shell

    It hasn’t occured to me to use sauerkraut on homemade pizza. I’m going to try that!

    Reply

    • Cadry

      Yes, it’s such an easy and delicious way to use it! You’ll have to give it a go!

      Reply

  5. Susan

    I love sauerkraut, though sadly the rest of my family is not keen.
    We don’t have as many wonderful varieties as you do, I would love to find some garlic kraut!

    Reply

    • Cadry

      Luckily it lasts a long time, even if the jars are open. So you can take as much time as you need to polish off the kraut on your own. I hope you’re able to find some garlic kraut in your area! 🙂

      Reply

My favorite vegan sauerkraut recipes & uses (2024)

FAQs

What is sauerkraut good to eat with? ›

Sauerkraut can be added to soups and stews; cooked with stock, beer or wine; served with sausages or salted meats, and is especially good with smoked fish, like hot-smoked salmon.

What can be added to sauerkraut to make it taste better? ›

Ten Delicious Kraut Additions
  1. Juniper Berries. Small and dark, these little raisin-sized berries pack a flavor punch. ...
  2. Beets. Peeled and grated or thinly sliced, even a tiny bit of beet stains the whole ferment fuchsia. ...
  3. Ginger. ...
  4. Lemon Peel. ...
  5. Dill. ...
  6. Caraway Seed. ...
  7. Fennel. ...
  8. Celery Root (celeriac)

Is sauerkraut good for vegans? ›

As long as the initial ingredients, such as cabbage and salt, and any additional components used during fermentation are vegan, the sauerkraut remains vegan-friendly. So, whether you're a vegan or simply a sauerkraut enthusiast, you can enjoy this fermented delight without any concerns about its vegan status.

What does eating sauerkraut everyday do to your body? ›

Sauerkraut is incredibly nutritious and healthy. It provides probiotics and vitamin K2, which are known for their health benefits, and many other nutrients. Eating sauerkraut may help strengthen your immune system, improve your digestion, reduce your risk of certain diseases, and even lose weight.

What can I do with a jar of sauerkraut? ›

Therefore, we curated a list of 33 delectable ways to eat sauerkraut.
  1. Make a Sauerkraut Avocado Boat. ...
  2. Use It as a Topping for Cheese Spread. ...
  3. Add It to a Smoothie. ...
  4. Layer Sauerkraut In a Sandwich. ...
  5. Toss It In Your Green Salad. ...
  6. Egg Salad. ...
  7. Add Sauerkraut to Your Mashed Potatoes. ...
  8. Potato Salad.
Jul 28, 2022

Should you rinse canned sauerkraut before using? ›

It's not necessary to rinse, unless you prefer it that way

Yet, while many agree that this extra step should be avoided, there are exceptions. According to Everyday Health, store-bought sauerkraut is often saltier than homemade versions, making it more than acceptable to dilute the product with water.

Is it better for you to eat sauerkraut cold or cooked Why? ›

One important issue to remember is that cooking sauerkraut will kill off the probiotic bacteria that we want to consume. Even after cooking, sauerkraut is a healthy, cabbage-based dish, but it will be missing out on that probiotic boost. So, when possible, try to add your sauerkraut to your dishes uncooked.

Should you rinse sauerkraut before eating? ›

If you enjoy the tangy flavor and the probiotic benefits of sauerkraut, then it's probably best to skip the rinsing step and savor it as it is. However, if you find sauerkraut too pungent or too salty, then rinsing it slightly may make it more palatable for you.

What is the best probiotic for vegans? ›

The best vegan probiotic foods include:
  • Pickled vegetables. ...
  • Kombucha. ...
  • Water kefir. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Sourdough bread. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Fortified dairy alternatives. ...
  • Supplements. While probiotic-rich foods are a good option for vegans, not everyone has the time to make these foods, and some people may not like how they taste.

How do vegans get probiotics? ›

There is a good selection of vegan foods that contain probiotics, including dairy-free yogurt. Fermented foods and drinks, such as kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha (fermented tea), pickles, and sourdough bread also include good bacteria and are vegan.

Why do vegans eat fermented foods? ›

In a fermented food like yogurt, yeast and bacteria will be added and will undergo a fermentation process that creates live and active cultures called probiotics. When you consume those probiotics, they go straight to your gut and keep it happy and healthy.

How long does sauerkraut last in the refrigerator? ›

If you are refrigerating your sauerkraut, it should stay fresh for about four to six months after opening. It's important to know when you're using it and sealing it after each use because if new bacteria come in contact with it, it can immediately become spoiled.

How much sauerkraut should you eat a day? ›

Sauerkraut is a highly nutritious, probiotic-rich food, and you are recommended to eat about a tablespoon or 10 grams per day. You may gradually increase the intake of sauerkraut up to six tablespoons or 60 grams per day if you are comfortable.

How do Germans eat sauerkraut? ›

Depending on your taste, onions, bacon, juniper berries, caraway, and/or cream can be added to and cooked with the Sauerkraut. In many parts of Germany, pork ribs or pork cutlets are cooked in the Sauerkraut to give it a smokey flavor. The pork absorbs the liquid and becomes very soft and juicy.

Is it better for you to eat sauerkraut cold or cooked? ›

One important issue to remember is that cooking sauerkraut will kill off the probiotic bacteria that we want to consume. Even after cooking, sauerkraut is a healthy, cabbage-based dish, but it will be missing out on that probiotic boost. So, when possible, try to add your sauerkraut to your dishes uncooked.

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