If you’re in Poland, you’ll no doubt find a restaurant that serves Polish sauerkraut soup. (recipe below) It’s one of my personal favorites and is incredibly good for your gut. If sauerkraut isn’t your thing, please ignore this post. It’s not for everyone.
When we were in Kraków, Poland in 2013, Doug wanted to find a concert to listen to. He’s obsessed with organ music, so when I found a free organ concert on the Internet that was taking place that evening at the Kraków Music Academy, we had to go. It was located just outside the old city gates and within walking distance of our hotel.
We arrived too early, so we decided to walk around to find a place to have a drink and a snack. About a block away, we spied a little pub called “The Dog in the Fog.” and walked inside.
(We’re dog fanatics so how could we resist?)
It was a rustic old place that appeared to be popular with the students attending schools nearby. We sat down to have a glass of beer and I ordered their Polish Sauerkraut soup. It was a tantalizing concoction of sauerkraut, potatoes, and Polish sausage. I vowed to find a way to replicate it and think I did a pretty good job in the recipe below.
After our snack, we went back to the Music Academy and enjoyed an accomplished concert given by its talented students. No one spoke English so we couldn’t understand a word, but that didn’t matter because music is a universal language. The entire evening was thoroughly delightful.
Polish sauerkraut soup is good for your gut
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, help your body build immunity and protects you from becoming ill. The fermentation process develops healthy bacteria (probiotics) in your gut that fights against bad bacteria. Eating fermented foods regularly keeps your body balanced and functioning properly. Sauerkraut as well as plain yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, pickles, and kombucha all help aid digestion. Make sure to add at least a few fermented foods to your diet.
Note: Even though this traditional Polish recipe is made with bits of meat, you can make it vegetarian by substituting olive oil and additional vegetables like celery and carrots instead. Either way, it will be delicious.
You may also enjoy: Eating Polish Style in Bydgoszcz, Poland
Enjoy this tasty and nutritious Kraków style Polish sauerkraut soup!
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cups of sliced brown mushrooms (dried imported wild mushrooms are even better)
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 lbs of fermented sauerkraut (German sauerkraut is the best) drained.
- 2 cups of boiled and sliced potatoes (Since they will simmer in the soup they don't need to be completely done)
- 6 strips of bacon (optional) or substitute 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil
- ½ of a 2 foot smoked Kielbasa sausage cubed (optional)
- 48 oz of canned or boxed broth (I used chicken but you can also use vegetarian - best to use organic and low sodium)
- 1 Tbsp caraway seeds
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp of ground allspice
- Fry the bacon strips in a skillet until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon and set them on paper towels. Leave the drippings in the skillet. (If you prefer not to use bacon, simply heat the olive oil in the skillet instead)
- When the bacon is cool chop it into bacon bits.
- Saute the onions and the mushrooms for about 10 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute
- Take the onions, mushrooms, and garlic off the heat and set the mixture aside.
- Put the sauerkraut in a heavy soup pot over low heat.
- Add the sauteed mushrooms, onions and garlic
- Add the broth, caraway, allspice, and pepper
- Add the boiled and sliced potatoes
- Add the Kielbasa and bacon bits (or leave out if you prefer vegetarian)
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook on low for about 30 minutes or more.
Book a Trip to Poland
Hotels in Poland
- Booking.com – Find a hotel in Krakow
- Booking.com – Find a hotel in Warsaw
- Booking.com – Find a hotel in Bydgoszcz
Flights to Warsaw
- CheapOAir
– Find the most affordable flight to Warsaw on a search engine you can trust.
Car Rental in Poland
- Auto Europe – This site offers the best auto rates in Europe.
Tours in Poland
- Tour Poland – Book a tour on Viator to see the amazing sites of Poland.
Have you ever tried Polish sauerkraut soup? Please leave a comment below.
Holy balls, I love sauerkraut! Cannot wait to give this one a try. 😀
Rebecca was looking for a good kraut soup recipie gonna try this… How funny my maiden name is Olkowski!….. We’re from around Pittsburgh pa but lots of my grandmas relative settled in Chicago….
I hope you enjoy it, Lynn. My late husband was Olkowski and they came from Hamtramck, Michigan. (another Polish enclave)
I have been making saurkraut soup my entire adult life it is a Christmas dinner tradition started by my grandmother. My friends say gross and then after trying it is wow this is great.this is very close to my recipe but do yourself a favor and use dried imported wild mushrooms it takes the soup to next level.
Thanks, Scott. What a great suggestion about the mushrooms. I’ll have to try it. I didn’t include it because I didn’t know if people would have access to them, but I would love to try it myself. Thanks so much for the feedback.
My sauerkraut comes in a jar. Can I add the entire thing or am I suppose to drain the liquid first?
I just got back from a trip to Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. I had the most amazing “sour soup” in Krakow. I can’t wait to try your recipe tonight!!
How exciting that you were in Poland! isn’t Krakow amazing? Thanks for pointing out that I didn’t mention draining the liquid. I would drain it because otherwise, it may be too salty. I hope you enjoyed your trip. I loved the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany as well.
I made this and I really enjoyed cooking it. It came out very nice and everyone, even my 7 year old that don’t like anything ask for seconds.
Sorry to answer this so late, Francisca. I just saw it. I’m so glad you and your 7-year old enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks very much for the Great information and pictures!!
Love it..shared with my two polish friends and I’m busy this morning making the soup.
Added dried polish mushrooms and cracked all spice…making my own chicken stock ..😍
So Happy that you lived Krakow.
I lived there 2 years before arriving to USA in 76..
So sorry I didn’t answer this sooner but just saw it.. The dried Polish mushrooms and allspice sound amazing. And, I’m sure you would know. Loved Krakow! I’d love to go back.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!! Have you thought about making it spicy?
Thanks, for the idea, Miranda. I’m kind of sensitive to too much spice but you can always add it in.
Have you thought about making it spicy?
My grandparents joseph and Mary Kurzeja were from Krakow, to the best of my knowledge. My Father didn’t like mushrooms so my dear mother, Pennsylvania Deutsch, substituted Lima beans and made it with the pork, leftover from pork and sauerkraut. She added broth which may have been chicken broth. I loved it. My family loves mushrooms..I will try receive.. Thank you.
Thanks, for the great substitution idea, Phyllis. I’m a big fan of mushrooms but not everyone is. So good to know.
I’m looking forward to making some sauerkraut soup today with leftovers from our homemade kielbasa. Using the leftover kapusta too. Your recipe sounds so much like what my mom makes except she has no recipe. She just throws it all in the pot. You’ve made my day. I can’t stop smiling 😋.
That’s so exciting that I’ve made your day, Michelle. Thanks for letting me know and I hope you enjoy the soup.