German Sauerkraut Soup

Total Time

Prep: 2 hours Cook: 40 min.

Makes

12 servings (3 quarts)

Updated: Oct. 15, 2022
My mother used to make this soup quite often while I was growing up on a farm in Warwick, Alberta. I added my own touch - spicing it up a bit with the bacon and smoked sausage. I really enjoy the zesty flavor that they add.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds pork spareribs
  • 3 quarts water
  • 2 cups diced peeled potatoes
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
  • 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch slices
  • 5 bacon strips, diced
  • 1 large onion, chopped

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, cook ribs in water until tender, about 1-1/2 hours. Skim off foam. Remove ribs from broth; strain broth and skim fat.
  2. Return broth to the heat. Add the potatoes, carrots, salt and pepper; simmer until vegetables are tender. Remove meat from bones and add to broth with the sauerkraut and sausage.
  3. Meanwhile, cook bacon until crisp; remove to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings. Cook onion in drippings until tender. Add to soup; cook 20-30 minutes longer. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with bacon.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 325 calories, 23g fat (9g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 1041mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 18g protein.