I have had this a few times and really enjoyed it.
- Carbohydrate 38.012128 g
- Cholesterol 85.58825 mg
- Fat 22.302792625 g
- Fiber 5.82475632534623 g
- Protein 20.54245675 g
- Saturated Fat 8.3398977 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (417g)
- Sodium 2124.480375 mg
- Sugar 32.1873716746538 g
- Trans Fat 1.22509121250001 g
- Calories 429 calories
Step-by-step
- Place half the sausage in a slow cooker, and top with the sauerkraut.
- Cover with the remaining sausage, apples, and onion.
- Top with the potatoes.
- Pour chicken broth over all, and sprinkle with caraway seeds.
- Cover, and cook on High 4 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
- Top each serving with Swiss cheese.
Tender red potatoes yield completely to the tines of a fork with zero resistance while crisp-tart apple rings soften into translucent ribbons alongside savory smoked sausage. Layering density matters significantly in a slow cooker since heat concentrates near the heating elements at the base, meaning denser root vegetables like potatoes belong closer to the top liquid line rather than the bottom. Crushing whole caraway seeds slightly with the flat side of a knife blade before adding them releases essential oils faster into the surrounding chicken broth.
Assessing doneness relies entirely on visual and textural cues rather than internal probes since the small diameter of quartered potatoes prevents accurate thermometer placement. Piercing a potato chunk at the four-hour mark provides the definitive test; if the metal slides through the center smoothly without catching on a hard core, the starch cells have gelatinized properly. Leaving the lid closed during the final thirty minutes preserves the ambient humidity required to prevent the exposed apple slices from drying out into leather.
Dietary adjustments require simple 1-to-1 substitutions to maintain the structural integrity of the simmering liquid. Vegetable stock replaces chicken broth seamlessly without altering the reduction rate, while firm-fleshed pears substitute for Granny Smith apples at equal volume if a sweeter profile is desired. Shredded gruyere offers an easy alternative to Swiss cheese when melting performance needs to mimic the original recipe specifications.
Leftovers maintain optimal safety and flavor profiles for up to four days when stored in an airtight glass container below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheating requires gentle medium-low heat on a stovetop with two tablespoons of water added to restore moisture lost during refrigeration.
