Choucroute Garnie is a typical winter dish coming from the French Alsace region. At its base is the silky, pungent, fermented cabbage known as sauerkraut, infused with flavors of goose fat, onions, garlic, juniper berries, caraway, and white wine such as the local dry Riesling.

Sauerkraut is garnished with a hefty number of ingredients such as smoked or fresh beef and pork sausages, pork loin, pork shoulder, and bacon. The ultimate version of the dish, called choucroute royale is served with added calf or pork liver dumplings that are poached and sautéed with onions.

Ever since the dish became a national treasure and a staple of French brasseries, other variations emerged, such as choucroute á la juif, where pork is replaced with beef and beef sausages, and choucroute des navets, a version made with turnips.

The Alsatian soil is ideal for the production of cabbage for pickling, so homemade sauerkraut can be found in many households throughout the region. Typical accompaniments to the dish include Dijon mustard, grainy moutarde ancienne, boiled potatoes, and an obligatory glass of beer or Riesling on the side.