Every cook seems to have her own recipe for the Russian version of sauerkraut, which has been known to make even life in a civil war bearable
Sour cabbage can made in wooden tubs. A small amount (5-10kg) can be pickled in glass jars or clay pots. Choose good heads of cabbage without green leaves, cut the heads into strips and mix with salt (250g of salt for 10kg of cabbage).
Cover the bottom of the cleaned tub with a tiny layer of rye flour, cover it with cabbage leaves and then put as many cabbage strips inside as possible. Cover the top with cabbage leaves. To add flavor and aroma, you can add carrots cut into circles, apples (the antonovka kind), cowberries and cranberries. Put a wooden circle on top of the tub and weigh it down with a clean stone. After several days, the cabbage will start to sour and a layer of foam will appear on the top.
The amount of foam will first increase and then disappear. When the foam is gone, the cabbage is ready.
During the souring process, poke the cabbage frequently with a clean birch stake to release gas. If When it happens that means that the cabbage is sour and ready. While pickling pierce the cabbage with a clean birch stake, so that gas could go out. If mold or crystals appear on the top during the process, remove it carefully and continue souring.