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Kielbasa Kapusta is a simple Ukrainian dish made from garlic sausage and cabbage – easy, healthy and hearty!
What is Kapusta?
While it’s the literal word for cabbage in Ukrainian – and pronounced kapooooosta – the word also covers a variety of dishes. We Ukrainians are known for our very literal dish names and this Kapusta dish is no different. You could call it Bigos, if you are Polish but bigos is actually quite a complicate recipe, with spices, prunes, beef shoulder and more. I’m presuming that this is why the simple kielbasa and sauerkraut recipe is usually just called Kapusta, or kapusta with kielbasa.
What are you making for dinner?
Cabbage.
Kapusta. Now don’t ask again or you’ll get a wooden spoon to the back of the head.
Now here is the real question for you, how do YOU pronounce kielbasa? I could tell you where you are from regionally, just by how you pronounce it. There was a large discussion on my Instagram a week or so ago and I was asked how I pronounced kielbasa.
IF you pronounced it kooooo-basa, you are distinctly Canadian Prairie Ukrainian. Period. Apparently we take the pronunciation of koovbasa (no, that’s not a spelling mistake) and pronounce it so.
Do not get sucked into the rabbit hole of googling pronunciations of kielbasa. DO NOT. Suffice it to say that I did and I wasn’t any more informed than when I started. I DO know however, that kooooobasa is definitely a prairie thing!
How to Cook Kapusta
Kapusta is perfect to cook low and slow all day, as you are mainly heating it up and mingling the flavours. Oh, actually, I just lied, I put real cabbage in my kapusta. As in not sauerkraut because as we all know, sauerkraut is made from fake cabbage.
- Combine all the ingredients in the crock pot.
- Set on low and cook for 6-7 hours,stirring occasionally if you can.
- Remove and serve
You also have to choose a really, really good sausage, a good kielbasa that cooks up well, is nice and garlicky and is one that you can make a good meal out of.
Mmmmm. Crock pot Kapusta. It doesn’t get easier OR more delicious than this! Now I do rinse the sauerkraut with water before adding to dilute the flavour, but if you are a really die hard sauerkraut lover, you might not want to. I found it perfect when rinsed, it makes it a little more cabbage flavoured and less tangy.
Want something that goes great with this? Try my How to Make Slowcooker or Crockpot Dumplings post.
Happy almost not cooking!
Karlynn
Kielbasa Kapusta – Crockpot / Instant Pot Recipe
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 6 hours
- Total Time
- 6 hours 10 minutes
- Course
- Main Course
- Cuisine
- Ukrainian
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 98
- Equipment
- Instant Pot, Slow Cooker / Crockpot
- Author
- Karlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- one 32 ounces jar of saukraut rinsed with water
- 1 white onion sliced
- 1/2 head of green cabbage chopped
- 1 coil your favourite garlic kielbasa chopped into chunks
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in the crockpot. Set on low and cook for 6-7 hours,stirring occasionally if you can.
- Remove and serve
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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Jacqueline says
You only put the amount of time for the crockpot, but nothing for the instant pot.
michelle sedelmeier says
The serving size is for little more than a tsp. Is this true. I am diabetic and searching for recipes and this seems like it would be extremely high in carbs for 1 bowl. Also many of your other recipes do not have a serving size. I would like to make them but dont want die trying them.