Homemade Sauerkraut Step By Step Recipe. I love the health benefits of sauerkraut. It is a simple process. For every 5 pound of cabbage that you shred, you add 2 Tablespoons of salt. As you press it firmly into the container, the juice will rise above the cabbage. To keep the cabbage submerged under liquid, you might need to add additional brine. To create extra brine, simply add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of salt to 4 cups boiling water. One the salt is dissolved in the boiling water, cool it to room temperature, then add to the crock. Cover your fermenting cabbage with a weighted plate or baking stone. Cover the crock with a tea towel. Check the kraut every day. This is a great German Heritage recipe.