Not only are fermented foods delicious – who doesn’t love a slice of good sourdough bread? – but many people claim that they hold a range of health benefits, as well. Fermented foods contain probiotics, which can help you maintain a healthy balance in your digestive tract and even boost your immunity to regular illnesses. Despite that, the process of preparing your own fermented foods can appear to be overwhelming, primarily if you’ve never done it in the past. Plus, buying fermented foods at local health food stores can be costly. Happily, making yogurt, kombucha, sourdough bread, and other fermented foods can be both simple and an excellent method to save money. The following are a couple of easy fermented foods to get you started.
Yogurt. Making yogurt is one of those things that sounds hard yet isn’t. In reality, you can make delicious coconut yogurt with just coconut milk and a probiotic capsule. Basically, mix the two ingredients, cover with a cheesecloth, and let sit for 24 to 48 hours. Once the yogurt has activated, refrigerate and enjoy!
Kombucha. Working with the bacteria cultures needed to achieve the end result of this fizzy drink can be terrifying. Yet, it’s actually a very simple process. A basic kombucha is made from water, sugar, black or green tea, and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), also known as the “mother.” You can also add other flavors, including fruit, honey, ginger, and more. To make kombucha, the ingredients are combined in a large glass jar and left to ferment for 7 to 10 days. The fermenting process makes the carbonation and flavor unique to kombucha beverages.
Sourdough bread. The key to a good sourdough bread is a sourdough starter. You can make your own, or get one from a grocery store or another sourdough enthusiast. When you have a sourdough starter, you can keep and utilize it all over again to make delicious homemade sourdough bread.
Fermented juice. Have you ever tried a glass of wine or cider? At that point, the likelihoods are that you’ve already tried fermented juice. Apples, specifically, make an incredible tasting fermented apple juice that is both simple and refreshing. Basically, slice and juice enough apples to fill a glass jar, add some culture starter, seal tightly, let sit for about 3 days, and enjoy!
Sauerkraut. If you love sauerkraut, it’s extremely simple to make your own. Just pack cabbage, salt, and caraway seeds into a clean glass jar, seal, and let sit for 3 to 10 days. The best thing about sauerkraut is that it will keep well for several months once it’s ready.
Pickled vegetables. When you look at pickles, you likely think about the vinegar used to ferment them. However, it doesn’t really require a lot of vinegar to pickle many different kinds of vegetables. Traditional lacto-fermentation methods depend completely on the beneficial bacteria in the vegetables themselves. Utilizing this methodology, you can pickle almost any vegetable, including carrots, radishes, and more!
Are you ready to begin fermenting your own foods but lack kitchen space? Perhaps it is an ideal opportunity to step up to a bigger Ivins rental house! You can contact Real Property Management Southern Utah or view our listings online.
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