I am a big fan of fermentation. Prior to the invention of refrigerators, traditional cultures learned how to harness the power of healthy bacteria to preserve food. Not only does fermentation preserve food, but it increases the nutrient quality and helps our gut flora. This strengthens our immune system.
Modern society eats too much dead food. It is my opinion that adding fermented food to your diet will greatly improve your health. Since I started fermenting food, I almost never get sick and when I do my recovery time is much faster and the symptoms are more muted.
Mostly I ferment veggies, but I’ve also dabbled with dairy ferments as well. Below is a list of posts that cover recipes and tips on fermentation.
Kimchi For Beginners – Are you new to kimchi? Start here with this post.
Kimchi 101 – This is the first post you should read when you are reading to start making your own kimchi. Instead of being a tradtional recipe, it is a guide book on how to construct your own kimchi.
Bok Choy Kimchi Recipe – If you find Nappa Cabbage is too soft and you desire more crunchy kimchi, check out this kimchi recipe which uses Bok Choy. These days I often mix Nappa with Bok Choy.
White Kimchi – If you or your kids do not like spicy, then here are some ideas on making kimchi sweeter and without the heat.
Cortido Sauerkraut Recipe – This is my favorite fermentation to date. It is a Latin American style sauerkraut that uses oregeno and jalapenos. Yummy!
Dill and Caraway Sauerkraut – Another non-spicy veggie ferment.
First Thoughts on the Kimchi Cancer Scare Article – Will eating kimchi give you stomach cancer? I’m skeptical.
Ghost Pepper Sauerkraut – Hot with a fruity finish.
Fermentation Station – This is my current setup for making fermented veggies.
Ghost Pepper Kimchi – This might be too hot. You were warned.
Fermented Carrots and Ginger Recipe – A sweet tasting kid friendly ferment.
Resources
The single best resource I have seen for getting started with fermentation is the Fermentation Workshop DVD by Sander Katz.The three best books that I’ve seen on fermentation areWild Fermentation, The Joy of Pickling and Nourishing Traditions.
