fermented food

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Easy Sauerkraut Recipe

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Sauerkraut really is one of the easiest fermented foods to make, not to mention superior and far cheaper than store bought options. It has been popular through out central Europe for hundreds of years.

Benefits of Sauerkraut:

  1. Supplies live beneficial bacteria

  2. Improves immune function

  3. Reduces allergies and inflammation

  4. Supports cognitive health and mood

  5. Provides lots of antioxidants

Sauerkraut Recipe:

The options here are endless, but it can easily start with just 2 ingredients, i.e. cabbage and salt!!! That is it. In fact, I suggest you start here, nail the process and then experiment from there with different flavours.

cabbage.jpg

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cabbage

  • 1 tsp real salt

  • vegetable starter (optional)

  • Optional ingredients to flavour the kraut:

  • carrot

  • apple

  • pear

  • onions

  • garlic

  • herbs

  • ginger

  • etc…..the options are endless

Method:

  1. Chop cabbage

  2. Add salt

  3. Knead with your clean hands until juice is released from cabbage, approx 10 min

  4. Pack tightly into a fermenting jar so that the veggies are under the liquid. If you need more juice, you can either keep pounding with a rolling pin until more juice is released or top up with a brine solution of salt and water until veggies under the liquid

  5. Weight down with rolled cabbage leave to ensure veggies stay underneath the liquid. We do not want to come into contact with the vegetables

  6. Tightly secure the lid and sit at room temperature for a minimum of 5 days, ideally 2-3 weeks so that it can go through the full fermentation phases.

NOTES:

  • Around day 2-5, excess liquid may come pouring out the sides, this is the height of the fermentation process, so ensure your jar is placed either on a plate or in a bowl to prevent mess

  • Regularly burb your ferment, by just opening and closing, this allows the excess gases to escape

  • Ensure all utensils are sterilised before commencing

  • If you notice the liquid is diminishing during the fermentation process, then top again with a brine mix until the veggies are covered.

WARNING:

- Fermented food is incredibly powerful and highly detoxing, so you want to start off VERY SLOWLY. If you feel that you or your child is a sensitive individual you want to go gradually. So start off with adding a little of the juice to your food, then 1/2 tsp, 1tsp etc and slowly build up to roughly a 1/4 of a cup with your food.

If you need help incorporating healing into your nutrition, then reach out to me or check my work with me page.