Do you like sauerkraut?
Traditional sauerkraut made the traditional way with just cabbage and salt and no heat processing?
This method of preserving , known as lacto-fermentation provides enormous benefits! The process involves breaking down the cellulose of the vegetables (the salt helps to do that) so that beneficial bacteria can proliferate in the end product. The end product is teeming with beneficial probiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes and the vitamins present in the vegetables become more bio- available through the fermentation process.
With the development of refrigeration and pasteurization, our culture has lost this traditional method of preserving, and yet it is so easy!
Thankfully, it is making a comeback, as people are now understanding the importance of feeding our good bacteria for increased immunity.
Adding fermented foods to the diet is a great way to allow these protective critters to proliferate. The functions of our gut bacteria are so vast:
They produce enzymes that help us break down our food, they neutralize toxins in our system, the chelate (or carry out ) heavy metals, they are anti viral, anti biotic and anti fungal- really powerful, no??
Things that disrupt our gut bacteria include : processed foods, sugars, genetically engineered foods, stress, illness, antibiotic use.
Having fermented foods as part of your daily regimen is one way to ensure the health of these bacteria!
If you are not used to eating fermented foods, you will want to start slowly! And, honestly, they are meant to be eaten as condiments, not as side dishes!
Try some today and see how you like them!
Sauerkraut
5 pounds head cabbage, red or green or a combination of both
2-3 Tablespoons salt
Optional additions: Caraway seeds, juniper berries, any spice that you like
You may also add other vegetables like carrot, daikon, radish, beet, or apple (although this would not be a traditional kraut).
Either chop vegetables by hand or put through grater option of the food processor.
The more finely the vegetables are chopped, the more surface area present for the bacteria to infiltrate.
The vegetables will also ferment more quickly when chopped more thinly.
Place vegetables in a large bowl.
Sprinkle salt over and begin to massage salt into the vegetables.
You can either use your hand or a pounder to do this.
As you pound, you are breaking up the cell wall and allowing the liquid to be released.
This liquid will serve as your brine.
Pack vegetables into a clean jar and push them down so that there are no air bubbles.
Let vegetables sit on the counter (out of direct sunlight) for anywhere from 5 days to 3 weeks- taste it as time goes on and see how you like it!!
When it suits your taste, transfer to the refrigerator.
Consume within 8-10 months.
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