15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (2024)

optional screen reader

15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (1)

Plus IconGetty Images

Fermented foods have started gaining traction, not just because they’re tasty, but also because according to WebMD, they could be good for our digestive systems, potentially reducing risk of diseases like diabetes and IBS. Fermented drinks like kombucha are on all the grocery shelves, and people have even been purchasing their own scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) to make kombucha at home, which made us wonder — what other fermented foods are totally attainable for the home chef?

It turns out plenty! The internet has seemingly endless resources for whatever kind of fermented food you’re interested in trying. Sauerkraut? Yep. Kimchi? Of course. But even foods you may not have considered for fermenting are possibilities, like ketchup or jalapeños.

We rounded up the fermented recipes that sounded the most interesting to try, like blueberry kefir and cinnamon roll sourdough. Get them right, and we’ll have some of the happiest guts around. Get them wrong, and… well, there’s always the grocery store.

A version of this article was originally published June 2018.

  • Sauerkraut

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (3)

    Super-popular in Germany — you’ve probably seen it at American barbecues or on top of a bratwurst — sauerkraut is fermented cabbage. This recipe uses red cabbage for extra visual appeal.

  • Kimchi

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (4)

    Kimchi is a Korean dish of spicy fermented vegetables, usually cabbage or radish. This recipe uses cabbage. You’ll want to start the fermenting process about a week before you plan to eat it.

  • Miso

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (5)

    Miso is fermented soybeans and barley or rice malt, most often used in Japanese cooking, and while you can make the paste yourself, the stuff you can buy at the store is great. Instead, spend your time experimenting with different recipes — like these miso-glazed grilled zucchini spears — perfect for summer.

  • Tempeh

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (6)

    Tempeh is lightly fermented soybeans that are formed into blocks and often used as a meat alternative. Again, it is something you can make on your own, but you’re better off buying premade tempeh and focusing your experimenting around exciting recipes, like this recipe for baked buffalo tempeh tenders.

  • Yogurt

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (7)

    You already know about yogurt, of course, but this is one staple that can be worth making on your own. It takes about 15 minutes, and you can even make your own yogurt cups for a grab-and-go breakfast.

  • Lassi

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (8)

    Once you’ve mastered yogurt (or even if you’re just gonna buy it from the store, no judgment) give Lassi, an Indian drink, a try. It’s traditionally savory, but if you’re looking for something that might feel more familiar, start with this mango lassi recipe.

  • Sourdough

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (9)

    Bread is fermented? The answer when it comes to sourdough is yes. Sourdough is made through the fermentation of dough via bacteria and yeast. Being able to make your own sourdough starter is a skill all on its own and takes some experience to master. If you’re not a big bread fan, that doesn’t mean it’s a skill you should skip — you could, for example, make these amazing sourdough cinnamon rolls.

  • Kefir

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (10)

    Kefir is kind of like a yogurt drink and is traditionally fermented cow’s milk (although there is also something called water kefir, which is dairy-free.) There are all kinds of things you can make with kefir, like butter, cheese and puddings. This blueberry kefir chia pudding, for example, looks delicious.

  • Fermented Ketchup

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (11)

    Yep, even some of your favorite condiments can be fermented, like this relatively simple recipe for fermented ketchup.

  • Fermented Jalapeño

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (12)

    Great for adding to nachos, sandwiches or anywhere else you want a little heat, these fermented jalapeños only take about 20 minutes to make.

  • Fermented Mayo

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (13)

    Another condiment that can be fermented, this mayo uses a small amount of whey to keep it fresh for up to a month.

  • Fermented Cinnamon Apples

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (14)

    This recipe uses a little bit of fermented tea to preserve cinnamon apples, meaning you can have a healthy apple pie-flavored snack whenever you want.

  • Fermented Honey Garlic

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (15)

    It takes about a month for the honey and garlic to ferment, but then you can add this tasty food to marinades or glazes.

  • Fermented Salsa

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (16)

    Pickle juice or juice from sauerkraut is what gives this salsa its fermentation.

  • Beet Kvass

    15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (17)

    Beet kvass is a fermented beverage made from beets. It’s kind of like kombucha but with beets instead of tea.

optional screen reader

Leave a Comment

More Stories from Food & Recipes

Recipes

Giada De Laurentiis Just Turned This Traditional Italian Dish Into an Easy, Kid-FriendlyMeal

by Sydni Ellis

Recipes

Ina Garten Says Her Make-Ahead Short Ribs ‘Travel Well’ so They’re Perfect for SummerBBQs

by Sydni Ellis

Food News

by Kenzie Mastroe, Katelyn Chef

Recipes

Martha Stewart’s Fresh Quiche Recipe Is Perfect to Make For AnyOccasion

by Delilah Gray

Food News

by Justina Huddleston, Kenzie Mastroe, Olivia Harvey

15 Fermented Food Recipes That Go Way Beyond Kombucha (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you eat fermented foods every day? ›

Recent research shows that probiotics from fermented foods may have a significant impact on heart health by slowing the development of plaques that lead to heart disease. Further, fermented foods can help reduce CVD risk by helping to reduce LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and total cholesterol.

Which fermented foods have the most probiotics? ›

Fermented foods such as kefir, natto, kimchi, and many others are incredibly rich sources of probiotics. Not only are they tasty, but they are also reservoirs of microbial diversity that contribute significantly to the balance of our gut microbiota.

Does apple cider vinegar count as a fermented food? ›

Apple cider vinegar is made through a process called fermentation. The process has two steps. First, the apples are crushed and yeast is added to speed up the fermentation process, so the sugar converts into alcohol after a few weeks.

What vegetables should not be fermented? ›

“There's no vegetable you can't ferment,” he said, but added that leafy greens such as kale — because of their chlorophyll content — aren't to most people's liking. During an NPR interview, Katz explained that pickling and fermentation are not the same, although they are “overlapping” categories.

What are the disadvantages of fermented foods? ›

However, some people might experience severe side effects after consuming fermented foods.
  • Bloating. The most common reaction to fermented foods is a temporary increase in gas and bloating. ...
  • Headaches and migraines. ...
  • Histamine intolerance. ...
  • Food-borne illness. ...
  • Infection from probiotics. ...
  • Antibiotic resistance.
Nov 13, 2019

Why do I feel sick after eating sauerkraut? ›

Although sauerkraut is generally healthy, there may be some risks to consider. Histamine intolerance. Sauerkraut is high in histamine, which can be responsible for digestive issues and allergy-like symptoms in some people. It's possible that eating sauerkraut could cause or worsen these reactions.

What is the #1 probiotic? ›

Summary: Compare the Best Probiotic Supplements of 2024
ProductForbes Health RatingsView More
Culturelle Pro Strength Daily Probiotics4.6Shop Now
Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS4.5Shop Now
Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus4.4Shop Now
BetterLife PrePro+3.6View More
3 more rows

What are fermented foods for breakfast? ›

BREAKFAST. Cultured dairy (yogurt, kefir, buttermilk) are naturals for breakfast. Add yogurt, kefir or buttermilk to your morning smoothies or top granola or oatmeal with fruit and homemade yogurt.

Can you give me a list of fermented foods? ›

Some of the most widely available include kombucha, yogurt, aged/raw cheeses, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, natto and kimchi. Other healthy foods that are fermented include apple cider vinegar, wine, sourdough bread, cottage cheese and coconut kefir.

What happens when you first start eating fermented foods? ›

Fermented foods can cause gas and bloating, even in a healthy individual. This is because you are introducing more microbes into your system, and happy microbes produce gas when fed the right diet, aka a healthy balanced diet including plenty of fibre rich foods.

What foods ferment in the colon? ›

Vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic-containing spices, onions, mushrooms, lentils, and other legumes. Milk and milk products. Foods containing wheat and rye, which contain little absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates that are ideal for bacterial fermentation.

Is Greek yogurt a fermented food? ›

Both Greek and regular yogurt are fermented, but the manufacturing differs slightly. The process starts out the same. Bacteria called Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are added to warm milk, and the mixture sits at approximately 110°F (about 43°C) for a few hours.

Are pickles fermented food? ›

Quick pickles, the most common type of pickle found in grocery stores, are not fermented because they use an acid, such as vinegar, in their pickling brine. However, Lacto-fermented pickles are fermented because they follow the lactic acid fermentation method, which only uses water and salt in its brine.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6422

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.