I’d like to share how simple and fun lacto-fermentation of vegetables can be. I’ve only done a bit of it, but enough to see that lacto-fermented vegetables taste fabulous and are very easy to make. What I love the most about it is that I don’t have to heat anything (though some recipes call for a bit of cooking) and that measuring is not that precise. This is the kind of anti-cooking I like!
First, though, let me tell you why lacto-fermentation is so cool. Forgive me if you already know this. Just skip ahead to the recipe. If you already know this recipe, just skip right on out of the room…
Traditional preservation of food was done without freezers or canning machines, through the process of lacto-fermentation. In this process, the sea salt and/or whey inhibits the growth of putrefying bacteria until enough lactic acid is produced to preserve the vegetables for many months. But, the lactobaccili which produce the lactic acid to preserve the vegetables do much more! They enhance the digestibility of the vegetables, increase vitamin levels, produce enzymes, offer antibiotic and anticarcionogenic substances, and support the growth of healthy flora in our intestines. My goodness, all of this from pickling! Compare that with today’s pickles, which offer nothing but pasteurized vegetables floating in an acidic brine of white vinegar.
All of this information is paraphrased from Nourishing Traditions on page 89. This book contains so much more information that I encourage you to read it for yourself for a better understanding!
To make these lacto-fermented foods properly, you must start with the highest quality vegetables, sea salt, and homemade whey (optional in purely vegetable recipes). You also need quart-size canning jars with metal bands and lids, preferably wide mouth. (Even so, I have been having good success with regular-mouth jars.)
This particular recipe is a modification of the Pickled Turnips in Nourishing Traditions on page 99. I don’t follow the quantities listed, but rather, use what quantities of vegetables I have. Also, I have omitted the onions. I love the flexibility!
Lacto-Fermented Turnips and Beets
You will need:
- naturally-grown turnips – peeled, quartered and sliced
- naturally-grown beets – peeled, quartered and sliced
For each jar full of peeled, quartered and sliced turnips and beets (fill the jar up to within 1-inch of the top), you will need:
- 1 cup of pure water with 2 tablespoons of sea salt –OR– 1 cup of pure water with 1 tablespoon of sea salt and 4 tablespoons of homemade whey (dripped out of kefir or yogurt, not from cheesemaking)
- additional pure water
Update 12/09: Now that I have made this more than a few times, I have found that if I make these without whey and with the additional salt, the veggies turn out on the salty side. Soaking the veggies in water for a time draws off the salt, making them tasty. One could also use less salt, but experimentation would be necessary – you need enough salt to suppress the putrefying bacteria.
Start by peeling, quartering and slicing the turnips and beets.
Mix them up to incorporate. Then fill as many quart jars as required to use up all the prepared vegetables. Press down on the veggies to make sure they’re packed in well and don’t fill up higher than within 1-inch of the top.
How many jars did you fill? Use that information to determine how many cups of water with sea salt — OR water with sea salt and whey — you need.
Mix the sea salt and water (and/or whey) together so the salt is mostly dissolved. If using water and sea salt, add 1 cup to each jar. If using water and sea salt with whey, add 1-1/4 cups to each jar. Then top off each jar with more pure water to cover the vegetables.
Put the lids and bands on the jars and tighten securely. Leave on the counter in a warm room (usually the kitchen) for about three days. The process of the lactobacilli’s proliferation should take about three days when the room temperature is 72 degrees. You will know the process is working because the mixture in the jar will be very bubbly. Then transfer the jars to cold storage until you are ready to eat them.
I usually serve our pickled vegetables topped on a green salad, or as a side with a cold cut type of meal (meat salad, bread, and cheese). These veggies taste bubbly, spicy, and fresh, while offering a great crisp and crunch. I love them! I should admit that not all my family loved them right off the bat (some are still getting used to them). For the kids, I have been putting just a few slices on their salad each day, increasing the amount slowly as they adjust. The other day, Naomi admitted to me that she doesn’t think they’re so bad anymore. Truly, I am baffled how they could not like them right away. I think they’re fabulous. But to each, his own. I am the one who adores the kefir and plain yogurt, and not surprisingly, lacto-fermented vegetables! Try them and let me know what you think.
Now what I need to know is… what do I do with the liquid leftover from this natural pickling? I hate to throw it away because I’m certain it is filled with tons of good bacteria. I think it could be used in salad dressings and dips. Anyone have tips for me?
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We’ve had purchased duck eggs before and liked them very much. Thanks for the...
To answer your question of what to do with the leftover liquid from lacto-fermented vegetables– drink it. I have become an aficionado of sauer kraut lately and this is what my room mates and I do with the leftover liquid. It aids in digestion, improves immune system function, keeps you regular, and cures a hangover.
[...] with vinegar, so I thought it could be interesting to try a lacto-fermented version myself. I used this recipe from the excellent GNOWFGLINS site, minus the turnips and with extra salt instead of whey. [...]
Keep the leftover liquid in the jar, and fill it with peeled, boiled eggs. You can add a little dill, garlic or other seasonings if you like. Store in the fridge, and start using the eggs after a couple of days. They are great chopped up into tuna for sandwiches.
Aunt Alice – Great idea! Really great idea. I’m going to do this. Thank you for sharing.
Can you eat the Beets & Turnips right after they are cold, or do they need to
be in cold storage for a week or two?
Heather – You can eat them right away! LF foods get better with age, but are ready to eat anytime after the initial fermentation.
Was very excited to try this, but I ended up with nothing fermenting or growing at all after a week.
I used the 2 TB of salt in 1 c. of water, and 2 med-large beets. This is a TREMENDOUS amount of salt! Is this really the right amount of salt? Has anyone had this formula work without the whey?
karnie – This did happen to me once with carrots. It was winter and cool and I think if there is too much salt, it can inhibit even the good bacteria. Since posting this, I have backed off on the amount of salt I use in all NT lacto-fermentation recipes. The veggies are probably still good – you could drain and rinse them and redo with half the amount of salt. It is worth a try if you think they are still good.
Thanks for the reply, Wardeh.
I ended up adding more water (to double it), thereby reducing the salt concentration. I didn’t drain or rinse the beets. I also added a 2 TB of liquid from a jar of store-bought LF ginger carrots (Hawthorne Valley Farm brand), in an attempt to kick-start the fermentation. Lo and behold, 3 days later I had bubbling, and after 5, I had a nice tart kvass. It was still very salty, but adding 2 parts water to 1 part kvass makes a tasty beverage.
I think I prefer making a more concentrated product (using plenty of beets) and just diluting it to drink. Seems like this will allow it to keep longer, as the salt + acid level will be higher. And it will take up less space in my tiny fridge!
Karnie – That’s great! I’m really happy to hear this. I was so hoping it could be redeemed and it looks like you’ve done it!