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

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

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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.

  • 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.

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

FAQs

Which fermented foods have the most probiotics? ›

Foods With the Highest Probiotic Content
Fermented FoodLiving CellsServing Size
Anti-SIBO yogurt500 billion250 ml
Water kefir500 billion250 ml
Kimchi250 billion250 ml
Sauerkraut25 billion250 ml
6 more rows

What drink is better than kombucha? ›

Health Benefits:

In summary, while both kombucha and water kefir are fermented drinks with probiotic benefits, kombucha is tea-based with a tangier flavor and contains caffeine, whereas water kefir is made with sugar water or juice, has a milder taste, and is caffeine-free.

How much fermented food per day for gut health? ›

How often should you eat fermented foods? While there are currently no official guidelines regarding how often you should eat fermented foods, adding a few servings to your daily diet may be beneficial ( 44 ). For the best results, start by eating one or two servings per day, and then slowly work your way up.

Can you eat too many fermented foods? ›

Fermented foods are considered safe for most people. However, some individuals may experience side effects. Due to the high probiotic content of fermented foods, the most common side effect is an initial and temporary increase in gas and bloating ( 32 ).

Is it better to take probiotics or eat fermented food? ›

There are two ways to get more good bacteria into your gut: fermented foods and dietary supplements. Fermented foods are the most natural source. Probiotic supplements, which are typically sold over the counter, are reserved to treat specific ailments as suggested by your doctor, and not recommended for everyday use.

What happens when you start eating fermented foods? ›

Fermented foods can bolster the gut microbiome, creating a healthier mix of microbes and strengthening the walls of the intestines to keep them from leaking.

Why can't you drink kombucha everyday? ›

Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis.

What is the healthiest fermented drink? ›

Kefir – This fermented drink has been proven to have positive effects on gastrointestinal issues and makes a great early-morning drink to start the day with. Yoghurt – Probiotic yoghurts have been proven to help prevent gastrointestinal infections, as well as reduce bloating and help with gastric emptying.

What is the best gut health drink? ›

Fermented drinks like kombucha and kefir may promote gut health. Green tea and ginger tea might also help ease gut symptoms.

What is the healthiest fermented food? ›

Fermented Foods for Gut Health
  • Miso (refrigerated)
  • Pickles (in salt, not vinegar)
  • Sauerkraut (choose refrigerated)
  • Kimchi.
  • Kombucha (no sugar)
  • Other probiotic drinks (no sugar), like beet Kvass, apple cider.
  • Various other cultured products.
  • You can also easily make fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut at home!
Jun 19, 2019

Should I eat sauerkraut in the morning or at night? ›

Sauerkraut is a fermented dish best consumed in the morning at about one tablespoon to 10 grams per day.

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.

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.

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