A friend gave us a jar of these cultured vegetables. They are wonderful and beneficial to regaining gut health. It took her an hour to make them and three days of fermentation; then into fridge and ready to eat -- a bit with every meal.
Please check them out and check out the website, Frequently Asked Questions, etc. It is very worthwhile your time.
Take care.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
I have an allergy to mold. Won't mold grow on these rotting vegetables?
I'm not even supposed to eat leftovers because of mold.
I have come across several articles about the benefits of fermented veggies but I just don't get how they can be healthful and not deadly.
Can you clear this up for me?
Posted by Big B (Member # 8229) on :
They aren't rotting vegetables - they're lacto-fermented. I've made "rotting vegetables" before with mold on top and they taste bad and make you sick.
These use a starter culture rich in L. Plantarum.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
So these starter grains keep the mold from growing?
Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :
LOL BigB,
How DO you make rotting vegetables with mold on top?
I have made them, albeit by neglect, leaving leftovers in fridge too long...but by the time they are old you can see they are slimy and moldy and I'd never eat it.
I am very interested in the fermented vegetables though and am going to look more into doing that as I can't seem to tolerate either cows dairy or goat dairy now, therefore my probiotic options are limited.
I did read one recipe where you chop cabbage and put in glass bowl with lid...and press down the cabbage until you get liquid on top. However, I am confused how this is going to work as cabbage I don't think is that watery that you can get water to ferment it in by just pressing it down unless you stack a ton of bricks on top. Someone enlighten me.
DLL
Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :
We have two brands and several varities of these cultured vegies available in the health food store now. They are really yummy! I especially like the kim chee style with its spicy flavor.
I am very mold reactive, but don't have trouble with these. I used to make them, but have gotten lazy with them so easily (if expensively!) available.
DLL, the way you get liquid is by beating up the cabbage or other vegies to break down the cellulose. It releases fluid as you do so. You can either grate them finely, or chop and them mash at them with a heavy spoon. Also, many recipes add salt, which pulls liquids out as well.
And yes, you should put a weight on top to keep the vegies pressed down under the liquid. My fisrt husband used a special presser to make Japanese style pickled vegies. You can get it in an Asian market, the one for pressed vegetables. They won't be quite as well fermented, but are still good.
Posted by clairenotes (Member # 10392) on :
I am pulling up this thread from a few years ago as there are some very nice recipes for making cultured vegetables.
But if you are busy, there are usually a few varieties offered at local health food stores. We purchase unsalted organic sauerkraut. Salt might affect the good bacterial count.
It may be helpful against some biofilms (our experience) and is very nourishing all at once.
Thank you, Gigi.
Claire
Posted by Neville (Member # 5890) on :
Yes. You use some salt to thwart bacterial growth. You just keep the veggies submerged in brine. They make special crocks for this, but you can do it with any jar and anything heavy to keep the vegetables under the brine. Just don't use metal as the salts and acids will react with them.
A guy named Sandor Katz wrote a pretty good book on all kinds of ferments. I found his video on kraut on YouTube:
Also, I have found kefir to be a beneficial and easy probiotic food to make at home.
Neville
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
My now famous lyme doc told me to get the Body Ecology book and follow its diet, including eating cultured vegetables, while in lyme treatment.
Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
Who is your famous Lyme doctor?
I'm trying to follow the Body Ecology Diet, but it's hard!
Do any of the rest of you get bad gas when eating cultured veggies? I'd like to know.
Does anyone else have experience with the body ecology diet?