This is my take on a classic Polish and Eastern European soup. But let’s be clear: it is not supposed to be made with vinegar pickles. For the right flavor, you need sour garlic dills. Don’t worry if you don’t make or have your own garlic dill ferment pickles. First […]
Other Recipes
Ferments off the beaten path, non-fermented recipes, syrups, and more
Sauerkraut or Kimchi Latkes (potato pancakes)
For the last several years, I’ve been getting pretty experimental with my latkes (potato pancakes) at Hanukkah time. Eating oily and fried foods is part of the Hanukkah tradition and relates to the holiday’s miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. Latkes are normally just potatoes, matzah meal […]
Lacto-fermented (or regular) Hummus
Let’s talk beans. They’re super nutritious, filling (largely due to their balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), grow robustly in a variety of climates and areas, and are thus also usually quite affordable. For these reasons, they have been staple foods for the “masses” since ancient times. The chickpea is […]
Lacto-Fermented Mustard (Unlike Any Mustard You’ve Had!)
Yes, you can ferment mustard. I’m not sure why it isn’t more of a thing. In the same way that Dr. Andrew Weil called vinegar pickles “dead pickles,” (fermented pickles being living pickles, of course), we can say that the normal store-brand mustard is “dead.” Tasty, sure. But from a […]
Pomegranate Syrup (Grenadine)
It doesn’t get much easier than this classic bar syrup. Mix equal parts pomegranate juice and sugar, bring to a boil, stir until the sugar is dissolved, then simmer down at a medium-low temp, uncovered, until it’s a syrup… about 30 minutes. That’s it! While still warm or hot, transfer […]
Fermented Baba Ganoush
Right now it is high season for eggplants in my garden. I mostly grill them to be on the healthy side, but I prefer the flavors and texture of tempura or panko-crusted fried eggplants, especially with a dip of ranch dressing mixed with my fermented sriracha sauce. Probably my favorite […]
Pho Reuben Sandwich
Writing this post feels pretty cathartic for me. Although loading up a Reuben sandwich and frying it on a pan is pretty darn straightforward, this post is the culmination of many different pho-spiced Reuben components I developed over a month. If you want to see how I personally prepare & […]
Lemon Balm / Mint Syrup
Believe it or not, the mint family has over 6,000 species. Lemon balm is a part of this family, and like the many varieties of mint popular in the US, it grows rapidly and perennially in a wide range of conditions. For this reason, growing members of this family will […]
Pho Corned Beef
I’m excited to share this recipe. It’s really delicious and the addition of the pho spice really puts it over the top flavor wise. This is the corned beef I used in my Pho Reuben sandwich. I devoted a whole section of my website to this epic meal because I […]
Pho Kraut
Did you know that “pho” is pronounced “fuh”? So when I tell people, “You need to get the pho kraut!,” it can sound a little threatening. But I really just mean, you need to eat this! It’s almost as delicious as pho soup. And if you don’t know what that […]