It was when I was working on a Middle-Eastern mango-based hot sauce called amba (which involved using unripe mangoes), that the idea of mango kimchi hit me. Unlike soft ripe mangoes, young mango is firm. This led me to believe it would withstand much of the softening effects of fermentation […]
Recent Posts
Amba-Inspired Hot Sauce
I first had amba on falafel and schwarma when I visited Israel at the age of 16. Oh what an age! My inexperienced taste buds were confused when I tasted this sauce, as I assumed that “mango sauce” would be very sweet. In fact, amba has just the slightest hint of sweet […]
How to Make Kimchi Easily (With Fresh-Squeezed Clementine or Other Fruit)
When putting together this baechu (Napa cabbage) kimchi ferment/recipe, I remembered the boatloads of clementines we had in the fridge and it hit me – some fresh squeezed juice and orange zest would be a great add to kimchi. The sugars help feed the lactic acid-producing bacteria (LABs) present on […]
Ginger Simple Syrup
Many home fermenters think about gifting festive ferments this time of year. Honey cranberry, honey garlic, honey ginger, and a million combinations thereof. Some start in early November which can allow these ferments to be ready by Thanksgiving (e.g. honey pomegranate), while others may benefit from more time. As I […]
Pineapple Jalapeno Garlic Sauerkraut
I planted a dozen cabbages this year and just harvested the rest of what there was, just as we hit December here in the Atlanta area. They’re delicious and crispy but on the small side, so I needed several for a half gallon kraut, as you see in the photo […]
Hot Sauce Tips: Picking Peppers & Produce
Picking peppers and other ingredients for your hot sauce can be a very rewarding and creative endeavor, even if you live in an area with limited selections. But even with limited options, you may still wonder what and how to choose. This article will focus on two areas of hot […]
Turnip Kkakdugi (Cube-Style Kimchi)
Kkakdugi simply means “cubed.” When you look for recipes, they are inevitably cubed Korean radishes (perhaps allowing to substitute with daikon). However, I wanted to show how any root vegetable could be fermented in this way. Turnip kkakdugi is absolutely delicious. Here are some of my homegrown turnips. This batch […]
Everything Bagel Pickles
My mom had bought me some Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning” because she knows how much I love “everything” bagels, which I’m assuming you know but in case you don’t is like a magical all-in-one bagel usually with the toppings poppy, sesame, coarse salt, dehydrated onion, and […]
Apple Garlic Juniper Sauerkraut
Making a delicious, healthy, probiotic-rich sauerkraut is within your reach. Don’t go for the vinegar preserved so-called kraut on store shelves, and you can skip the pricey fermented kraut at natural food stores. This is something you can make inexpensively (even organic cabbage is usually around $1.49/lb.), and with a […]
Coconut Tepache (Fermented Pineapple Drink with Baby Coconut Water)
If you’ve ever heard about or made tepache, you probably know it is a traditional lightly fermented pineapple drink. It has a popular association with Mexico, but I’ve met Colombians and Brazilians who tell me they drink the same thing, or something similar. It’s a refreshing drink with a surprising […]