Recipe: Fermented Gingered Carrots - Chris Kresser (2024)

Type of dish: Condiment, Fermented Foods
Equipment: Grater or food processor with grating attachment, half gallon jar or 1.5 liter glass canning jar with tight sealing lid, pounding tool

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups carrots, peeled and coarsely grated
  • 4 ½ tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 4 tsp sea salt (this is the minimum quantity of salt, 5 tsp is better)

Directions:

  1. In a sturdy bowl, mix all ingredients and pound with a wooden pounder or to release juices. This will take approximately 10 minutes.
  2. Place in the mason jar and press down firmly with a pounder or meat hammer until juices cover the carrots. The top of the carrots should be at least 1″ (2 ½ cm) below the top of the jar.
  3. Cover tightly and leave at room temperature (72°F/22°C) about 3 to 5 days before transferring to the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Recipe: Fermented Gingered Carrots - Chris Kresser (1)

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Recipe: Fermented Gingered Carrots - Chris Kresser (2)

15 Comments

Join the conversation

  1. Hi, I just made and tried the krout for the first time. There was not many bubbles or gas as I would have expected and it is very salty (I waited 4 days). The recipe states that it works best with 5 teaspoons of salt. Have I done something wrong? Also, I am just wondering why this recipe only calls for 3 days fermentation – many recipes say that it will take 3-4 weeks. If it is ready in 3 days will it still have the same amount of probiotic’s? I have noticed that a few people have asked a similar question, I would really appreciate it if the admin team could reply.
    cheers

  2. I would not “cover tightly” as fermentation produces gas and that must escape( or else the container will give way). I always just loosely cover my kraut ferments when they’re on the counter at room temp.

  3. Hi Chris,
    I am 56 years old. 16 years ago I was bitten by a red bellied black snake, AND had shell back tick fever (Riketsia) woithin a few short months, both common to where I lived at the time in Australia. After a shaky recovery of fevers and rapid weight loss and a few hospital visits, I became a hyperactive nutcase. It was 2 years of running on quicksand that a doctor thought to test my thyroid> Sure enough, I was hyperthyroid to the max. I was put onto Neomercazole and betablocker , Inderal to slow my racing heart down.
    After 5 years of this and being ‘skinny’ person, I started to react to the medication. I was then put through irradiated iodine therapy leaving my thyroid mostly dead and me with hypothyroidism.
    After years of the ups and downs both in weight and moods, I also picked up Blastocystis Hominus in China which put my gut into turmoil. By this time, I thought i would go mad.
    BUT, I read a book called STOP THE THYROID MADNESS and put myself (via a GP) on natural dessicated pig thyroid and the Paleo diet (supposed to keep the Blastocystis down).HOWEVER, I suddenly jumped 12 pounds/5 kgs in weight that I cannot get rid of, and feel tired all of the time.I need some help. I am so confused
    Korinna

  4. This tastes great, it’s easy, and it’s a really good first experience in fermented foods.

  5. Anyone have suggestions for keeping the veggies down beneath the brine? I’ve tried this with sauerkraut and it doesn’t work for me I think in part because the kraut keeps expanding up and becoming oxidized (or whatever the right word is to describe this). Thanks.

    • I use the half gallon mason jars to ferment in. I weight the kraut down using mason jelly jars that fit inside the jar. I use wide mouth jars and it works fine. I also have some of the decorative glass blobs found in garden supply stores. Keep them washed and use only as fermenting weights.

  6. 1. How about using whey? 2T per batch?
    2. This recipe seems like it will make WAY less than a 1/2 gal jar with only 4c grated caroots and the ginger–> ?

  7. Is this a dish that can be water-bath canned/processed, does anyone know? Thanks!

    • Canning this would defeat the whole purpose of fermenting. It would kill all the beneficial bacteria. Once you ferment it is then refrigerated.

  8. If starting with peeled carrots, we can assume that the bugs which drive the fermentation all be those floating around the kitchen air, containers, tools and preparation work surfaces.

    On the other hand, if the carrots are from an organic garden with soil known to be generally clean, I would think just a good scrubbing before grating would be sufficient, as this should lead to a wider, potentially more beneficial variety of soil-based microbes getting a foothold in establishing the fermentation brew.

    Any thoughts on this?

    • I’ve had brushed or scraped carrots instead of peeled, and no matter what, they always taste like dirt, clean or otherwise.

    • I agree 🙂

  9. Hi Chris, I have a little confusion about the amount of sea salt, first says 1 TB and later says 4 tsp. Which one is the amount I need to use?

    • We’ve updated the recipe. It’s 4 tsp of salt.

      • Thanks!

Recipe: Fermented Gingered Carrots - Chris Kresser (2024)

FAQs

What percentage brine for fermented carrots? ›

Firm vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, asparagus, beets and carrots and tomatoes require 1.5% to 3% brine, or 15 to 30 grams of salt for each litre of water. Cucumbers, onions and radishes require 5% brine (50 grams per litre), and olives require 10% brine (100 grams per litre), for example.

Do you have to peel carrots before fermenting? ›

I invite you to try them all and explore how unique the resulting ferments can be. General note: I tend to scrub my carrots and use them with the peel on. However, when carrot skin is dark and rough, it can also be bitter. If this is the case, peel your carrots first.

Are fermented carrots good for you? ›

These carrots get a healthy boost of gut-friendly probiotics with just a little salt, water and time. Fermented foods are all the rage right now. And for good reason!

What is the ratio of making brine solution? ›

Basic Brine

Place that volume of water in a container large enough to hold the brine and the meat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt.

How long does it take to ferment carrot? ›

Check the carrots every few days. Scrape off any scum that has formed on the surface and taste the pickles. I usually let vegetables ferment for 5-10 days or so. They will develop a pleasant, sour-pickle flavor, but should also maintain some crispness.

Why are my fermented carrots slimy? ›

Lacto-fermentation brines can become slimy, but this phenomenon is harmless. It is caused by harmless bacteria. Possible causes: Fermentation temperature too low or too high.

What is the white stuff on top of fermented carrots? ›

The white milky substance that commonly appears on the surface of fermented vegetables is kahm yeast. It's a type of wild yeast and it's not harmful. It's not very attractive and it can cause a bad odor if left alone.

Why are my fermented carrots cloudy? ›

It's normal for a fermentation to get cloudy, especially near the bottom of the jar- that's your bacteria so don't worry about that at all! If there really is a thin layer of yeast on top of your brine, we recommend pulling it off and tasting the veggies underneath.

How do you know when fermented carrots are done? ›

Within 1 week it should start to taste sour. If you like it, it is done. If not let it continue to ferment. Pack the vegetables back down until the liquid rises above them.

Can you eat too much fermented vegetables? ›

The most common reaction to fermented foods is a temporary increase in gas and bloating. This is the result of excess gas being produced after probiotics kill harmful gut bacteria and fungi. Probiotics secrete antimicrobial peptides that kill harmful pathogenic organisms like Salmonella and E.

What is the healthiest fermented food? ›

Fermented Foods for Gut Health
  • Kefir.
  • Plain Yogurt.
  • Dry Curd Cottage Cheese or Farmer's Cheese, or fermented cottage cheese.
  • Certain aged cheeses (check label for live and active cultures)
  • Fermented Vegetables.
  • Tempeh (choose gluten free)
  • Miso (refrigerated)
  • Pickles (in salt, not vinegar)
Jun 19, 2019

What is the best fermented food for your gut? ›

The foods that give your body beneficial probiotics are those fermented using natural processes and containing probiotics. Live cultures are found in not only yogurt and a yogurt-like drink called kefir, but also in Korean pickled vegetables called kimchi, sauerkraut, and in some pickles.

Can you eat fermented vegetables everyday? ›

A benefit of lactofermented foods is that they contain probiotics. Is it safe to eat fermented foods every day? Yes, as long as you're eating properly fermented foods and don't have a chronic health condition that prohibits it, you can definitely eat them every day!

What percent brine for fermentation? ›

A 2% saltwater brine is typical for fermenting harder vegetables, such as cauliflower, radishes, carrots, beets, onions, and garlic. For softer vegetables (higher water content), such as cucumbers, bell peppers, and zucchini, a 5% saltwater brine is recommended.

What percentage of salt is needed for fermenting brine? ›

Generally, we recommend using 2% of the weight or volume of the ingredients in salt in your lacto-fermentations. (See How to Choose Between Brining and Dry Salting to find out whether you should calculate from weight or volume). To remember: The less salt (1 to 2% salt), the faster the fermentation.

What is the ratio for pickling brine? ›

The Basics of Making Refrigerator Pickles

The basic ratio for quick pickles is 1:1 vinegar to water, and includes some combination of salt and sugar. Another ratio that is commonly followed is the 3:2:1 method, using three parts vinegar, two parts water, and 1 part sugar.

How much percentage brine solution is required? ›

Generally a 5% salt solution is a good all-purpose recipe for most flavor enhancement but for fully curing hams, or corned beef a stronger solution is needed. Brines are also measured in degrees by the amount of salinity in the water with the use of a salinometer.

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