Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (2024)

Over 40 delicious and easy fermented veggie recipes. Paleo, vegan, and GAPS-friendly ways to preserve your abundant veggie harvest!

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (1)

Easy fermented veggie recipes.

We’re in the thick of summer, and gardens are starting to produce. Not, mine, but other peoples. Haha. I’m a notoriously horrible gardener! My daughter, however, is getting results I never would have… and she’s only 11!

If you happen to be like my daughter and can get things to grow and manage to keep them alive until they produce, this post is for you. A cucumber or zucchini plant that suddenly produces TONS of fruit all at once can be a little overwhelming. So I’ve taken it upon myself to help you preserve your harvests by rounding up over 40 delicious and easy fermented veggie recipes for you!

Have tons of beets? I’ve got a recipe for you. Millions of zucchini? Recipes for those, too. Cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, carrots? Got you covered. I even have recipes for those of you who need to preserve asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and more…

Contents hide

1 Easy fermented veggie recipes.

2 Cabbage

3 Cucumbers

4 Beets

6 Tomatoes

7 Miscellaneous Veggies

Nothing fancy.

While some will have you use fancy equipment (like pickle it jars), or crocks, you can usually make any of these recipes with regular old canning jars. I use mason jars with canning rings and lids for all of my fermenting. They’re easy to get your hands on, cheap to replace if they break, and double as great cups when you’re done. 😉

I use quart size, and pint size mason jars. Sometimes they come with the rings and lids, but you can always buy them separately if you need more. TIP: pleeeease, save yourself frustration when cleaning time comes and buy wide-mouth jars! Take it from me, it’s quite a hassle to clean those narrow-mouth ones…

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (2)

The Best German Sauerkraut from Earth, Food & Fire

Cabbage

Easy 2-Ingredient Homemade Sauerkraut – Love sauerkraut? This easy 2-ingredient homemade sauerkraut is not only delicious, it’ll save you money, too. And it’s perfect forpaleo, whole30, GAPS, and more!

How to Make Kimchi in 4 Easy Steps – Learn how to make kimchi at home with this simple step-by-step guide. This easy fermented kimchi recipe from Prepare & Nourish is loaded with spicy and tangy flavors and crunchy texture.

Easy Homemade Sauerkraut – An easy way to make homemade sauerkraut from Strength & Sunshine that’s not only delicious but a powerful and “magic medicine” for improved gut health due to the healing benefits of “real food” probiotics and fermentation!

Probiotic Rich Homemade Sauerkraut – Homemade sauerkraut from Raising Generation Nourished is the simplest way to populate your gut with a variety of nourishing probiotics for robust gut health and immune systems!

Easy Homemade Sauerkraut – Fermented foods are one of the best ways to get powerful probiotics into your diet, and this easy homemade sauerkraut recipe from Whole New Mom is likely the most frugal and the simplest way to do it. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the post and start your gut healing today!

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (3)

How to Make Kimchi from Prepare & Nourish

Easy Kimchi –This kimchi recipe from Melissa Torio is not the traditional way of making kimchi though, but it is the simplest method.

How to Make Super-Nutritious Sauerkraut Every Time – You’re going to love this sauerkraut from the Gluten-Free Homestead. There’s nothing like the taste of homemade.

Paleo Easy Kimchi – This easy paleo kimchi recipe is made with napa cabbage and crunchy carrots fermented in sweet apple and pear sauce. This gluten-free and Whole30 kimchi recipe from I Heart Umami has spicy, non-spicy, AIP, and vegan kimchi versions. It’s quick, easy, and crunchy delicious!

Spicy Sauerkraut – You’ll fall in love with spicy sauerkraut from Peter’s Food Adventures, it’s not your traditional fermented cabbage flavor! Give your recipes a zing with this tangy and crunchy condiment that will boost the flavors of any meal (and your gut health too!).

The Best German Sauerkraut You Will Ever Eat – If you have had the good fortune of trying fresh, homemade German sauerkraut, you’ll know it tastes so much better then store bought canned varieties. It is crunchy, slightly acidic, yet sour, and full of flavor. You’ll love this recipe from Earth, Food & Fire.

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Lacto-Fermented Pickle Chips from Raia’s Recipes

Cucumbers

Easy Homemade Pickle Chips – These easy lacto-fermented pickle chips are a favorite snack and side dish at my house. They’re packed with delicious nutrition, so I don’t mind.

Fermented Pickles with Green Tea and Dill Flowers – Fermented pickles are naturally preserved, deliciously tangy and probiotic. This is a great recipe to make in the summer months when the pickling cucumbers are in season. Yang’s Nourishing Kitchen will show you how to make crispy crunchy fermented cucumber pickles.

Easy Lacto-Fermented Dill Pickles – These easy lact0-fermented dill pickles from Prepare & Nourish are a great way to preserve those cucumbers naturally with live enzymes and probiotics. It’s originally made with dill and garlic, but you can add your favorite spices to this easy ferment.

Fast Food Pickles – Make your own fast food pickles at home in less than 15 minutes with this easy recipe from Low Carb with Jennifer. They are ready to eat immediately and taste just like those famous pickles without having to go through the drive thru!

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (5)

Fermented Pickles with Green Tea and Dill Flowers from Yang’s Nourishing Kitchen

Fennel, Orange, & Olive Pickles – Fennel, orange and olive pickles from Mother Would Know are delicious. Plus, they’re an easy way to enjoy pickles without “full fledged” canning.

Half Sour Pickles – These easy homemade pickles from Brooklyn Farmgirl taste just like New York Crunchy pickles. No canning is needed to make these delicious pickles, just throw them in the refrigerator for a few days! Make them to find out why they’re so popular!

How to Make Dill Pickles at Home – Crunchy, fresh dill pickles are a great addition to any sandwich and are so easy to make. You only need a few ingredients and about 30 minutes to make these dill pickles from Sonshine in the Kitchen.

Half-Sours – These easy half sour pickles from Sidewalk Shoes are fermented in a salty brine instead of pickled with vinegar.

Russian Dill Pickles – This easy Russian dill pickles family recipe from Happy Kitchen is made with herbs, garlic, and peppercorns and gives you crunchy, refreshing, flavorful, and healthy marinated cucumbers that everyone will love!

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Spiralized Fermented Beets from the Stingy Vegan

Beets

Beet Kraut with Ginger & Garlic – Perhaps it’s because the beet adds a balanced sweetness to cabbage or perhaps since this recipe includes ginger and garlic, two ingredients that I adore, beet sauerkraut from Just Beet It has a special place in my heart.

Lacto-Fermented Beet Ginger Sauerkraut – Say goodbye to boring old sauerkraut! Say hello to this delicious beet ginger kraut — a tasty twist on an old classic from Delicious Obsessions.

Beet Kraut with Red Cabbage – This beet sauerkraut from Attainable Sustainable is made with fresh beet roots and either red or green cabbage. It’s an easy recipe to ferment, and once you have some ready to go, an easy way to add a little flavorful crunch to meals. I like to serve it as a side, kind of a beet sauerkraut salad.

Spiralized Fermented Beets – Spiralized fermented beets from The Stingy Vegan are an amazingly versatile condiment that’s stupid easy to make and incredibly flavorful. All you need are beets, salt, dill and time to get these delicious sweet and sour beet noodles that you can use in salads, sandwiched, Buddha bowls, avocado toast and much more!

Beet Kvass – Slightly sweet, slightly salty, slightly sour, and very beet-y, this beet kvass from What Great Grandma Ate is wonderful for your gut health!

Strawberry Beet Kvass – This beautiful strawberry-beet kvass from Eat Beautiful is super easy to make and FULL of probiotics! Kvass is one of my favorite ferments for so many reasons: Beets are high in minerals, B vitamins and energy-yielding carbohydrates.

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Lacto-Fermented Peppers from Prepare & Nourish

Peppers

Fermented Banana Pepper Hot Sauce – This fermented banana pepper sauce from Attainable Sustainable makes a spicy condiment packed full of flavor and probiotics. Better yet? This banana pepper recipe is a snap to make!

Lacto-Fermented JalapeñoPeppers – Learn how to make lacto-fermented jalapeno peppers from Prepare & Nourish with only 2 ingredients. It’s a simple and delicious way to add a spicy kick to any meal. These fiery peppers are packed with gut-friendly probiotics and live enzymes. Preserving jalapenos with this easy recipe is a great way to enjoy the spicy flavor throughout the year.

Fermented Jalapeño Garlic Hot Sauce – If you are a hot sauce fanatic like me, it’s worth it to make your own. With this recipe from What Great Grandma Ate you can control your own ingredients and have it taste just the way you like it, it’s a great way to boost your immune system!

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Lacto-Fermented Salsa from Prepare & Nourish

Tomatoes

Lacto-Fermented Tomato Salsa – This lacto-fermented salsa from Prepare & Nourish is an easy way to preserve the harvest and include more probiotics to your diet. It’s tangy and zesty and has a perfect spice kick to accompany your favorite Mexican meals or just to dig in with tortilla chips.

Fermented Salsa – What do you do with an abundance of tomatoes from the garden? Make fermented salsa! This recipe from Melissa Torio is just what you need.

Lacto-Fermented Green Tomatoes – Have an abundance of green tomatoes? Try fermenting them with this recipe from Delicious Obsessions! It’s so easy and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how delicious they are.

Wild Fermented Salsa – You will love this wild fermented salsa without whey from Yang’s Nourishing Kitchen. It is packed with nutrients, natural probiotics and live enzymes! The wild fermented salsa is delicious, good for digestion, and free of all major allergens, such as gluten, dairy, eggs and nuts.

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (9)

Lacto-Fermented Rainbow Chard from Raia’s Recipes

Miscellaneous Veggies

Easy Zucchini Refrigerator Pickles – This zucchini refrigerator zucchini pickles recipe from Simple & Savory is so simple to make and is a great alternative to cucumber pickles. No cooking or canning is required! And zucchini pickles are a great way to use up an abundance of zucchini from your garden.

Lacto-Fermented Cauliflower – If you’re a fan of cauliflower or fermented foods, you’ll love this easy, homemade lacto-fermented cauliflower!

Fermented Brussels Sprouts with Garlic & Ginger – You’ll love the results of this recipe from Eat Beautiful. The texture of the little “cabbages,” the fresh crazy-good flavor of the brine, and as always, the fun of the process!

Pickles Escabeche – Escabeche is the Spanish word for “pickles” and in the Mexican restaurant community they are made with carrots, jalapeños, and onions. You’ll love this delicious recipe from Butter for All.

Fermented Carrots – You are 2 household ingredients away from a jar of fermented carrots teeming with gut nourishing probiotics, enzymes, and B vitamins! Give this recipe from Raising Generation Nourished a try!

Lacto-Fermented Pumpkin – For an unusually flavorful way to add probiotics to your diet, try this easy fermented pumpkin recipe from Attainable Sustainable. It’s a tasty way to preserve pumpkin!

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (10)

Lacto-Fermented Cauliflower from Raia’s Recipes

Fermented Nut-Free Pesto – Pesto, basil, garlic, cheese and oil, could there be a better combination? Traditional Cooking School thinks not! It’s simple to make, yet adds such complexity to hot or cold dishes. It has so few ingredients and takes so little time to make.

Lacto-Fermented Rainbow Chard – Have fresh chard stalks you just don’t know what to do with? Lacto-ferment those babies! It’s an easy and delicious way to up chard’s nutritional value and enjoy its goodness. Learn how to make your own lacto-fermented rainbow chard right now…

Fermented Pizza Green Beans – These pizza-inspired green beans from Butter for All have a great crunch and bold flavor. Serve them as you would a pickle at lunch or chop them up for a flavorful salad addition. The brine is also delicious when paired with olive oil for an Italian-inspired salad dressing.

Cauliflower Pickles with Turmeric and Black Pepper – Cauliflower pickles are a favorite vegetable ferment. You’ll love this healthy condiment from Eat Beautiful too — that’s full of probiotics, fun to make and anti-inflammatory!

Lacto-Fermented Turnips & Beets – Gut-friendly and extra crunchy, these lacto-fermented turnips and beets from Traditional Cooking School are naturally pickled, totally raw, and made in only three days of fermenting time. We love the burst of fresh flavor they bring to salads and sandwiches!

Probiotic Rich Asparagus Pickles – A big probiotic boost and delicious salty, sour bite from your fresh spring asparagus from Raising Generation Nourished!

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (11)

Over 40 Easy Fermented Veggie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest vegetable to ferment? ›

Cabbage is a relatively inexpensive and easy vegetable to ferment, and there are many options for creating flavors you might like. Experiment with herbs and spices such as ginger, garlic, hot pepper, caraway seeds, curry powder, and turmeric.

What are the easiest home fermented foods? ›

Five fermenting recipes for gut health
  • Sauerkraut to quick kimchi. Sauerkraut is probably the easiest ferment to try your hand at, translated from German as 'sour cabbage' it really is tastier than it sounds. ...
  • Red cabbage, beetroot and apple sauerkraut. ...
  • Fermented garlic in honey. ...
  • Fermented chilli sauce.
Aug 15, 2023

What is the most important ingredient in fermented vegetable processing? ›

Salt. Salt provides many functions in the fermentation process: Allows needed water and sugars to be pulled from the vegetables that are used as nutrients by fermenting organisms. Favors the growth of fermenting organisms over spoilage bacteria, yeast, and mold as well as harmful bacteria.

What vegetables should not be fermented? ›

“There's no vegetable you can't ferment,” he said, but added that leafy greens such as kale — because of their chlorophyll content — aren't to most people's liking. During an NPR interview, Katz explained that pickling and fermentation are not the same, although they are “overlapping” categories.

What veggies ferment well? ›

In alphabetical order, the best vegetables for fermenting include cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, garlic, kohlrabi, peppers, radishes, snap beans and turnips.

How to make simple fermented food? ›

Here's how to make fermented vegetables from scratch using the simple brine method:
  1. Begin by thoroughly sterilising your chosen jar. ...
  2. Prep your vegetables. ...
  3. Make a brine. ...
  4. Add your veg to the jar. ...
  5. Pour over the brine. ...
  6. Leave to ferment at room temperature. ...
  7. Pop it in the fridge to finish fermentation.
Apr 7, 2022

What fermented foods should I eat daily? ›

Here are nine of the best fermented foods to include in your diet.
  • Kefir. Kefir is a fermented milk drink believed to have originated in the Caucasus region thousands of years ago. ...
  • Kimchi. ...
  • Sauerkraut. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Some cheeses. ...
  • Sourdough bread. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar.
Mar 18, 2024

What foods ferment the fastest? ›

Vegetables are possibly the easiest and quickest fermentation: cut the vegetables, place in glass jars and submerge completely in the brine for 1-2 days until fermented (you'll know it's ready once the ferment has developed a ˜tangy' taste). Then, keep the jar in cold storage.

Do you need salt to ferment vegetables? ›

Salt is a critical ingredient and when used in the right proportions, creates the perfect environment to control the growth of microorganisms and create a ' happier' ferment. Salt in fermentation encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, while at the same time kills off bad bacteria.

How do you ferment vegetables naturally? ›

The first (the 'brining method') is to make a brine with water and salt and submerge the veggies in it. The second (the 'dry-salting method') involves salting the veggies and letting the salt bring out all the juices to create a brine, then submerge the veggies in their own salty juices.

What is the best salt for fermenting vegetables? ›

Pink Himalayan salt, sea salt, fleur de sel, and grey salt are ideal for vegetable fermentation.

Can I eat fermented foods everyday? ›

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.

Is apple cider vinegar a fermented food? ›

Apple cider vinegar is made through a process called fermentation. The process has two steps. First, the apples are crushed and yeast is added to speed up the fermentation process, so the sugar converts into alcohol after a few weeks.

How do you ferment vegetables easily? ›

Here's how to make fermented vegetables from scratch using the simple brine method:
  1. Begin by thoroughly sterilising your chosen jar. ...
  2. Prep your vegetables. ...
  3. Make a brine. ...
  4. Add your veg to the jar. ...
  5. Pour over the brine. ...
  6. Leave to ferment at room temperature. ...
  7. Pop it in the fridge to finish fermentation.
Apr 7, 2022

How long does it take for vegetables to ferment? ›

How long do you ferment vegetables? The lacto-fermentation process takes around 5 days at room temperature. After this time, the fermentation process slows down but is still occurring, and the vegetables will start to take on some more of those 'funkier' flavours.

What foods naturally ferment? ›

Some of the most widely available include kombucha, yogurt, aged/raw cheeses, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, natto and kimchi. Other healthy foods that are fermented include apple cider vinegar, wine, sourdough bread, cottage cheese and coconut kefir.

What is the easiest fruit to ferment? ›

Lemons, berries, and tropical fruits are great choices for fermentation.

References

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