19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (2024)

Curious about fermentation, but aren’t exactly sure where to start? These fermentation recipes for beginners are easy and delicious! Here’s what to ferment when you’re just starting out.

19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (1)

In order to run this site, Fermenting For Foodies sometimes earns an affiliate commission on the sales of products we link to. We only feature items we genuinely want to share, and this is an arrangement between the retailer and Fermenting For Foodies. Readers never pay more for products. Thank you for reading!

One of my missions as a fermentation enthusiast is to get people excited about fermenting! It’s why I volunteer my time to teach fermentation skills for local non-profit organizations. And why I wrote Fermenting Made Simple. 🙂

–> This round-up of fermentation recipes is focused on new fermenters. However, if you’re really keen on developing your skills, sign up for my newsletter to receive my free quick-start guide to fermenting. It’s a series of emails designed to get you going!

–> You can also check out my 5 Steps to Fermenting Success for more tips.

Qualities of these fermentation recipes

When putting together this list, I wanted to make sure the fermentation recipes were perfect for beginners. Here’s why these recipes made the list:

  • Reliable: I want you to succeed! I’ve never had a problem with any of these recipes, even when I was new to fermenting.
  • Simple: Fermenting is SOOO simple. Just pack everything into a jar and you’re done. No cooking involved! Many of these recipes are perfect pack-and-go ferments.
  • Delicious: These recipes are quite popular and don’t require you to be adventurous or eat something more unique than delicious. 😉
  • Worth-while: I’ve included a few recipes that are a bit more ambitious. However, the payoff is good.
  • Favorites: All of these recipes are favorites at my house. We make them all the time and you can pretty much always find them in my kitchen or pantry!

Vegetables

Fermented pickles are absolutely amazing. Sour, salty, crunchy, and perfect. All you have to do is fill a jar with vegetables and and brine and leave them to ferment until you’re ready to eat them!

Cabbage is a particularly reliable ferment. It’s so low-maintenance ferment that I’ve gone into schools to teach kids how to make it. Teens really like pounding cabbage into jars and preschool kids love using my rotary grater.

I love fermented vegetables so much that they have their own recipe round-up. Here are fermented vegetables recipes from Avocados to Zucchini.

  1. Sauerkraut (and other cabbage ferments, like kimchi and curtido) are easy to make.
  2. Here’s my pack-and-go Grandma’s dill pickle recipe.
  3. Pickled vegetable sticks are perfect for snacking.
  4. Fermented onions are delicious on sandwiches. They’re also great for people who are sensitive to raw onions.

Fruit

I’ll admit, my favorite way of fermenting fruit is to turn it into wine! However, that is definitely a next-level recipe. Here are some sweet and savory recipes for first-time fermenters.

  1. Try fermenting fruit with raw ACV, honey, or kombucha.
  2. Rhubarb is one of my favorite fruits to ferment. The fermenting cuts the tartness while keeping that wonderful flavor of spring.
  3. Did you know fruit scraps can be turned into vinegar? Try this reliable zero-waste ferment the next time you make apple pie.

Dairy & Alternatives

Fermented dairy and non-dairy alternatives are the best options for anyone wanting to get a dose of probiotics. The calcium in milk and fortified dairy alternatives protect the probiotic cultures from stomach acid and help them get to your gut.

It’s also really easy to add fermented dairy to your diet. Yogurt is actually a tricky ferment. It needs heating and maintaining the temperature. However, it’s also something that many people have tried making, even if don’t make other types of ferments.

Here’s a few recommended dairy ferments:

  1. Milk kefir is super simple and has tons of health benefits.
  2. If milk kefir is too sour for you, try cultured buttermilk. It has a lightly cheesy flavor and can be cultured at room temperature.
  3. Yogurt is always popular.
  4. I have make a bunch of different non-dairy yogurts. My favorites are soy milk (see photo above) and coconut cream.

Sourdough

Sourdough wouldn’t have probably made this list of beginner-friendly ferments if it weren’t for the craze of 2020. However, the flavor and texture of sourdough bread is amazing. It is so worth the effort! Especially if you follow my no-fuss sourdough routine. 😉

  1. A traditional sourdough starter takes about 7 days to get going.
  2. It only takes about 3-4 days to catch a vigorous gluten-free sourdough starter with buckwheat flour.
  3. If you’re not up for the work of a regular sourdough starter, here’s how to make one with kombucha.
  4. This rustic sourdough bread is one of my most popular recipes.
  5. I LOVE my gluten-free sourdough rolls.

Off-Beat Ferments

There are a bunch of off-beat ferments that are really fun! So I decided to include a few in this list. These might not be recipes that you would normally consider trying, but they’re so delicious and reliable that it’s totally worth it!

  1. Miso is the EASIEST of the offbeat ferments. It does take about 8 months to ferment… but really… it’s only a few hours worth of work and it will last for years, so make a big batch! I recommend making soy-free miso which saves a LOT of prep time.
  2. If you’re into kombucha, you’re probably already making it. This honey-fermented kvass is a delicious alternative. Feel free to switch up the flavor for a simple summer beverage.
  3. I’m a huge fan of fermented condiments. They’re such a delicious way to get probiotics into your diet. Try this lentil dip for your new favorite chip dip!

Previous Post: « Does Kombucha Contain Caffeine And Alcohol?

Next Post: Soy-Free Miso (With Split Peas Or Beans) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (7)Rhonda Woods

    I am BRAND NEW to fermenting and in dire need of guidance. Looking forward to learning more about it from you all.

    Reply

    • 19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (8)Emillie Parrish

      Great! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. 🙂

      Reply

  2. 19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (9)Rhonda Woods

    Thank you so much. I look forward to learning all about fermentation.

    Reply

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19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (10)Hi, I'm Emillie, an island-dwelling fermentation enthusiast. Fermenting For Foodies features healthy recipes designed to feed your microbiome.
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Affiliate Disclosure

In order to run this site, Fermenting For Foodies sometimes earns an affiliate commission on the sales of products we link to. We only feature items we genuinely want to share, and this is an arrangement between the retailer and Fermenting For Foodies. Readers never pay more for products. Thank you for reading!

19 Fermentation Recipes For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What are the best fermented foods for beginners? ›

This could not be easier!
  • Whole-Grain Fermented Mustard. mustard seeds, apple cider vinegar and 2 more. ...
  • Fermented Hot Sauce. shallots, chili peppers, sea salt and 6 more. ...
  • Fermented Salsa – Gluten-Free, Vegan. ...
  • Simple Fermented Vegetables. ...
  • Giardiniera. ...
  • Kosher Dill Pickles. ...
  • Homemade Fermented Sauerkraut. ...
  • Homemade Kimchi (Kimchee)
Mar 17, 2022

What are 10 examples of traditional fermented foods? ›

Different traditional fermented foods, such as yogurt, cheeses, crème fraiche, fermented sausages, sourdough bread, soy sauce, fish sauce, fermented vegetables, including “miso” (fermented soybeans), “kimchi” (fermented spicy cabbage), “sauerkraut” (fermented cabbage), and “surströmming” (fermented herring) or ...

What are 3 foods produced by fermentation? ›

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 are 5 foods that require fermentation? ›

Common fermented foods include kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, tempeh, kombucha, and yogurt. These foods may reduce heart disease risk and aid digestion, immunity, and weight loss. Not to mention, fermented foods add tang and zest to your meals and are an excellent addition to a healthy diet.

What is the easiest fermented food to make at home? ›

Sauerkraut is one of the simplest fermented foods to make. It only contains two ingredients – cabbage and salt – although sometimes caraway seeds are added too. To make sauerkraut, all you have to do is shred your cabbage, cover it with salt, and mix around.

What is the easiest thing to ferment? ›

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.

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

Can you give me a list of fermented foods? ›

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 most popular fermented food? ›

Here are the best fermented foods you should add to your diet.
  1. Sauerkraut. Sauerkraut has been consumed across cultures for centuries. ...
  2. Kombucha. juan antonio barrio miguel / Getty Images. ...
  3. Kimchi. Fudio / Getty Images. ...
  4. Tempeh. Kathleen Juanda Teo / Getty Images. ...
  5. Kefir. ...
  6. Yogurt. ...
  7. Miso and Natto. ...
  8. Apple Cider Vinegar.
Jan 9, 2024

What is the best fermented food? ›

What are the healthiest fermented foods?
  1. Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is made by crushing apples and allowing yeasts to ferment the natural sugars into acetic acid. ...
  2. Cheese (including aged cheddar, parmesan, gouda and mozzarella) ...
  3. Kefir. ...
  4. Kimchi. ...
  5. Kombucha. ...
  6. Miso. ...
  7. Natto. ...
  8. Olives.
Mar 1, 2023

What are the best vegetables to ferment? ›

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

What happens if you eat too much fermented food? ›

Experts warn too many fermented foods in your diet could cause gas, bloating, and other gastrointestinal issues.

Which fermented food has the most probiotics? ›

Foods With the Highest Probiotic Content
Fermented FoodLiving CellsServing Size
Water kefir500 billion250 ml
Kimchi250 billion250 ml
Sauerkraut25 billion250 ml
Miso25 billion3 tbsp.
6 more rows

What fermented foods should I eat daily? ›

Here are the best fermented foods you should add to your diet.
  • Sauerkraut. Sauerkraut has been consumed across cultures for centuries. ...
  • Kombucha. juan antonio barrio miguel / Getty Images. ...
  • Kimchi. Fudio / Getty Images. ...
  • Tempeh. Kathleen Juanda Teo / Getty Images. ...
  • Kefir. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Miso and Natto. ...
  • Apple Cider Vinegar.
Jan 9, 2024

How do you start fermented food? ›

Introduce fermented foods into your cooking by adding a little bit to your meals, such as:
  1. juice from sauerkraut: use as a dash of vinegar in your salad dressing. ...
  2. kombucha to make your own mayo. ...
  3. Use true sourdough bread for your sandwiches. ...
  4. Use raw milk cheese instead of pasteurized cheeses.

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