118 ferment recipes

Traditional Chinese Buddhist vegetarian stir-fry with wood ear mushrooms, lily buds, bean curd, bean thread noodles, and fresh vegetables in dark soy and sesame oil. A Lunar New Year classic.

Myong's kimchi ferments napa cabbage, daikon, carrots, ginger, and garlic in rice vinegar and sea salt for weeks in the fridge. A crisp, bright Korean-style relish that builds more depth the longer it sits.

A gluten-free yeast bread made from brown rice flour with an overnight ferment for depth of flavor. Honey-sweetened and oil-enriched, it bakes into a sliceable loaf with real structure. Makes 3 loaves.

Friendship brandied fruit is a perpetual fermented fruit compote built over months by adding peaches, pineapple, cherries, sugar, and brandy to a starter. Spoon over ice cream, pound cake, or yogurt for an instant dessert.

Easy kimchi for first-timers: salted napa cabbage fermented with green onion, garlic, ginger, and dried chile in a simple brine. No fish sauce, no special paste. Let it bubble on the counter, then chill the funky, sour, crunchy result.

Potato flake sourdough starter: a simple three-ingredient base of water, sugar, and instant potato flakes left to ferment for 3 to 4 days. The sweet, old-fashioned starter used in friendship bread and soft white loaves.