118 fermented 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.

Homemade kimchi with napa cabbage, daikon, cucumber, and turnip seasoned with garlic, ginger, and chili flakes. Salt-brined overnight and fermented in the fridge.

Unyeasted fruit and nut bread made with whole wheat, rye, and roasted barley flour, studded with raisins, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, and chopped nuts. Dense, hearty wild-fermented hippie loaf.

Sourdough starter for bread machines using just skim milk, plain yogurt, and flour. The yogurt cultures kickstart fermentation in 2 to 5 days.

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.

Original yeast-based Amish Friendship Bread starter that ferments for 10 days, then divides into portions to share or bake. The Pennsylvania Dutch tradition starts here.

Chinese clay pot crab stir-fried with fermented black beans, garlic, ginger, and scallions in rice wine and chicken stock. A dramatic, fragrant shellfish dish ready in 25 minutes.

Quinoa and bean soup with shiitake mushrooms, sauerkraut, pureed red kidney beans, and paprika. A protein-packed vegan bowl with deep fermented-savory flavor.

Quick fresh-pack dill pickles canned in pint jars with mustard seed, dill heads, and a hot vinegar brine. The classic American summer canning project, no fermenting required.

Salt-rising bread made with a potato water starter fermented overnight. A heritage Appalachian yeast bread with a distinctive tangy flavor and dense crumb.

Homemade kimchi with napa cabbage, daikon radish, scallions, garlic, ginger, pear, and cayenne pepper. Salt-brined and fermented for 3 days in a traditional crock method.

5-minute Asian black bean marinade with fermented bean sauce, sesame oil, dry sherry, and mustard. Bold umami flavor for grilled chicken, lamb, or barbecue that transforms any protein.

Korean dongchimi made with turnip, scallion, ginger, and garlic in a light salt brine. A refreshing, mild water kimchi that ferments at room temperature and keeps for a week in the fridge.

Fiery Sichuan-style wok chicken with chili, fermented bean curd, and fresh ginger, simmered in stock and served over tender pea shoots. A 30-minute wok sensation.

Pickled spring garlic in vinegar and sweetened soy sauce, Korean-style. Slow ferment that mellows young garlic into tender, savory cloves perfect for rice bowls and grilled meats.

Garlic half-sour dill pickles: classic New York deli-style fermented cucumbers with garlic, dill, and pickling spice. Just 2 weeks to crisp, lightly sour pickles at home.