The following is a basic recipe for lacto-fermenting vegetables. “Kim Chee” is like the Korean version of sauerkraut.
Ingredients
Instructions
Do not wash the organic cabbage. You want the organisms found naturally on the outer leaves to assist fermentation. Mix the cabbage, carrots, peppers, and green part of the scallions in a large bowl. Place the white end of the scallions, the hot pepper, ginger, garlic, and kombu (and soaking water) in the food processor, and liquefy.
Place half of the cabbage mixture in a ceramic or glass container. The ceramic liner of a crock pot works well. Pound down and press it firmly to compact the contents. Place the apple halves in the cabbage. Place the rest of the cabbage mixture on top and again pound and press it down firmly. Place the kombu on top of the cabbage. Place a layer of outer cabbage leaves on top of the kombu. With every layer, press down firmly.
Place a heavy weight (such as a flat plate) on top of the cabbage leaves. Cover the pot, making sure no foreign matter can get in.
Leave out at room temperature. The vegetables will begin to foam. Let stand for 3 to 5 days then discard the cabbage leaves, kombu and apple.
Transfer the vegetables to clean glass containers and store in the refrigerator. The fermented vegetables should stay crispy and delicious for a few weeks in the fridge. (Recipe♦514)