Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe - Fit Bottomed Girls (2024)

By Jenn

July 25, 2017

Probiotics have never been hotter. Fermented foods have never been cooler. And this Fermented Ginger Pickles recipe? Well, it’s darn right blazin’ awesome.

(Also? It’s what you probably envision as pickled ginger — it’s not, like, cucumbers pickled with ginger. Although now that I’m thinking about it, that would probably be darn tasty, too!)

Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe - Fit Bottomed Girls (1)
From the bookFiery Fermentswhich includes110 formulations for spicy fermented condiments including sauces, salsas, relishes and chutneys, plus recipes for dishes and drinks that use them — this recipe is perfect for those who are looking to make fermented foods with big flavor and kick.

Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe - Fit Bottomed Girls (2)
It’s also a great beginners’ recipe. If you’ve wanted to do some fermenting but have been intimidated by recipes that require special gear, try this one. It’s SO easy!

Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe - Fit Bottomed Girls (3)

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Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe

Author:Kirsten Shockey and Christopher Shockey

Recipe type:Side

Serves:1 pint

In early winter the produce section of markets can be loaded with newly harvested ginger, galangal, and turmeric roots; they are full, succulent, and fresh. This is the time to preserve them. If you are lucky, you might find varieties beyond the widely available yellow ginger, such as the milder baby ginger, labeled “pink,” “young,” “new,” or “stem” ginger, or the zestier blue Hawaiian. This recipe can be used for any kind of ginger, turmeric, or galangal, though galangal is more fibrous and better suited for a grated paste. We use these slices throughout the year to flavor meals or to put in other ferments to give them a head start (for example, when starting a hot sauce with only dried chile pods).

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ginger by peeling off the skin and slicing the root as thinly as possible — think of the pickled ginger that’s served alongside a plate of sushi. Place these slices in a bowl.
  2. Mix in the salt.
  3. Pack the mixture tightly into a pint jar, pressing out any air pockets as you go. Leave the top quarter of the jar free.
  4. Press a Ziplock bag against the surface of the ferment, fill the bag with water, and zip it closed.
  5. Place the jar on a plate and set aside, out of direct sunlight, to ferment for 7 to 14 days. During the fermentation period, monitor for air pockets, pressing down the ginger if needed. As the ginger ferments, the color will change slightly. The brine will become milky.
  6. When the pickles are ready, transfer the jar to the refrigerator. These pickles will keep, refrigerated, for 12 months, provided the ginger is kept under the brine.

Notes

Heat index: 2


What other fermented foods do you love? You know my feelings on sauerkraut on all the things. —Jenn

Excerpted with permission from Fiery Ferments, © by Kirsten Shockey and Christopher Shockey, photography © by Lara Ferroni, used with permission from Storey Publishing.

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7 Comments

  1. elena says:

    March 6, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    what does the fermented ginger usually smell like? I made some for the first time and can’t tell if its safe to eat, it smells bad. I have been making lots of tasty saurkraut and I know its good when it smells good but then again I know what saurkraut is supposed to smell like. I can’t say I have ever smelled ginger kraut on its own.

  2. John says:

    November 10, 2018 at 2:44 am

    What’s the difference between this method and soaking the ginger in salt water instead?

  3. Kelly Johnson says:

    November 4, 2019 at 9:57 pm

    I just want to make sure I understand correctly- you’re not adding water to the ginger, just salt and packing it tightly in the jar and then using the ziploc water bag to seal out air? Thanks

    1. Jenn says:

      November 5, 2019 at 10:20 am

      You got it — that’s right! 🙂

      –Jenn

  4. Cheryl Creasey says:

    June 6, 2021 at 5:03 am

    Looks very easy I am going to try it.

    1. Jenn says:

      June 6, 2021 at 10:00 am

      Awesome! Let us know how it goes!

      –Jenn

  5. Emilie says:

    October 1, 2021 at 10:28 am

    How long does it usually take until we see bubbles? After 6 days, I only see very few bubbles while my sauerkraut that I made on the same dat is bubbling like crazy 🙂 Is it normal? Should I add brine or something? Thanks!

Comments are closed.

Fermented Ginger Pickles Recipe - Fit Bottomed Girls (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pickled and fermented ginger? ›

They both produce a sour flavor, but pickles are sour because they are soaked in an acidic, vinegar-based brine, while fermented foods are sour because of a chemical reaction between naturally present sugars and bacteria known as lacto-fermentation.

What is the easiest fermented food to make? ›

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.

How to ferment pickles crunchy? ›

Keep Fermentation Short

The longer the fermentation process, the softer the vegetables become. To limit this effect, only leave your pickles to ferment for a few days at room temperature, then refrigerate. A fermentation period of 5 to 8 days is ideal.

Is fermented ginger good for you? ›

Fermenting garlic and ginger can enhance their already numerous health benefits. As garlic and ginger go through the fermentation process, the number of probiotic bacteria in them increases. Consuming probiotic bacteria has many benefits including improving your digestive system and immune system.

Which is healthier pickled or fermented? ›

The differences in their preservation does result in several differences in their available health benefits. The main difference in the health benefits between pickled and fermented foods lies in their probiotic properties. Fermentation generates more beneficial bacteria in foods, making them probiotic.

How much pickled ginger can you eat daily? ›

Ginger is safe to eat daily, but experts recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. Taking more than 6 grams of ginger a day has been proven to cause gastrointestinal issues such as reflux, heartburn and diarrhea.

How do you ferment for beginners? ›

How to ferment vegetables
  1. Begin by thoroughly sterilising your chosen jar. Wash it with warm soapy water and dry it well. ...
  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 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

What is the best fermentation starter? ›

5 CULTURES YOU CAN USE TO FERMENT ALMOST ANYTHING
  1. Sourdough Starter. This is obviously well-suited to grain dishes and baked goods, but can also be used to culture beans, fruits, and even vegetables. ...
  2. Juice from Fermented Vegetables. ...
  3. Whey from Yogurt or Kefir. ...
  4. Kombucha. ...
  5. Water Kefir.

Why did my fermented pickles turn to mush? ›

It may be a normal reaction during fermentation caused by bacteria. If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature.

What is the secret to a crunchy pickle? ›

The best way to keep your pickles crisp is by taking an extra moment to remove the blossom from the end of the cucumber. By adding this extra cut, you have a crisper pickle. Other ways to ensure a crisp pickle is by adding grape leaves to your jar. I tend to cut off both ends of the cucumber as I quickly process them.

What improves pickle firmness for fermented pickles? ›

Lime is a source of calcium. Calcium improves pickle firmness. Food-grade lime may be used as a lime-water solution for soaking fresh cucumbers 12 to 24 hours before pickling them. Excess lime absorbed by the cucumbers must be removed to make safe pickles.

Who Cannot take ginger? ›

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions, and people with diabetes should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. DO NOT take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.

Is it OK to eat pickled ginger everyday? ›

*Eating pickled ginger every day alleviates symptoms of cold, cough, flu, joint pain, and indigestion. *Contains bioactive compounds, such as gingerol, shogaols, and zingiberene which demonstrate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties thereby helping to reduce inflammation in the body and boost immunity.

Can too much fresh ginger be harmful? ›

It can cause mild side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, burping, and general stomach discomfort. Taking higher doses of 5 grams daily increases the risk for side effects. When applied to the skin: Ginger is possibly safe when used short-term. It might cause skin irritation for some people.

Is sushi ginger pickled or fermented? ›

It's young pickled ginger that is soaked in sweet vinegar brine. It can have a blush pink color when made from young ginger or artificially colored, or beige if made with regular ginger. We often serve and eat pickled sushi ginger while eating sushi and it's an essential part of a sushi meal.

Is pickled ginger a good probiotic? ›

Pickled ginger, like many pickled vegetables, is a low pH food that is high in good microbes, particularly, lactobacillus bacteria, which is recognised as a primary probiotic. Ginger microbes can boost gut microbiota that can prevent disease and improve overall health.

Is sushi ginger fermented pickled? ›

Our new Sushi Ginger is the first product of ours that is cold pickled in natural vinegar and fermented! Our sushi ginger is premium quality, made the traditional way, using traditional ingredients only.

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