Friday, December 18, 2015

Eat the Rainbow Rainbow Root Ferment

Rainbow Root Ferment

Maw-Maw Kelli, Herbalist



Its very important to ‘Eat the Rainbow.’  A few years back, I took a series of Webinars classes from Lisa Ganora that went along with her book Herbal Constituents (which I also own) and have enjoyed reading it and learning more about Phytochemicals.  Its very interesting science and I hope your check out her work.  http://www.herbalconstituents.com/

I used the foundation of that information to create my Rainbow Root Ferment.   I wanted to find a way to eat the rainbow, daily. Certainly this is not the only way I ‘Eat the Rainbow’ but it’s a good way to get started.   Fermented food can not only help you with beneficial bacteria but eating the rainbow daily will help you get those needed phytonutrients that come in the different colors of the veggies (and you can add apples to sweeten this if you like)

Supplies
Fermentation Vessel (mason jar and lid works just fine, or fermentation crock)
Parsnip
Carrots
Purple Onion
Turnip
Beets
Green Apple**
Radishes
Salt (non iodized for this)
Water
Cilantro (fresh)

** Optional--to sweeten if you like or leave this out if  you like but first time fermenters or people not used to eating fermented foods may find the apple helpful and makes it a little sweet)


Grate or Chop (remember Sandor says choppers choice. I like to grate especially when I have apprentices to help me LOL) all the roots.




Doesn’t this look wonderful!!!  And it is!!!

Sprinkle salt on the mixture allow to sit for about 20 minutes. Come back and use your hands to ‘knead’ the mixture to release the moisture.

Then I place this in the fermentation vessel and fill the vessel with salt brine (if there is not enough of the natural liquid to cover it) and use a weight to keep the material below the salt brine.

Allow to ferment to your desired taste (at least 8 days--many people will go longer, the longer the better, I believe but it is your choice).  Watch carefully so that no mold develops. If you are unfamiliar with fermenting familiarize yourself a bit. http://www.wildfermentation.com/

When you like the taste switch to another jar and store in the Frig. Eat a few forkfuls with your dinner each evening. Its good for you!