As it turns out, our guts are the key to good health! And one way to support that system is with fermented foods. Some of the tastiest foods we enjoy are fermented: chocolate, cheese, yoghurt, soy sauce, miso, tempeh, beer, wine, olives, bread, etc. Most famously, sauerkraut and kimchi are loaded with the right kind of bacteria for good gut health. And both are easy to make at home!

All you need to ferment your own foods are some clean ceramic or glass containers (hello, mason jars!) salt (sea salt recommended) and your produce of choice. You can ferment as much or as little as you like, from a pint to gallons, so if you’re new to fermenting, you can start slow.

Cabbage is in your box this week, perfect for kraut and the best recipe for newbies to start with. Hot pepper sauce is also easy to make and will last for months in the fridge. That one calls for an airlock lid, but using a weight (read the kraut recipe first) to submerge the peppers under the brine will work just fine. More complex is kimchi, but well worth the effort!

Happy fermenting!