Here is a brilliant way to make your own best probiotics for gut health at home by fermenting some fruit and veg to preserve them but also develop lots of beneficial bacteria
Prep time : 10 mins | Ferment time: 3-10 days |
| Makes: 20 Servings | Difficulty: Medium
Probiotics are living microorganisms that are good for you, especially your digestive system. Here we make our own best probiotics for gut health, by using a method known as lactic acid fermentation or lacto fermentation to naturally ferment vegetables. The beauty of this method is that it’s so easy to apply and it works with virtually all vegetables and fruit. This fermentation process traditionally was used to preserve veg throughout the year but through the fermentation process it also develops more bacteria which are great probiotics and also prebiotics due to the high fibre content in the veg themselves.
We use a 2% salt solution method which makes it super easy to adapt to whatever volume of veg or even fruit you are fermenting. This basic method is applied when fermenting any fruit or veg. You can add some flavour agents such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, chilli and herbs or spices to give each ferment more personality.
The 2 secret ingredients to dictate the speed and the acidity of the ferment are TIME and TEMPERATURE. As a rule of thumb the longer you ferment anything the more acidic it will become and the more broken down the fruit or veg will become. The warmer the room the quicker the fermentation process. As in when fermenting in a cold room it will take much longer for them to become acidic than when compared to a warm room.
The basic method as mentioned which works for virtually all fruit and veg is to prepare your fruit and veg into which ever size you want it to be, as in grate your carrots or finely slice the cabbage etc. Remember the smaller you slice your veg and fruit the quicker it will ferment. Weigh your veg and then multiply this weight by 2% to find out the weight of salt that is required. The simply add the prepared veg to the jar you are going to use for fermentation, add the salt and cover with water so that the veg is submerged under water. Close the lid lightly so that it stops bacteria entering but that there is enough room for gases to escape. Leave to ferment for a week and taste it each day until it reaches your desired level of acidity and the veg is soft enough. Then store in the fridge to slow down the fermentation process and enjoy!
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Yes you can, it results in a salty acidic slightly sweet fruit, if the fruit is soft generally it will go to mush so try to choose firm fruits such as plum or apples work well.
Yes it does as otherwise there is a risk that mould will form. Often a weight or stopped is used to keep the veg down underneath the water, you can use a clean stone to do this.
Generally the mould only develops in the part that is above the water level, just remove this and discard and all under the water should be fine, but always check.
As mentioned above time and temperature dictate the amount of time required. The warmer the room the quicker the fermentation and the longer you leave it to ferment the more acidic and broken down the veg or fruit will be. Just taste a little to get an idea if it is ready and over time you will leave what is the best time frame to reach your desired results.
You can indeed, when a veg is over fermented it will lose its colour and break down in mush and be super acidic.
Once you are happy that there are fermented enough just put in a sealed jar and store in the fridge, they will continue to ferment but much slower.
Stephen says: 
this is such an easy method and it works great every time!
Vic says: Maybe a silly question, but how do I consume it? I’m presuming just the liquid and how much, how often?.x
Stephen says: You consume the veg, sometimes we use the liquid as an acidic salad dressing. it goes great in salads, sandwiches or as a condiment to main meals – thanks.
Renato Carnos says:
I loved the recipe. Is there a risk of the glass exploding in the fridge?
Stephen says: In the fridge it will ferment but much slower, just ensure before you put it in the fridge that you “burb” it meaning to open it and release some of the gases that build up and then put back in the fridge and it will be fine.
Giuseppe says: Hi there and thank you very much for this delicious recipe!
It’s not clear for me how much should the lid be closed to avoid that other bacteria enter the jar: it seems that when it’s sealed during the process, this could stop the process; if the lid is open then the other bacteria enter from outside…please help!😂
Stephen says: No worries, if the jar is sealed it will continue to ferment it just will need to be burped from time to time to release the build up of gas. If the lid is open just cover it with some muslin or a clean cloth to stop small creatures from entering but then the gas wont build up. hope this helps – thanks
Danie says: Such a great idea- thanks!
Helena says: Hi, is it just normal tapwater you add to it? Also would you use pink Himalayan salt or normal refined table salt? Thank you!
Pen says:
Love the nice easy instructions, so I’m going to have a go, thank you. BUT! Dumb question… how do I keep the veggies under the surface of the water? I’ve seen vague references elsewhere to using a rock or something? Help!
Kasia says:
I’m from Poland and we love our fermented food. My grandma and my mum always making tens of jars full of veg or fruits (cucumber, pepers, veg salads, pears, plums.) And the barrels of fermented cabbage 😋. They are always ready before winter so we can enjoy them until the next harvest 🙂
Jen says: Can I use leeks ? Thank you
Claudio says: Hey ☺️
I would like to know if it‘s okay for the water to get milky? All the best and thanks for all the lovely and delicious recipes.
Neet and angel says: Loved this post! I’ve been trying to improve my gut health and was looking for some new probiotic options. These homemade recipes sound amazing and I love that they’re plant-based. Can’t wait to try them out, thanks for sharing!
A k says: I absolutely loved this post! It’s so inspiring to see how easy it can be to make probiotics at home. I’ve been wanting to improve my gut health, and your step-by-step guide makes it feel achievable. Can’t wait to try the recipes you shared! Thank you for the tips, Happy Pear!
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15 Comments
this is such an easy method and it works great every time!
Maybe a silly question, but how do I consume it? I’m presuming just the liquid and how much, how often?.x
You consume the veg, sometimes we use the liquid as an acidic salad dressing. it goes great in salads, sandwiches or as a condiment to main meals – thanks.
I loved the recipe. Is there a risk of the glass exploding in the fridge?
In the fridge it will ferment but much slower, just ensure before you put it in the fridge that you “burb” it meaning to open it and release some of the gases that build up and then put back in the fridge and it will be fine.
Hi there and thank you very much for this delicious recipe!
It’s not clear for me how much should the lid be closed to avoid that other bacteria enter the jar: it seems that when it’s sealed during the process, this could stop the process; if the lid is open then the other bacteria enter from outside…please help!😂
No worries, if the jar is sealed it will continue to ferment it just will need to be burped from time to time to release the build up of gas. If the lid is open just cover it with some muslin or a clean cloth to stop small creatures from entering but then the gas wont build up. hope this helps – thanks
Such a great idea- thanks!
Hi, is it just normal tapwater you add to it? Also would you use pink Himalayan salt or normal refined table salt? Thank you!
Love the nice easy instructions, so I’m going to have a go, thank you. BUT! Dumb question… how do I keep the veggies under the surface of the water? I’ve seen vague references elsewhere to using a rock or something? Help!
I’m from Poland and we love our fermented food. My grandma and my mum always making tens of jars full of veg or fruits (cucumber, pepers, veg salads, pears, plums.) And the barrels of fermented cabbage 😋. They are always ready before winter so we can enjoy them until the next harvest 🙂
Can I use leeks ? Thank you
Hey ☺️
I would like to know if it‘s okay for the water to get milky? All the best and thanks for all the lovely and delicious recipes.
Loved this post! I’ve been trying to improve my gut health and was looking for some new probiotic options. These homemade recipes sound amazing and I love that they’re plant-based. Can’t wait to try them out, thanks for sharing!
I absolutely loved this post! It’s so inspiring to see how easy it can be to make probiotics at home. I’ve been wanting to improve my gut health, and your step-by-step guide makes it feel achievable. Can’t wait to try the recipes you shared! Thank you for the tips, Happy Pear!