Simple Fermented Beet Recipe–2 Ways

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Simple fermented beet recipe, two ways! Learn how to preserve your beet harvest with fermentation! It’s easy and adds gut-healthy probiotics to an already nutrient-packed veggie!

Disclosure: Any information given is my opinion formed through my own research. This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness. Please do your own research regarding your health as you are responsible for your own decisions.

Fermenting Vegetables

I started fermenting vegetables a few years ago. The first vegetable I tried was carrots. My midwife had raved about some fermented carrots she had at an upscale ethnic restaurant. I told her I was pretty sure it would be easy to recreate the flavor. Turns out it’s very easy! You can see my post on fermented carrots here.

Next, I tried sauerkraut. A neighbor friend shared his family method with me for making sauerkraut. I made several batches of that with green cabbage and then started experimenting with red cabbage! I share the method for red cabbage sauerkraut here.

The truth is I don’t like to can. I know, it’s almost glamourous in the homesteading world, I mean really I’m almost a heretic for not liking it! I will do the occasional batch of jalapenos and I have canned beets, I’ve made jalapeno jelly and mulberry jam, but I just don’t love the process. Fermenting is a good alternative for me. We have a big family and it is rare that we grow enough extra food to really justify canning anyway. We may have enough extra for a few quarts of food.

What are the Health Benefits of Fermented Beets?

Beets

Beets are high in fiber, vitamin B9 (great for pregnant women), manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin C! So we’ve got essential minerals, vitamins, antioxidents and fiber, what a great vegetable!

Fermenting is an age-old method of preserving food. The first civilization using fermentation to preserve food was likely thousands of years before Christ. Nearly every culture has its own claim to fame for fermentation, from Kimchi and Sauerkraut to Indian Chutneys. There has been a recent rise in popularity for the humble fermented food, and with good reason.

Lacto-Fermentation

Lacto-fermentation, a method of food preservation that increases the nutrient content of the food. The bacteria produce vitamins and enzymes that aid in digestion. This makes the minerals in cultured food more readily available to your body.

Almost any vegetable can be fermented and fermenting homegrown or farm-fresh produce is a great way to preserve the harvest and enjoy it through the winter. Enjoy making this probiotic-rich snack.  Probiotics help balance the microbial content of the gastrointestinal tract. This helps in supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation in the gut.

When I have canned beets in the past, I have boiled them first to get the skin off. Then I chopped and water bath canned them. This means they have been heated twice. This is bound to reduce the nutrient content of the beet.

How to Make Fermented Beets

To start you need to peel and cut up the beets. First I cut the ends off and then I just peel the beets like I would an apple. It’s really not difficult.

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Next, chop the beets up pretty small. Since we are not heating these, they are going to remain pretty firm. The smaller chunks will ferment more quickly and become a bit softer.

After chopping up the beets, pack the jar full of beets. Then make a brine for the beets to ferment in. The salt creates conditions that favor the bacteria, preventing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, and adds flavor. Salt is vital to the fermenting process.

The general rule of thumb for fermenting is 2 cups water to 1 TBS salt.

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A 1-quart jar holds approximately 1.5 cups of water when packed full of beets. It took 2 large beets or three medium beets to fill a quart jar.

What Tools Do You Need to Ferment?

You don’t necessarily need any special tools to ferment. However, there are a few things that will streamline the process and make it even easier.

Weights

Essentially you will just need something to keep the vegetables under the brine so that they don’t mold. You could boil a medium-sized rock and use that to hold the veggies down. I have used a yogurt lid with a slit cut on the sides and push it down in the jar to hold the veggies under.

Or you could purchase glass weights like these to hold the vegetables down. I really like the weights, they are a perfect size and easy to remove and clean.

Pickle Pipes or Fermentation Lids

The purpose of a fermentation lid or pickle pipe is to allow the pressure to be released. If you want to ferment without this, then you will need to remember to burp your jar periodically. I know that I wouldn’t remember to do that, so I like to use these lids.

Place the Jars on Plates or shallow dishes

As the beets ferment, they will bubble up and spew a bit. Place the jars on plates or shallow dishes so that it doesn’t go all over your counters. By day three they should stop leaking.

Here are the two recipes for fermented Beets.

Pickled Fermented Beets

Garlic Fermented Beets

How Long to Ferment Beets?

I tested the beets at 7 days, at 10 days, and then 14 days. They were tasty at 7 days, but still quite firm or crispy. At 10 days they were very flavorful and firm, but a little more tender. At 14 days they were delicious and while still firm, were not as crunchy. I like the beets firm like this, but if you are used to canned pickled beets, the texture will take a bit of getting used to. Some say you could par-boil put them in an ice bath and then and peel them first and then ferment them. This would certainly make them less firm, but again perhaps some of the nutrient content would be lost, also you would need some sort of culture since some of the enzymes would be lost in cooking. So, cooked vegetables do not ferment without adding a culture.

It will not hurt to let the beets ferment longer. Let them go as long as you like, taste them periodically and see if you like the flavor and texture. After you are happy with them, just place a regular lid on the jar and keep them in the refrigerator.

How to Eat Fermented Beets?

We like them as a side dish, on salads, or as an afternoon snack. I do think they taste a bit less earthy than cooked beets. I have a dear friend that does not care for beets, she was able to almost enjoy the garlic fermented beets as the garlic covered up the earthy flavor of the beets.

That’s it! I hope you enjoy fermenting your vegetables and enjoy the health benefits! Let me know in the comments if you have tried fermenting and feel free to ask any questions!

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