Zucchini are versatile and can be used in many dishes. They also taste great fermented on their own, which can be done in just a few steps.
Zucchini grow in the garden between June and October, but are commercially available all year round. That's great, because you can use it to conjure up the most delicious dishes at any time. The smaller versions, for example, contain hardly any seeds and are therefore ideal as a snack in between. The larger ones, on the other hand, can be fermented just fine. Not only is this super easy, the slightly nutty taste of the zucchini is also really delicious.
Fermenting zucchini - basic recipe
To ferment the zucchini, you need a mason jar or screw-top jar with a lid in addition to the actual ingredients. The following ingredients are used:
- 1 large zucchini or several small ones
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/2 onion
- 1 teaspoon green tea
- 25 g s alt
- 500 ml water
Preparation:
❍ Step 1:
First a brine must be prepared. To do this, put water and s alt in a container. If the water is warm, the s alt will dissolve better.
❍ Step 2:
Wash the zucchini and trim the ends. It is then quartered and cut into thin, even sticks.
❍ Step 3:
Peel and halve the garlic cloves. The onion is also cut into rings.
❍ Step 4:
Place the onions, garlic and green tea in the bottom of the glass. Then place the zucchini sticks upright in the jar. They should be as close together as possible.
❍ Step 5:
The s alted water should be cool before pouring over the zucchini. Fill the glass with the brine until the vegetables are completely covered with water.
❍ Step 6:
The jar is now sealed and kept at room temperature for about a week.
❍ Step 7:
You can do the first taste test after a week. Then let the vegetables continue to ferment if they don't taste good yet.
When the zucchini tastes good, close itGlass again and then store it in the refrigerator. It can then be kept there for several weeks.
Heavy alternative with chilli and dill
Another recipe includes other spices and gives the zucchini a slightly heartier taste. This requires the following ingredients:
- 500 g small courgettes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 small chili pepper
- 3 fresh sprigs of dill
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp s alt (20 g)
- 3 Grape Leaves
Preparation:
❍ Step 1:
First cut the chili into strips. It is essential that you do not remove the cores. Then peel the garlic. Then add the chilli, garlic, bay leaf and dill to the bottom of the glass.
❍ Step 2:
Cut the courgettes into pieces about 2 to 3 centimeters in size. They are then put in the glass with the other spices. They should sit close together.
❍ Step 3:
Now add the s alt. Then cover everything with the clean grape leaves. Finally, pour the water into the glass. It ensures that all vegetables are below the surface.
❍ Step 4:
Now close the jar and let it ferment for about five days. In the meantime, it is advisable to open the jar slightly to allow the gases produced to escape. After the said five days, place the jar in the fridge. If you let the zucchini pieces continue to ferment for two weeks, they will acquire a very hearty taste.