Fermented Cauliflower with Chipotle Peppers

Is it just me or is cauliflower the new kale?

For years I considered cauliflower to be the ugly step brother to broccoli. It doesn’t have much taste, tends to make your refrigerator smell funky and let’s be honest, it looks like brains.

These days, I use cauliflower a million different ways. My favorites being cauliflower rice and cauliflower NACHOS! It also makes a good roasting vegetable to bulk up veggie heavy meals like buddha bowls. It’s actually a pretty versatile vegetable.

And it turns out it’s also a great vegetable for fermenting! Add in the smokey flavor of chipotle peppers and you have yourself some of the best cauliflower you’ve ever had!

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support. 

Fermented Cauliflower with Chipotle Peppers

1 small head of cauliflower

2 dehydrated chipotle peppers

1 1/2 tsp sea salt

2 cups filtered water

Quart-size glass jar with lid or airlock device

First, dissolve the sea salt into the filtered water and set aside. Then cut the cauliflower into bite-size florets. Place one chipotle pepper in the bottom of the jar and then fill half way with cauliflower florets. Add in the second chipotle pepper and continue filling with cauliflower, leaving enough room for a fermentation weight at the top. Pour in the salt water until all of the cauliflower is covered.

Top with a glass weight and cap with a regular lid or airlock device.

You’ll start noticing the water turning cloudy and some bubbles within about 24 hours. This means your cauliflower is on its way to fermented bliss.

I tasted the cauliflower at 7, 14 and 21 days. I found it starting to sour at 14 days and ready to eat at 21 days. The length of fermentation needed for this recipe will depend on a few variables including the temperature of your fermenting environment and your personal taste preference. For me, 21 days was the sweet spot.

I used the Pickle Pusher from Ultimate Pickle Jar for this recipe. The Pickle Pusher is an all-in-one ‘weight’ and airlock system. The green part acts as a weight and keeps everything under the brine for safe fermenting. It also comes with a lid and airlock to fit a wide mouth mason jar. It’s great for ferments where the vegetables tend the float in the brine.

Add fermented cauliflower to your summer salads for some extra taste and crunch!

5 from 1 vote

Print

Fermented Cauliflower with Chipotle Peppers

Course Side Dish

Keyword cauiflower, fermented

Author TheWildGut.com

Ingredients

• 1 small head of cauliflower
• 2 dehydrated chipotle peppers
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 cups filtered water

Instructions

1. Dissolve the sea salt in filtered water
2. Cut cauliflower into florets
3. Place one chipotle pepper in the bottom of the jar
4. Fill half way with cauliflower florets
5. Add in the other chipotle pepper
6. Fill the rest of the jar with cauliflower florets leaving room for a fermentation weight

7. Pour in the salt water brine until everything is covered

8. Weigh down the cauliflower and water mixture with a fermentation weight
9. Place lid or airlock on jar
10. Let ferment for 14-21 days
11. Remove airlock (if used) and put a lid on the jar
12. Store in refrigerator