Fermented carrots with garlic, chilli and dill
Fermented carrots are currently my favourite afternoon snack. They’re crunchy, a little spicy and keep the afternoon cravings at bay.
This is also an excellent way to preserve those gorgeous little Dutch carrots when in season. That’s usually Autumn / Winter in Sydney. I buy tonnes of them and make several jars with a variety of flavours. My favourite is this garlic, chilli and dill version though.
In This Article
Fermented carrots are good for the gut!
Fermenting foods makes them easier to digest, improves their nutrient content and gives a boost to the beneficial bacteria in our guts.
When we ferment vegetables, like these carrots, it means we are getting both prebiotics and probiotics in the one jar. There’s the added benefit of increasing our vegetable intake too.
There are several fermented vegetables now available in supermarkets, but I prefer to make my own. I also encourage others to do the same. Why? Several mass-produced fermented foods are pasteurised for shelf-stability. A process that kills off all the beneficial bacteria we were hoping to obtain. That is by no means all brands of course but purchase with care. One of my preferred brands (no affiliation) that is now widely available is The Fermentary. If you’re a Sydneysider like me, you’ll also get some incredibly nourishing ferments from Holly Davis.
Wild fermentation
Certain methods of fermentation – such as this recipe – produce a ‘wild fermented’ end product. That just means they capture the wild lactic acid-producing bacteria found in your environment (or on fruit and veg) to aid the fermentation process. Once captured, the beneficial bacterial strains work away creating the delicious and nutritious end product we then get to eat. Such a magical little process, isn’t it?
Fermented foods found in supermarkets will usually have a starter culture added to them. It’s a food safety requirement in Australia and is fine of course. However, there is often a wider variety of beneficial bacterial strains in a jar of something wild fermented.
Once you’ve made this, try some of my other fermented recipes. Miso fermented garlic is definitely a must!
Fermented carrots with garlic, chilli and dill
Ingredients
- 2 bunches of dutch carrots
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-2 small red chillies, pierced
- 2-3 sprigs of dill
- 750 ml filtered water
- 25 g sea salt (~1.5 Tbsp)
Instructions
- Discard most of the carrot tops leaving a small green stalk (~1cm)
- Scrub the carrots and stalks thoroughly to remove all dirt (not being thorough here can affect the fermentation process)
- Pack the carrots, garlic cloves, chillies and dill very tightly into your sparkling clean jar. It should be a real struggle to get that last carrot in. This will ensure the vegetables stay submerged under the liquid. I pack some upright and some upside down to make best use of space in the jar
- Mix the salt and filtered water together until all the salt has dissolved to make a brine
- Pour the salt water brine over the vegetables leaving 2-3cm (~ 1 inch) of headspace at the top. Wipe the rim of the jar clean then put the lid on the jar quite firmly. (If you have any brine left you can keep it in a jar in the fridge for your next fermenting project but be sure to use it up in 2-3 weeks)
- Leave the carrots to ferment for 3-4 days on the bench at room temperature. As we're in the middle of Winter this may take a little longer, possibly 5-7 days. They're ready for the fridge when you see that the salt water brine has become effervescent.
What a delicious flavour combo for carrots. I can’t wait to try this.
Thanks, Dannii. I hope you enjoy them!
Love the flavour combination here. I have always wanted to try fermenting food, I am looking forward to making these delicious carrots!
Fermented foods are wonderful Alex! And a great little kitchen task to partake in.
These sound awesome. I want to snack on these.
I hope you enjoy them Andrea!
I love how simple the ingredients and how flavorful these fermented carrots are! The chili and dill adds wonderful flavor! Delicious!
Thanks, Jamie! They’re a favourite for me.
these fermented carrots look divine. I love these flavors with dill & garlic. A must-try recipe and looking forward to make.
I think dill and garlic is my favourite flavour combination. I hope you enjoy them Bhawana!