Maybe you’ve seen the brightly colored labels in the refrigerated case. With exotic sounding names like kim chi and curtido, maybe you’ve also wondered what exactly is in those pretty Spirit Creek Farm jars.
Spirit Creek Farm makes tangy (and tasty) lacto-fermented foods. Processed in Cornucopia, Wisconsin from locally grown organic produce, these products start with vegetables in salt brine. The vegetable mixture sits undisturbed for several weeks, which allows lactic acid bacteria to process the sugars of the vegetables into lactic acid. The acid left behind gives lacto-fermented foods a distinct sour flavor.
Chequamegon Food Co-op carries several Spirit Creek Farm products. They include:
- Sauerkraut – Possibly the most well-known fermented vegetable product, the sauerkraut recipe is simple: cabbage, sea salt, and water. We carry traditional ‘kraut and a red cabbage variety.
- Kim chi – A mixture of cabbage, carrots, radishes, onion, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes soaked in sea salt brine. The ginger adds a sweet note to the acidity created by fermentation.
- Curtido – A Latin-American inspired sauerkraut, curtido features green cabbage, onions, carrots, oregano, sea salt and red pepper flakes.
- Ginger carrots – A favorite with kids, this jar contains only carrots, ginger, and sea salt.
- Beans – These pickled green beans make a tasty snack. Garlic, black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, and sea salt add a spicy little kick.
Enjoy these lacto-fermented foods on their own or as a condiment. Try replacing your salad dressing with curtido or using kim chi to create a quesadilla. Or go the traditional route with ‘kraut on a brat. Any way you eat it, we are sure you’ll relish the tangy flavor of Spirit Creek Farm’s lacto-fermented foods!