Naturally Fermented Pickled Vegetable Medley Recipes

NATURALLY PICKLED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

Steps:

• Wash 4 cup (1 L) clip-top glass jar and its sealing ring in hot soapy water. Place cleaned jar and sealing ring in large stock pot, cover with at least 1 1/2 in (4 cm) of water and set over medium heat. Bring water to a simmer and allow jar and ring to sit in simmering water for at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, gently toss together carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, and beans until well combined.
• In small saucepan, create a salt brine by bringing water and salt to a simmer over medium heat. Stir until salt is completely dissolved and then remove saucepan from heat.
• With tongs, carefully remove warm jar and sealing ring from water before placing on wire cooling rack or clean kitchen towel. Place sealing ring around jar lid.
• Pack vegetables into jar before topping with garlic, mustard seeds, caraway seeds, and chili, if using. Pour warm brine over vegetables in jar, ensuring that vegetables are completely submerged. Gently press down on vegetables with spoon to release any air bubbles. You may not use all the brine. If desired, you may place a few rounds of parchment paper or a cabbage leaf over vegetables to ensure they stay submerged in brine. Secure the lid and leave to ferment, out of direct sunlight, for 2 to 4 days.
• Take note that every day you should open the lid and u201cburpu201d your fermentation to release any built-up gas in the jar. Your vegetable medley will be ready when you see bubbles travelling up the jar when itu2019s opened, and the brine has a vinegary smell. Donu2019t worry if the brine becomes cloudy; this is perfectly normal. Once fermented, transfer to refrigerator, where your vegetables will continue to ferment, but at a much slower rate.
• Pickled vegetables will keep refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.

SAUTEED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

Steps:

• Toss vegetables together in a medium bowl.
• In a medium saute pan, heat the butter and water together over medium heat. Add the vegetables to the pan and turn the heat to medium high. Toss the vegetables, by gently moving the pan back and forth over the flame. Cook the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and serve immediately.
• Cook the vegetables in 1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter, without the water. Do this over high heat and brown and crisp the vegetables slightly.
• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, minced shallot, a teaspoon of grated peeled fresh ginger to the pan before adding the vegetables. - Enhance the vegetables at the end of cooking with a tablespoon or so of minced fresh herbs, like chopped flat-leaf parsley, dill, mint, basil, cilantro, or thyme.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Fill a large bowl with ice water, and put a colander or strainer in it. Add the vegetable to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until crisp tender, or the desired degree of doneness. Scoop the vegetable from the water and immediately put them in the ice water, to stop the cooking and set their color. Cool and drain, and use as desired. When blanching a mix of vegetables, don't cook them together since they may not all cook at the same time. Start with the lightest colored or mildest flavored vegetable, and blanch and refresh each vegetable, one after the other, until cooked as desired.