Anyone can make yogurt without the use or need for special equipment. A fermented milk product, it’s not only healthy and full of live active cultures for intestinal health, but it’s economical…and delicious! Be sure to reserve 1/3 cup of this batch as a starter for your next batch. (More good news: starters can be frozen up to 3 months and thawed when needed.)
This recipe requires patience – and not much more. It’s easy to make, requires no kneading and the reward for waiting lies between the tender layers in the lightest of dinner rolls. The method involves a long, slow, cold ferment of the dough. In bread making, this wait allows the gluten forming to calm down, relax and helps develop flavor.
Lactic acid fermentation relies on beneficial cultures to break down natural sugars in pickled products producing a variety of healthful substances, like lactic acid bacteria, helpful in aiding digestion and maintaining the nutritional benefits of foods. These cucumber pickles (you can also use zucchini, if preferred) undergo a relatively short fermentation period in the refrigerator so you’ll have to wait awhile to enjoy these pickles but they turn out perfectly crispy and crunchy, just the way everyone likes them.
