Probiotics: Sauerkraut, Sour Dough & Hot Sauce

There is more than yogurt

Probiotics are live bacteria your body needs in order to digest properly. They are found naturally in your body – your colon depends on these ‘good bacteria’ – and in certain foods. Lactobacillus – the most common probiotic bacteria – is found in dairy products and fermented foods – such as sauerkraut, fermented pickles, and sour dough as well as in hot sauce.

Learn more and see our recipe.

What to look for

When looking for fermented food, choose ‘barrel cured’ sauerkraut to make sure it is not pasteurized. Pasteurization kills live active bacteria – also the good ones. Same goes for pickles. They have to be fermented. Salt and water - not vinegar - has to be used in the pickling process in order to grow the ‘good’ bacteria. In addition sauerkraut contains a lot of vitamins that help boost the immune system.
 
Even ‘Hot Sauce’, when made out of fermented chili peppers, is probiotic. By the way: When I was looking on the internet for starters to make my own yogurt, I came across suggesting stems of chili peppers. Obviously probiotic bacteria live on these stems.
 
Sour dough bread is a good source for probiotics as well. But again: Make sure it contains naturally grown ‘sour dough’. Some weeks ago I saw an article in NY Times you may enjoy: "Sourdough Starter, America's Rising Pet". Maybe you want to try growing your own sour dough.

Try this recipe

Paprika Sauerkraut

Heat a little bit of vegetable oil in a frying pan; add 1 pound ground turkey, 2 - 3 chopped onions, and some garlic. Stir until turkey is fully cooked. Reduce heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon paprika powder until well blended, add ½ cup of water. Stir in 1 lb of fermented sauerkraut. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Serve with cooked potatoes.

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