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Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes

June 20, 2015 by Cathy Arkle 29 Comments

This Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes recipe is spicy with a perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes | She Paused 4 Thought

Every once in a while I make something that is out of my comfort zone and I am shocked by how good it turns out. This fermented sweet potato recipe is just that.

Fermenting is currently the rage in Los Angeles; from trendy restaurant chefs & mixologists to vegans & home cooks alike.

I am a novice with fermenting, but I love it so much that I think I will soon become an expert! You can read about my first time fermenting process here.

The popularity of fermenting has grown for several possible reasons. It is noted for its probiotics properties that can help with digestion, and it enhances the flavor of whatever ingredient is being fermented. A side benefit is a leftover brine, which is full of flavor and can be used in salad dressings, drinks and to season just about everything.

Fermented Sweet Potatoes | She Paused 4 Thought

Equipment:

This recipe is easier to make with a digital scale, spiralizer, and a fermenting jar but can be done without as well.

Scale: If you don’t own a kitchen scale, get one. A kitchen scale makes life so much easier. It doesn’t have to be expensive. I bought one for $10 at Marshalls. If you don’t have a scale, weigh your sweet potatoes at the store and buy 1 extra small sweet potato to make up the difference between peeling and the parts you might cut off.

Spiralizer: I use my spiralizer a lot during the summer months. You can purchase a handheld version at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond for $15, or the one I am using at Amazon for $30. Other options are a julienne peeler or you can simply cut the sweet potatoes into small strips.

Fermenting Jar:  I am very fond of my 3-liter Air-Lock Lacto-Fermentation Kit from Rancho La Merced Provisions. If you would like to use a mason jar check out Food Renegade’s “Using a Mason Jar for Fermenting” on the subject.

Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes | She Paused 4 Thought

Today’s Recipe: Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes

In this recipe, the massaged fermented sweet potatoes creates its own brine. If the brine doesn’t cover all the sweet potatoes you can add a little bottled/filtered water to the top to keep the vegetables submerged so mold won’t form.

Note: The jalapeño pepper’s heat level will increase with time. I learned this after eating it straight out of the jar after it had been stored for two weeks in the refrigerator and almost burned my lips off. So now, I leave the jalapeño at the top and pull it out when it reaches the level of heat I prefer.

This recipe was adapted from the Cultures for Health website, which is a wealth of information if you want to learn more about fermentation.
Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes | She Paused 4 Thought
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Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes | She Paused 4 Thought

This fermented sweet potato recipe is spicy with a perfect balance of sweet and salty. Scrumptious on top of pork carnitas tacos or as a side dish for fish.

Ingredients

  • 2.5 pounds sweet potatoes peeled & spiraled or sliced thinly
  • 1- inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and grated or finely chopped
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 small jalapeño seeds removed sliced
  • 3-4 tablespoons sea salt

Instructions

  1. In a large non-reactive bowl mix the sweet potatoes with the ginger, onion, and jalapeño. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
  2. Massage the sweet potatoes to encourage the release of the juices and to help the brine develop faster.
  3. Once the brine begins to form (about 20 minutes), transfer to a fermentation vessel or (mason jar). Push down with a clean hand, if necessary, until the brine goes above the vegetables.
  4. Cover and ferment 5-10 days. It is important to keep this ferment in a cool place (under 65°F) as a quick fermentation could result in a large amount of alcohol being produced.
  5. If you are not using an airlock, be sure to burp the jars regularly to release pressure.
  6. Once the potatoes are pleasantly fermented, move them to the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Prep time: 20 minutes
Fermentation time: 7 days

I love this Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes recipe because it is spicy with a perfect balance of sweet. I eat it straight out of the jar or with a dollop of labneh (a Middle Eastern soft cheese made from yogurt), as well as on pork carnitas tacos, as a side dish for grilled meats and fish, or even for breakfast with greek yogurt and rice crackers.

I am off to the farmer’s market to investigate my next fermenting adventure.
…and then, she paused for thought.

Yum

Filed Under: Appetizers, Breakfast / Brunch, Fruit & Veggies, Healthy, Party Food, Recipes, Side Dishes, Snacks, Vegetarian Tagged With: Fermentation, Fermented Spicy Sweet Potatoes, fermented sweet potato, fermented sweet potatoes, fermenting sweet potatoes, raw, She Paused 4 Thought, spiralizer, sweet potatoes, vegan, vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nanette

    June 20, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    Wow, looks great. Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? Too bland? I love that you tell us how to make something, and then suggest what to eat it with! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 20, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      I haven’t thought about spaghetti squash, what a great idea. I will explore that option. I am thinking zucchini might work as well. Researching…

      Reply
  2. Sue @ It's Okay to Eat the Cupcake

    June 20, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Cathy, this is beautiful, and I’ll bet they’re delicious, especially with the pork carnitas. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  3. SUSAN HERRMANN LOOMIS

    June 20, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    Cathy these are gorgeous and they sound delicious! And that spiralizer….very cool.

    Reply
  4. CHERI NEWELL

    June 21, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    YES… looks yummy and I like your kitchen gadgets to make life easier!

    Reply
  5. Judy at My Well Seasoned Life.

    June 22, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    You talked about this recipe at lunch and now it’s here! Can’t wait. Would you use the same/similar process with cucumbers?

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 23, 2015 at 7:52 pm

      Good question Judy. I would think so, but I will need to do a little more research.

      Reply
  6. Kelly Page

    June 22, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    I can’t wait to try this. I’ve done this with varying levels of success using cabbage, but sweet potatoes seem like much more fun. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 23, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      Thanks Kelly, it is a great variation on all of the cabbage recipes. I think you will really like it.

      Reply
  7. Maggie Zeibak

    June 22, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    Who knew that fermenting was ‘in’? You did; I didn’t!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 23, 2015 at 7:50 pm

      It is quite addicting Maggie, and healthy as well.

      Reply
  8. Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva

    June 25, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Wow. I need to get on the fermentation bandwagon. It’s not all the rage in the desert, but most of our fermentation here comes in the form cocktails, botox and other injections 😉

    You made this look so easy that I just ordered that spiralizer from Amazon to give this a try!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      July 5, 2015 at 2:39 pm

      LOL Christy! I love anything spiralized and it never fails to impress people. I am going to try fermented spiralized cucumbers next.

      Reply
  9. Nusrat Azim

    June 30, 2015 at 4:51 am

    A totally new and incredibly sweet idea to me! Fermenting sweet potatoes. Genius!
    And it didn’t take much of your energy to prepare this beauty-thing. Plus, I bought a spiralizer few months back 🙂

    So, thank you very much for giving me this brilliant twist-idea on sweet potatoes. Those potato Julienne are looking so fancy dancy!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      July 5, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      It was a new idea to me as well… nothing ventured, nothing gained. I am loving coming up with new things to ferment and the spiralizer makes it so pretty & festive.

      Reply
  10. Lynne @ CookandBeMerry

    July 14, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    Very interesting. I have a spiralizer, but have never used it. This would be a perfect first time project. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      March 28, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      Lynne, once you realize how easy and fun they are to use I think you will love it. It makes any dish more fun.

      Reply
  11. Anita

    March 27, 2016 at 10:11 am

    Have you tried fermented cassava? http://earthlychow.com/heavenly-sweet-fermented-cassava-alcoholic-kick-tapai-ketela-indonesian-ragi-tape-yeast

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      March 28, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      Hi Anita, I have tried fermented cassava while I was in Dubai home-made by native Fijians. It was a bit of an acquired taste for me, but I know so many people rave about it. I will check out your recipe for it and try it again. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  12. Billy

    June 19, 2017 at 10:45 am

    So interesting that the jalapenos increase their heat by so much when you pickle them! I was curious about this – I assumed the flavor would increase but I didn’t think the heat would be blasted so high! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I can’t wait to make it at home.

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 19, 2017 at 3:11 pm

      I found that interesting as well Billy. This is one of my favorite fermented recipes. Enjoy.

      Reply
  13. Gertrude Carson

    February 7, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    Just started my sweet potatoes in their brine I’ll let you know in 7 Days by the way I have a spiralizer that is electric and it’s worth every penny that I put in it I use it for zucchini for stir fry and for summer squash anything that I can use it for

    Reply
  14. Cathy Arkle

    February 19, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    Love to know how it went Gertrude. I didn’t even know there was an electric spiralizer, how cool is that.

    Reply
  15. Toni l Petersen

    August 13, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    Well I just read this a little late did sweet potatoes in Arizona my kitchen is 78 to 80 degrees. Any advice 2 days in. I will try it again in the winter for sure

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      August 16, 2018 at 8:00 am

      Hi Tony, I would definitely wait until it is a bit cooler to try this again. It is really worth the wait. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.

      Reply
  16. Paula M Stone

    May 4, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    I tried this ferment. Don’t think I’ll try it again… very strange flavor.!!??

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      October 2, 2020 at 5:53 pm

      I am sorry you didn’t like the fermented sweet potatoes. I am not sure what strange flavor you experienced, as the ingredients are pretty straight forward.

      Reply
  17. Paula

    May 4, 2020 at 2:28 pm

    I tried your fermented sweet potatoes
    Was really excited cause I both sweet potatoes and ferments! Looking forward to it. But the flavor I experienced was not anything I expected…Was like capers with softened sweet potato from Himalayan salt. And lots of starchy crunch. Actually not like a crunch at all just yeack!!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      October 2, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      I am sorry your experience was not what you were expecting. Everyone I have served them to loved them.

      Reply

I would love to hear from you! Cancel reply

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Welcome to She Paused 4 Thought! I’m Cathy - a farm girl from Iowa living in Los Angeles. Let’s cook, laugh, travel & have fun together. Read More…

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