Below is the general recipe I use for making fermented cabbage for my dogs, I started feeding fermented cabbage earlier this year and I see a HUGE difference when using it with my dogs!
I started with a general fermentation recipe, and for later batches I added the probiotic and really liked that as well! (Thank you Dr. Karen Becker!)
1 head of green cabbage
1 probiotic capsule
Salt (I like to use Celtic Sea salt)
Mason jars with a fermenting lid
Fermenting weights
Wooden pounder (optional)
- Chop the cabbage into small pieces, saving a couple of the outside leaves whole, set them aside Try to make them as close to the same size as possible. I like to cut them into about 1″ size pieces, that is the size my dogs like.
- Put all of your cabbage into a large bowl, add about 2 tablespoons of salt, this can vary with the amount of cabbage you are using, 2 tablespoons for one cabbage seems to work for me. I also open one probiotic capsule and add it to the bowl.
- this is the long and hard part! If you have a pounder you can start pounding the cabbage, if you don’t have a pounder you can mash it with your hands. (this is what I do) I will work the cabbage for about 10-15 mins and then let it rest for about 10 mins, and then mash again for 10-15 mins. I am wanting the cabbage to have enough water worked out that we can use that to fill the jars.
- once you have worked the cabbage, it should have shrunk by about half, now we get to fill the jars!
- I use Ball mason jars, I like the 32 ounce wide mouth jars. Start filling the jars with your cabbage, gently pressing the cabbage down, we want to work out the air bubbles.
- fill the jar until you have about an 1″ – 2″ gap at the top (headspace), as you press the cabbage down, water should be coming up to the top. If you don’t have enough to cover the cabbage, add a little from your bowl. (And if you don’t have enough water in the bowl you can use some tap water, I add a little salt to it if I need to use tap)
- Now take your extra cabbage leaf, cut it down so it fits into the jar, you want it to cover your cabbage and hold it under the water. I then put my ferment weight on top.
- Now just put your fermenting lid on and you are ready to go!
- I have found that about 3 weeks is the perfect ferment for my dogs, they like the taste and it has been pretty consistent for me. if I ferment it too long they aren’t as fond of the taste as it gets a bit sour.
This is a live video I did on the Fluid Motion Facebook page making a batch of cabbage, I used red cabbage in this video, which I wasn’t fond of, I like green better. 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/fluidmotionagilityandwellness/videos/308044960064903/
Supply Links:
(The below links are affiliate links and a small amount from purchases made at that link will go to Fluid Motion, all profits go towards the Fluid Motion blog and Youtube series)
Mason Jars – https://amzn.to/2u8xaq9
Silicone Fermenting Lids – https://amzn.to/358bqan
Fermenting Weights – https://amzn.to/2QD0oES
Pickle Pounder – https://amzn.to/2tkRzYh
Grey Sea Salt – https://amzn.to/37oxNtK
Probiotic-
I also found this pretty cool kit that has everything but the jars and salt which is pretty cool – https://amzn.to/36dCmH5
Fluid Motion Agility 