Dressing with salted fruit
One of the simplest fermentation processes is lactic acid fermentation. Known from sauerkraut or kimchi, this process is also used for fruits. We have already made fruit giants on this basis and this time we dedicate ourselves to salt lemons. However, instead of lemons, we use other citrus fruits and use the final product to make various dressings.
Limes, oranges, tangerines and grapefruit add an aromatic twist to the familiar salt lemon, making it the perfect base for an exciting line of dressings. We pick up the ingredients at a weekly market in Hamburg and buy organic citrus fruits, so we can be sure that the fruits are free of pesticides and the peel can be fermented without hesitation.
Salted fruits
We wash the citrus with cold water and dry them carefully. We cut the lemons, limes, grapefruit and orange into wedges, and the tangerine into slices. We weigh the fruit and add non-iodized sea salt to each 10% of the weight. Higher than 10% should not be used, as this would be too salty. Smaller amounts from approx. 2% are also possible.
We distribute the salt by closing the jar and swirling the fruit vigorously. Then we fill the jars with a little water so that the columns and slices are covered. Covered prevents unwanted mold growth and ensures a uniform process, the lactic acid fermentation runs anyway anaerobic, ie without oxygen.
Waiting for Oho
We seal the jars and leave them at room temperature for a week. During this time, a slight blistering can be observed. After 3 days, we open all the jars once: on the one hand, to mix the citrus wedges and to catch the first scents. It smells sour, slightly salty and – as expected – intense citrus aromas. Each glass – and therefore each fruit – in itself has a very interesting aroma.
Salt lemons are a very grateful starting point for a reef, as the process is not very labor intensive. In Germany, however, the salt lemon is rarely used, so we wanted to give it a little spotlight.
Citrus meets MILK.
For the further processing of the fruits, we let ourselves be guided by our experience and intuition. We see in the finished dressings, notes of caramel, bread, sweetness and acidity.
Aromatic partners from agency work are quickly found:
- Lemon meets Grafschafter light syrup
- Lime meets vinegar from the company Feldmann
- Grapefruit meets our honey
- Orange meets Grafschafter Goldsaft
- Tangerine meets pot of bread drink
Each of these products brings its own unique flavor structure to the dressing: acidity from the vinegar, sweetness from the honey, caramel notes come from the Grafschafter syrup and flavors of bread from the Kanne Brottrunk. We process the fruit into a puree in each case and use this as the basic ingredient. Other ingredients such as elderberry, gold of pleasure oil and olive oil round out the dressings.
The combination of lactic fermented citrus fruits with their respective partners results in five dressings with complex flavors. We fill them in 140 ml glass bottles and obtain a range of products with intense aroma and color.
Packed like this and stored in the refrigerator, the dressing will keep for several weeks. Ideal to quickly provide variety in the kitchen at home. In addition to crisp salads, it can also be used to freshen up stewed vegetables.
With a little imagination, our range of dressings is a universal addition to the everyday kitchen.
