Recipe: Fermented Tomatoes on Bread

Dear friends of good taste and healthy eating! Are you looking for a new culinary discovery for your daily bread? Then we have just the thing for you: Fermented cherry tomatoes with garlic and basil. In this blog post, we will show you step by step how to prepare this delicious recipe yourself. But before we get started, let's briefly talk about the fascinating topic of fermentation.

Fermentation is a centuries-old method of preserving food while also imparting unique flavors and health benefits. In this process, microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds are used to transform food under anaerobic conditions, meaning without oxygen. This not only creates fantastic aromas but also probiotics, which are good for your gut health. If you want to learn more about the fascinating world of fermentation, we recommend our blog post "Getting Started with Fermentation - How to Succeed."

What you need:

• 330 g cherry tomatoes, yellow & red
• 1 small clove of garlic
• 1 sprig of fresh basil
• 600 ml water
• 18 g sea salt (iodine- & fluoride-free)
• 750 ml Oleni Mason Jar

Here's how:

1. Prepare brine: Start by boiling 600 ml of water and adding 18 g of sea salt. Stir well until the salt has completely dissolved. Then let the brine cool down.

2. Sterilize: While the brine cools, sterilize the Oleni jar, fermentation lid, and glass weight. This is important to ensure that no unwanted microorganisms get into your fermented product. Also, wash the tomatoes and basil sprig thoroughly and peel the garlic clove.

3. Prepare tomatoes: Prick the cherry tomatoes several times with a toothpick. Then place the tomatoes, along with the basil sprig and peeled garlic clove, into the Oleni Mason Jar.

4. Start fermentation: Fill the prepared tomatoes with the cooled brine up to about 2 cm below the rim of the jar. Place the glass weight on top to ensure all tomatoes are covered with water. Place the fermentation lid on and close the jar with the screw cap.

5. Fermentation and storage: Let the tomatoes ferment at room temperature for 3-5 days. After fermentation, you can store the tomatoes in the refrigerator for longer storage. The longer the tomatoes ferment, the more sour they become – even in the refrigerator.

The fermented tomatoes take your snack to a new level. We like to eat them with fresh country bread and buffalo mozzarella:

What you need:

• 2 tbsp fermented tomatoes
• 1 buffalo mozzarella or some (vegan) cream cheese
• 2 slices of country bread
• Olive oil
• Basil
• Tomato salt
• Pepper

Here's how:

1. Slice the bread and toast it briefly on both sides.
2. Top the bread with buffalo mozzarella/cream cheese, fermented tomatoes, olive oil, basil, tomato salt and pepper and enjoy immediately.

Enjoy the unique taste and health benefits of this delicious treat. Bon appétit!