Whether you're new to fermented foods or simply looking for fresh ways to use ingredients like kimchi, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut, there are so many easy and tasty ways to incorporate them into everyday meals. From breakfast bowls and smoothies to sandwiches, noodles, and simple dinners, fermented foods can almost magically add flavor and richness to your recipes.
If you've been eyeing that container of kimchi at your local store but have no idea how you'll use it, this one's for you. 🙂 And the best part? You don't need to ferment anything yourself to enjoy cooking with fermented foods at home. Many grocery stores now carry ready-to-use options like kombucha, kimchi, sourdough bread, and refrigerated sauerkraut, making it easy to add these flavorful ingredients to quick meals and snacks.
In this guide, you'll find simple ideas for cooking with fermented foods throughout the day, plus plenty of easy recipe inspiration using everyday ingredients.
Drinks
I'll start this conversation with fermented drinks because it's such a delicious (and refreshing) way to eat fermented foods, even though in this case we're drinking them. And perhaps I'm completely biased thanks to my particular obsession with kombucha, but I honestly can't think of a more perfect way to incorporate a delicious, bubbly drink into a meal.
Kombucha
Kombucha is widely available at nearly all large grocery stores nowadays (in the chilled section.) If you have yet to try it, you'll have plenty of flavors to choose from whether you're into fruity or spicy/gingery.
Kombucha pairs well with main dishes like burgers, fish, burritos and more, thanks to it's typically fruity and punchy flavors. It can also pair particularly well with a cheese plate or appetizer as a non-alcoholic alternative.
And if you want to add a little extra zing to your next smoothie, stir in a little kombucha after you blend everything up. A warning: you may never go back to non-kombucha smoothies. 😉
Kefir
Shifting gears to fermented dairy, kefir is a delicious way to mix up your milk or yogurt routine. Thinner than yogurt but thicker than milk, kefir is meant to be consumed as a beverage and also comes in a variety of flavors, often of the fruity sort (or vanilla), similar to yogurt.
I love using kefir instead of milk in some of my smoothie recipes, such as this blueberry kefir smoothie. And if you like drinking it straight, one of my favorite ways to enjoy plain or vanilla kefir is with some freshly baked small batch chocolate chip cookies. (Feel free to dip them too; so good.)
Breakfast
Moving on to breakfast, there are so many great ways to incorporate fermented foods whether you're a sweet or savory breakfast fan (or both!)
Fermented veggies can be added to your favorite savory dish, and a little goes a long way here. They are really there to enhance the flavor profile of the meal rather than dominate it. One of my favorite breakfast combos is a little kimchi served alongside eggs such as in this kimchi breakfast bowl, or added to a breakfast burrito.
And you needn't follow an actual recipe if you're in a hurry! Just a tablespoon or so of fermented vegetables served on the side of your favorite style of eggs is amazing. (My favorite is kimchi scrambled eggs.) If you're having breakfast potatoes, those also go great with a little sauerkraut or fermented beets to wake things up.
And for you sweet breakfast fans, yogurt or kefir both offer a ton of options for breakfast. From a fruit and yogurt parfait to overnight oats with kefir, there are so many great ways to add fermented foods into your morning routine. I also love serving French toast topped with whipped Greek yogurt and berries for an extra special breakfast or brunch.
Lunch
For easy lunch options, you could go for a warm comfort food option like a classic Reuben sandwich featuring sauerkraut, a kimchi grilled cheese, or a cold sandwich or salad like this tuna and sauerkraut sandwich. (Bonus points if you pair it with some carrot miso soup.)
I also love to have sourdough bread on hand for sandwiches or any meal, since sourdough is also a fermented food! (The photo at the top of this article is actually just open-faced ham and cheese sandwiches prepared on sourdough bread, a delicious combo.)
If you're feeling more of a burger kind of vibe for lunch, adding a topping of kimchi right onto that burger is SO good, whether you use a beef, turkey or veggie burger. And while we're on the topic of burgers, if you happen to have potato salad on the side, adding a little sauerkraut to it is also delicious, as is this old-fashioned sauerkraut salad with a hot dog. And (of course) don't forget the dill pickle. 😉
Dinner
Eating fermented foods at dinner is where things get really interesting. Just choose your favorite cuisine and I'll bet you there's a way you can add in a fermented food or two.
Personally, I find myself adding kimchi to just about everything these days, especially when it comes to rice and grain bowls. This quick kimchi noodles recipe comes together fast and features stir-fired chicken, kimchi and rice noodles.
I've also been experimenting with pairing different kinds of sauerkraut with classic appetizers like these sweet potato latkes with beet kraut. The sauerkraut works well to offset the sweetness of the potatoes and balance the sour cream.
Side dishes
One of the easiest ways to incorporate more fermented foods into your meals is by adding side dishes that use one or more of these foods, or serving a sauce or condiment alongside your dish that does. There are so many great options here!
Once of my all time favorite sauces here is this quick & easy miso sauce recipe. It's fantastic over roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli or a simple salad. Alternatively, use a little of this irresistibly good miso butter and you'll turn any grilled or steamed veggies into something absolutely delicious. (Tip: spread it over some fresh, crusty bread for a fantastic addition!)
A few more ideas
For Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, saag paneer or anything particularly spicy, a mango lassi beverage on the side will cut the spice and provide a welcome sweetness from the yogurt and fruit. And the classic Indian yogurt-based dip raita also shines in Indian cuisine, again helping to balance the heat from curries or spicy dishes.
The classic Moroccan dish chicken tagine also famously calls for preserved lemons to reproduce its authentic flavor. You can find this fermented condiment in a specialty foods store, or make your own preserved lemons right in your own kitchen.
A protein-based fermented food like tempeh should also be mentioned under the topic of dinner ideas since it provides a great vegan or vegetarian option for main courses. This easy marinated baked tempeh is my go-to recipe here; you can serve it over a salad or with some rice and cooked veggies.
And don't forget about apple cider vinegar, another lesser known fermented food. This simple apple cider vinegar dressing is great over a simple salad of greens. Or swap out sour cream with Greek yogurt in a ranch dressing for some extra fermented food love.
Snacks & desserts
Ooh, I couldn't wait to get to this all-important section: snacks and desserts. 🙂
For snacks, grab some real dill pickles (found in the produce section), or these savory fermented carrots which are just so, so tasty and crunchy.
Of course, you could also combine some fruit and yogurt for a more substantial snack, like this blue smoothie or black raspberry yogurt bowl.
Oh and I should have mentioned this earlier on the topic of breakfast, but a slice of avocado toast on sourdough makes a truly great snack as well. Or nacho night with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Tzatziki is actually a classic Greek dip featuring yogurt; it's great with chopped veggies, crackers or pita slices.
For dessert, I'll often pair a favorite classic dessert with a fermented dairy topping such as this old fashioned apple crumble with whipped yogurt.
I also love making baked goodies like muffins and breads with Greek yogurt, like these delicious cranberry orange muffins. The slightly tangy flavor and moist texture of the muffins make cooking with yogurt so worth it.
Happy cooking!
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