Fresh + Light Cultured Veggies

Ingredients

-2 medium heads of tightly packed cabbage, shredded in a food processor (NOTE: keep the outer cabbage leaves, these will be used later)
-4 carrots, shredded in a food processor
-5 to 6 scallions, thinly sliced
-2 to 4 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
-1 to 2 tbsp red pepper flakes
-1 orange, juiced and zested
-1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced (optional but it adds good flavor)
-2 tbsp honey or 1-3 scoops of EcoBloom (a prebiotic, I use Body Ecology **)
-1 packet of a culture starter (I use Body Ecology **)
-some type of veggie for the brine (I used broccoli stalks), or you could use some of the shredded cabbage

Equipment 
-food processor
-very large bowl **
-high powered blender
-4 or 5 quart size mason jars (I bought a 6 pack)
-canning funnel **
-dowel (optional)

Directions
1. Take a packet of the culture starter and the prebiotic (honey or EcoBloom) and add it to a bowl with 1 1/2 cups of warm water (90 degrees); let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

2. After they are shredded and cut up, put the cabbage, carrots, scallions, ginger, red pepper flakes, orange zest and garlic into a very large bowl.

3. While you are waiting for the culture starter to be ready, put the orange juice, the broccoli stalks, other greens or a handful or two of the shredded cabbage and add it to a blender with water filled about 3/4 of the way up the container (this depends on how big your cabbage heads are); blend well.

4. When the culture starter/prebiotic mixture is ready, add it to the brine.

5. Add the culture starter/brine mixture to the bowl of veggies and combine well, even squeezing the veggies with your hands a bit to create a bit more liquid.

6. Begin filling each of the mason jars, packing down the veggies very tightly with a dowel or the back of a thick wooden spoon; leave about 2 inches at the top for the veggies to expand and pour the rest of the brine on top of them, making sure they are covered in liquid.

7. Roll up a cabbage leaf and insert it at the top of each jar, still making sure the veggies are below the liquid; put the lids on.

8. Let the jars sit out at least 3 days, preferably a week and then refrigerate.
 

Creates many servings; if you have 1/2 cup a day with lunch or dinner it could last you about a month

**I'm an affiliate of Body Ecology and Amazon, so I get a small commission if you purchase through the links above