Wildcrafted Fermentation

Wild krauts and kimchis, fermented forest brews, seawater brines, plant-based cheeses, and more

One of the most influential tastemakers of our time invites you on an extraordinary culinary journey into the lacto-fermentation universe of common wild edibles. Used for thousands of years by different cultures all around the world, lacto-fermentation is the easiest, safest, and most delicious way to preserve food. And nature provides all the necessary ingredients: plants, salt, and the beneficial lactic acid bacteria found everywhere.

In Wildcrafted Fermentation, Pascal Baudar describes in detail how to create rich, flavorful lacto-ferments at home from the wild and cultivated plants in your local landscape or garden. From sauerkrauts and kimchis to savory pastes, hot sauces, and dehydrated spice blends, Baudar includes more than 100 easy-to-follow, plant-based recipes to inspire even the most jaded palate. Step-by-step photos illustrate foraging, preparation, and fermentation techniques for both wild and cultivated plants that will change your relationship to the edible landscape and give you the confidence to succeed like a pro.

So much more than a cookbook, Wildcrafted Fermentation offers a deeply rewarding way to reconnect with nature through the greens, stems, roots, berries, fruits, and seeds of your local terroir. Adventurous and creative, this cookbook will help you rewild your probiotic palate and "create a cuisine unique to you and your environment."

"Every landscape, every ecosystem is unique, yet many common edible plants are widely distributed throughout North America and in other regions of the world. In fact, some non-native plants have become so successful that they are considered invasives, or even 'noxious weeds.' Wouldn't it be better to harvest the seasonal bounty and ferment these plants rather than trying to control them with herbicides? In [this book, the author] provides all the basic information one needs to make creative ferments at home. From simple wild sauerkrauts and kimchis, to hot sauces, savory pastes, plant-based cheeses, dehydrated spice blends, and much more, [the author] includes over 100 easy recipes that will inspire even the most jaded palate"--Provided by publisher.

Pascal Baudar is the author of The Wildcrafting Brewer and The New Wildcrafted Cuisine. A wild food researcher and instructor in traditional food preservation techniques, he has introduced thousands of home cooks, local chefs, and foodies to the flavors offered by their wild landscapes. In 2014, Baudar was named one of the most influential local tastemakers by Los Angeles Magazine.

Booklist--

"Baudar's genial voice guides readers through his preferred methods and conveys his passion for this process, followed by explorations into local, wild ingredients and the ways they can be used. Not every ingredient used is wild, and the 100-plus recipes include room for ingredient variation according to what is available in the reader"s region."

"Wildcrafted Fermentation is an amazing, passion-based work! Looking outside at the snow-covered ground, I'm more eager than ever for the return of musk mustards, lamb's quarters, and other wild plants to add to ferments. And I especially appreciate the use of the Latin names for plants and the cheerful and repeated reassurances that nothing can go wrong--just what a nervous fermenter wants to hear. This is a stunning book."--Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy and The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

"Pascal Baudar is a culinary visionary who is also excellent at clearly explaining his ideas and methods to make them accessible. I am in awe of this book as well as his two earlier ones. Get ready to be inspired."--Sandor Ellix Katz, author of Wild Fermentation and The Art of Fermentation

"Pascal Baudar is back. His distinctive approach to wildcrafting is enhanced this time by connecting wild plants to the transformative power of lactic acid fermentation. In doing so, Pascal elevates commonly found roots, shoots, seeds, weeds, and leaves to foods with astounding flavors. He encourages the reader to explore the 'flavorshed' of their own region while understanding how to responsibly be part of their local ecology. The book is exciting, creative, and beautiful. Perhaps more importantly, it offers inspiring, adaptable recipes that employ solid and safe techniques. It is a must-have for both foragers and fermentation enthusiasts."--Kirsten Shockey, coauthor of Fermented Vegetables, Fiery Ferments, and Miso, Tempeh, Natto and Other Tasty Ferments

"With a rare combination of humility and wisdom, Baudar shares his deep immersion into the seam between wild foods and fermentation so that we all may embark on or enhance our own exploration of these lost arts. Risks of error deter many people from attempting either wild food harvesting or home ferments, but Baudar puts all of our instinctive concerns in perspective, cautioning us to follow some basic rules and encouraging us not be afraid to experiment.

"My favorite recipe titles include Fermented Forest Floor Paste and Roasted Oak Bark Hot Sauce. Those who doubt the utility of his innovative creations need look only at the earth around them. The possibilities, as he suggests, are limited only by the eye (and palate) of the beholder."--Evan Mallett, chef/owner, Black Trumpet bistro; author of Black Trumpet