Fermented Hot Honey
2 min read
Serves
| Base Ingredients3 clovesFresh garlicPeeled and lightly crushed | place the whole garlic15–20 min | transfer the salted | pour the raw honey | place the jar in a dark4 weeks | replace the airlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Fresh shallotsPeeled and thinly sliced | |||||
| 4-6Fresh chili peppersSliced, adjust to taste | |||||
| Roasted Ingredients2-3 clovesGarlic clovesWhole, unpeeled | |||||
| 1 mediumShallotHalved, unpeeled | |||||
| 2-3Chili peppersWhole | |||||
| Base Ingredients1-2 teaspoonsSea saltAdjust based on preference | |||||
| 1 cupRaw honeyUnfiltered | |||||
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- 15–20 minPlace the whole garlic cloves, shallot halves, and whole chili peppers on a baking sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until soft and slightly charred. Allow to cool, then peel and slice. In a clean, dry bowl, mix the raw sliced chili peppers, garlic, and shallots with the sea salt. Ensure the vegetables are well coated with salt. This helps inhibit unwanted bacteria growth while promoting good bacteria for fermentation.
- Transfer the salted vegetables into a clean, dry jar. Add the roasted garlic, shallot, and chili peppers to the jar with the salted vegetables.
- Pour the raw honey over the vegetables, ensuring they are completely submerged. If the honey is too thick, warm it slightly to make it more pourable, but ensure it's not hot as high temperatures can kill beneficial bacteria. Secure the jar with an airlock lid. This is crucial to allow gases produced during fermentation to escape while preventing oxygen and contaminants from entering.
- 4 weeksPlace the jar in a dark, room-temperature spot for 1 to 4 weeks. Check daily, stirring the mixture with a clean spoon to release gases and prevent mold formation. Taste the honey after 1 week, and every week thereafter, until it reaches your desired level of fermentation.
- replace the airlock Once fermentation is complete, replace the airlock with a tight-fitting lid and store the fermented hot honey in the refrigerator. It can be stored for several months.