Tepache
Welcome to our first week of digital recipes. I got a little fancy last week and changed over to a QR code for both environmental reasons and for ease. I know those recipes were a little hard to read, so now you can open direct from your phone and hopefully it's bought you here. This week in the theme of environmentally sound choices, we are teaching you how to re-use food scraps and give them a second life, while reducing waste in your kitchen and making a gut healthy, live fermented drink called Tepache.
Tepach-who? Tepache is a Mexican home brew. It's unique in that it uses the inedible parts of your fruit to create a fizzy, bubbly, good for you drink and honestly it's super easy to make and delicious. Traditionally it is made from pineapple (which is my favourite) but you can also use a combination beetroot peel along with the core and peel from your apples. Once you nail the method, get creative with your scraps and see what flavours you can create on your own. This recipe makes enough for 1 litre of tepache - adjust to make more.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup of peel + core - use apples, beet root or pineapple.
- 1 heaped tablespoon of sugar (I use coconut, but whatever you have on hand will work)
- 1 litre jar
- Filtered water
METHOD:
Add your peel and core to the jar. Add your tablespoon of sugar and cover with water. Fill right to the rim and close the lid tight. Give the mixture a good shake and leave on the kitchen counter for 5-7 days, releasing the gas every second day. After 7 days, strain your liquid to remove the peels and place it in the fridge to slow further fermentation. Drink cold and enjoy!
NOTE:
Tepache is incredibly simple to make but does require a watchful eye over the course of 7 or so days. Because this is a fermentation process, the bacteria growing forms gasses within the liquid, and this will need to be released otherwise you will end up with a broken jar and mess on your bench. You can do this by simply opening the lid and letting gas escape. After about 7 days you should be left with a slightly fizzy, slightly bubbly and slightly tangy drink that's amazing for your gut microbiome and for the environment. Enjoy!