Many people are attempting to add cultured foods to their family's diet. Two of the biggest challenges to this goal are getting your children to eat them and eating them on the go.
For these two little pickles (pun intended) consider the following cultured finger foods:
SOURDOUGH
Salty, crunchy, buttery, and delicious; sourdough crackers will become a staple in your finger food repertoire. Children love them, and when made from a sourdough starter they are a great snack option. Try these amazing cracker recipes:
- Sourdough Bacon, Rosemary, and Cracked Peppercorn Crackers
- Seeded Rye Sourdough Crackers
- Whole Grain Gluten-free Sourdough Crackers
Or try finger sandwiches made with sourdough bread and one of these delicious cultured spreads:
Fermented CARROT STICKS
Lacto-fermented carrot sticks are one of the easiest ferments to make. Simply cut whole carrots into long sticks, place in jars, add seasonings, and cover in a brine. Try various flavors, or let the kids choose their favorites:
Fermented GREEN BEANS
With their long, thin shape and protein-heavy nature, lacto-fermented green beans make a tangy and delicious addition to your collection of cultured finger foods.
Try these Lacto-fermented Dilly Beans or go for more spice with Lacto-fermented Green Beans with Cayenne Peppers and Garlic
Cultured Fruit Leather
Fresh fruit is a great snack, but culture it, puree it, and dehydrate it, and you can combine lots of flavors in one.
Fermented KOSHER DILL PICKLES
Everyone's favorite and most familiar cultured vegetable, cucumber pickles, should be on your list for finger foods. Larger pickling cucumbers, about 3 inches in length, made into these delicious kosher dill pickles, are the perfect accompaniment to those sourdough crackers and raw cheese slices.
CHEESE
For an extra protein boost on your finger food tray add some raw cultured cheese slices or cheese spread to crackers or vegetables. No finger food platter is complete without them. For easy beginner cheeses, try these:
If you're ready for more advanced cheesemaking, these might do the trick:
Make a fun snack or meal platter including these cultured finger foods, along with fruit, nuts, and olives. Pack some carrot sticks or cultured green beans in your child's school lunch bag.
Either way, these finger foods will be a hit (and a help) to children and adults alike.