Strawberry-Beet Kvass (Paleo, AIP, GAPS, probiotics)

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This beautiful Strawberry-Beet Kvass is super easy to make and FULL of probiotics! Kvass is one of my favorite ferments for so many reasons: Beets are high in minerals, B vitamins and energy-yielding carbohydrates. These qualities are magnified through fermentation. The fermentation makes this a rehydrating beverage, full of electrolytes and beneficial sodium, (which I talk more about in this post [why we NEED sodium in our diets]). Strawberries sweeten the whole thing, making this beverage fruity and more loved by kids and more popular with everyone!

Plus, Strawberry-Beet Kvass is pretty and while lovely in spring and summer, can be made year round. Grab a mason jar and just one beet — and we’ll get started! (Suitable and desirable for Paleo, GAPS, and AIP diets!)

If you want extra fiber, also see my Beet-Ginger smoothie here.

Whether or not to add ginger to kvass

Ginger is an optional ingredient in this Strawberry-Beet Kvass recipe. I do love the spicy, rich flavor it adds to earthy beets. It also goes beautifully with strawberries, although it is subtle in this recipe, not overly spicy.

Like beets, ginger aids the body in detoxification. Strawberry-Beet Kvass with ginger an amazing super food. Ginger fights inflammation, it aids digestion and assists the immune system!

The strawberries in Strawberry-Beet Kvass

Although strawberries are naturally sweet and delicious, their nutritional profile is also excellent. What’s cool about fermentation is that those nutrients multiply!

We don’t add the strawberries until the beets have already fermented. But if you leave your Strawberry-Beet Kvass in the fridge for a few days, they’ll slowly become healthier: more vitamin C, more vitamin K, more manganese and potassium.

Plus strawberries are high in fiber that becomes more digestible, gentle and beneficial through fermentation. (source)

Are there more vitamins in fermented foods?

How is it possible that fermented foods gain nutrition?

The beneficial bacteria that develop during fermentation produce enzymes and additional vitamins! What many of us fail to realize is that homemade probiotic foods are MORE beneficial than eating raw veggies + a probiotic supplement!

Fermentation predigests the nutrients in foods making them more bioavailable! (source and source)

Are you fermenting yet? It’s easy and magical! 🙂

In addition to Strawberry-Beet Kvass, try these recipes: Cauliflower Pickles, Brussels Sprouts Pickles, Strawberry-Basil Switchel, Blueberry-Lavender Switchel, and if you enjoy dairy, Bonny Clabber Panna Cotta, which is wild fermentation. All of these take almost no work and are such fun. 😉

Some say we can get away with a lot fewer supplements in general if we eat more probiotic foods.

Lastly, remember: Probiotics create an inhospitable environment for pathogens within our guts! So Many Wins.

Grab your beet. Here’s the recipe:

Print Recipe

4.92 from 12 votes

Strawberry-Beet Kvass {Paleo, AIP, GAPS}

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: American, Russian

Keyword: aip, beet kvass, gaps diet, paleo, strawberry

Servings: 5 cups

Calories: 17kcal

Author: Megan

Equipment

• mason jar
• airlock lids (optional)
• blender

Ingredients

• 4 cups water filtered
• 8 ounces strawberries fresh or frozen when fresh are not available
• 1 medium-large beet 1 ½-2 cups, chopped into about 1” cubes (or larger), not grated or diced
• 2-4 Tablespoons fresh ginger root chopped (optional)
• 1 Tablespoon probiotic liquid whey or sauerkraut juice for AIP (not one that tastes of garlic or other strong flavors)
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon stevia (not for AIP) , or less, to taste, depending on brand; or use maple syrup (not GAPS), if preferred and for AIP (2 Tablespoons, or to taste); use honey for GAPS

Instructions

• Place the beet pieces into a one-quart mason jar. Add the optional ginger.
• Add the whey or kraut juice.
• Fill the jar to within one inch of the neck with filtered water. Add the sea salt and stir well, to dissolve.
• Cover, screwing the lid on loosely to allow gasses to escape. Or use airlock lids to ensure success (and prevent kahm yeast [see notes below in post]; see link below in Recipe Notes). Keep at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for two days in warm weather, or up to 8 days or longer in colder weather. (You may also use a warming mat or yogurt maker to maintain a steady warm temperature.)
  
  
• After the kvass has deepened in color, has a pleasantly sour flavor, and shows signs of bubbles near the surface, or active effervescence, strain all but ¼ cup from the mason jar into a blender.
• Add strawberries and optional stevia/maple syrup or honey. Blend 30 seconds.
• You can serve the kvass now, but preferably continue a slow, gentle fermentation in the fridge. Transfer Strawberry Beet Kvass into a 4-cup mason jar and a 2-cup mason jar. Chill and store kvass in fridge, allowing it to continue to ferment, for up to 7 days. Serve.
• If you'd like to make another batch of kvass, the same beets can do one more round (with the reserved ¼ cup kvass): Simply add water to the fill line again. Add ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Stir to dissolve.
• Again, keep the mixture at room temperature for 2-8 days minimum. After the second batch, the beets are now “exhausted” and can be composted; but ¼ cup of the strained kvass may again be used for another batch in place of whey.

Notes

Use airlock lids to ensure pickling success. (Find them here.)

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Troubleshooting tip: what’s kahm yeast?

Kahm yeast is a thin, harmless film that can form on the top surface of ferments. Kahm yeast (read more about it here) is best avoided by reducing oxygen in a ferment, which is why it’s best to use airlock lids. Airlock lids aren’t necessary, but they do ensure success by helping to develop a layer of CO2 over the ferment’s surface. (Find airlock lids here.)

If you make kvass and the kahm yeast film develops, just use a paper towel to absorb the yeast islands off the surface. While they are edible and harmless, they do add an off-flavor. Simply remove them, then refrigerate your ferment, or proceed with the recipe by pureeing in the strawberries. (Once a ferment has kahm yeast, it’s best not to keep it at room temperature, as it will just keep returning, and we don’t want that flavor to develop.)

Kahm yeast is about the only thing that can cause you trouble when making beet kvass. So grab your airlock lids here, to avoid that, and enjoy the process.

Below, you see the beautiful surface of Strawberry-Beet Kvass! Tempting, fresh, alive and healthy!

If it’s summer where you are, the initial ferment can be ready in two days! Grab your beet and let’s go! 🙂