If you’ve recently discovered kombucha, there’s a good chance you’re in love. Kombucha is tart, tasty, and comes in all kinds of flavors. It’s great on its own, or as a mixer, but did you know that you could also try cooking with kombucha?
Kombucha is a fizzy drink alternative that contains gut-healthy probiotics. But it’s also a great addition to your fridge. Let’s look at some of the delicious ways you can use kombucha in the kitchen.
The first thing you will want to do when you start cooking with kombucha is to choose the right flavor. This could be a little harder than you think because there are many options out there.
Kombucha can be enjoyed in its natural, fermented tea state, or you could choose options that are infused with herbs, fruit, or spices.
Since kombucha is versatile as both a beverage and a cooking ingredient, we recommend keeping a few different flavors on hand so that you can choose what you want according to your mood.
One of the easiest ways to start cooking with kombucha is to use it in a dressing for salad or other foods.
Salad dressings are usually made from some kind of acid, like vinegar or lemon juice, oil (often olive, but you could try sesame, peanut, or something else), water (which you can substitute with kombucha), and seasonings. If you like creamy dressings, you can add yogurt into the mix too.
This is a particularly great way to use flavored kombucha when you start cooking with kombucha. Many flavors will work amazingly well with vegetables, fruit, or even meat and fish.
Marinades are another great way to start using kombucha in the kitchen.
Marinades are highly flavored liquids that you soak meat, fish, or vegetables in for a few hours or overnight, before you grill or cook them.
Try a kombucha honey marinade with lemon and herbs for chicken on the barbecue, or marinate meat with a mixture of kombucha, balsamic vinegar, and your favorite herbs before making a pot roast.
You could even make a marinade for mushrooms using kombucha, spices, and yogurt before you grill or pan fry them – perfect for the non-meat eaters in your life!
Poaching is a popular method of cooking that is low in fat and healthy, and you can use a variety of liquids to get the job done.
Fish is one type of food that is often poached – usually in water with lemon and sometimes in white wine. Why not mix it up with kombucha instead of your usual poaching liquid? Add some herbs and maybe some capers to the liquid, and you’ll have a tasty, healthy dish in minutes.
Fruit is another type of food that poaches really well. Switch up your usual recipes by poaching peeled pears or apples with kombucha instead of wine. Add some honey and spices like star anise or cinnamon sticks. They work fantastically well with the tartness of the kombucha and will elevate the taste of fruit to something unique.
Finally, cooked sauces are among the best of comfort foods, and you can use kombucha in a variety of ways for these types of dishes too.
Use kombucha to deglaze your pan after cooking meat. The combination of kombucha and the leftover juices in the pan is all you really need to make a delicious, lip-smacking sauce.
You can also substitute kombucha in most recipes that would typically use white wine or even beer. Try it in your favorite beer cheese recipe, or switch out the wine in your cheese fondue for natural kombucha.
You can even add kombucha to your favorite tomato-based sauces or use natural kombucha for any dish that demands a shot of umami flavor.
One of the reasons we love kombucha so much is that it is healthy yet versatile. You can enjoy it as is, cook with it, use it in cocktails, and more. If you're curious about trying it yourself, find some Brew Dr. Kombucha today!
