Probiotic Fruit Drink

A fruity, gingery, tart, yet slightly sweet probiotic drink. If you can’t imagine it, make some and try it for yourself. It’s delicious! And it’s cultured, which means that it contains the kind of live bacteria that is said to be good for your digestive system.

Ingredients:

• 2 nectarines, pitted
• 8 strawberries
• 1-inch piece ginger root
• 1 cup coconut water*
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 (50 billion) Garden of Life Probiotic capsule contents, or other brand

Directions:

1. Sterilize** a wide-mouth, quart size mason jar, its screw band, lid or a Silicone Pickle Pipe (waterless airlock) or other airlock system for wide-mouth jars, metal tongs, a chefs knife, cutting board, and a Lindy’s Stainless Steel Jar Serving Spoon or other long handled metal serving spoon.
2. Chop the pitted nectarine and berries, then peel and mince the ginger root. Use the long handled metal serving spoon to transfer the chopped nectarine, strawberries, and minced ginger into the jar. The jar should be 1/2 full. If not, add or remove the amount necessary to achieve this measurement. Use the spoon again, to mix and crush the fruit and berries, until the mixture reduces in the jar to about 1/4 full.
3. Pour in the coconut water and filtered water. Add the contents of the probiotic capsule and stir to combine. There should be a 2-inch space between the liquid and the rim of the jar.
4. Cover the jar with the airlock system lid. Not using an airlock system is also doable, but without it the liquid might leak during the culturing process. To culture, leave the jar on your kitchen countertop for 3 to 4 days. Each day, give the covered jar a gentle swirl. When done, you may see a thin layer of bubbles on top, but you may not. The only way to know for sure if it’s done is to pour some in a glass and taste it. If it’s tangy, it’s done. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to chill, then serve. Best when served fresh, but stores refrigerated in a covered jar for up to 2 days.
   

Variations:

1. Make different flavored drinks by trying other fruits and berries. You might try blue berries or raspberries, mixed with apricots or pineapple.
2. If you’re not a big fan of ginger, you needn’t add it to the drink. Or you might try replacing it with a 1-inch piece of turmeric root, peeled and minced.

Yield: Makes 1 (16oz ) or 2 (8oz) servings.

*Choose coconut water made from just coconuts; not concentrated coconut water, and with at least 8 grams of naturally occurring sugar. Harvest Bay Coconut Water is what we use at Now That’s Vegan!

** Look to our Kitchen Tips page and scroll down to where it shares how to sterilize a mason jar, stainless steel tools, and kitchen equipment.