GUNDRUK GUNDRUK (PICKLED LEAFY VEGETABLE)
Gundruk
is particularly popular in Nepal. The annual production of
gundruk
in Nepal is estimated at 2,000 tons and most of the production is carried out at the household level.
Gundruk
is obtained from the fermentation of leafy vegetables in Nepal. It is served as a side dish with the main meal and is also used as an appetiser.
Gundruk
is an important source of minerals particularly during the off-season when the diet consists of mostly starchy tubers and maize which tend to be low in minerals
Raw material preparation
In the months of October and November, during the harvest of the first broad mustard, radish and cauliflower leaves, large quantities of leaves accumulate - much more than can be consumed fresh. These leaves are allowed to wilt for one or two days and then shredded with a knife or sickle.
Processing
The shredded leaves are tightly packed in an earthenware pot and warm water (at about 30
o
C) is added to cover all the leaves. The pot is then kept in a warm place. After five to seven days, a mild acidic taste indicates the end of fermentation and the
gundruk
is removed and sun-dried. This process is similar to sauerkraut production except that no salt is added to the shredded leaves before the start of
gundruk
fermentation. The ambient temperature at the time of fermentation is about 18
o
C.
Pediococcus
and
Lactobacillus
species are the predominant micro-organisms during
gundruk
fermentation. During fermentation, the pH drops slowly to a final value of 4.0 and the amount of acid (as lactic) increases to about 1% on the sixth day. It has been found that a disadvantage with the traditional process of
gundruk
fermentation is the loss of 90% of the carotenoids, probably during sun-drying. Improved methods of drying might reduce the vitamin loss
Flow diagram
Leafy vegetables
.
Wilt One to two days
.
Shred
.
Placed in earthen pot The leaves need to tightly packed
.
Cover the leaves Cover the leaves with warm water and straw
.
Ferment The pot is kept warm in the sun and by a fire by night.
.
Add warm water To keep the pot warm
.
Dried Product dried on mats in the sun