Recipe: Probiotic Immunity-Boosting Honey Gels

Make nutrient-dense supplements from pantry staples

Need more probiotics in your diet? Combining two simple pantry staples can create an elixir that both supports gut health and tastes like a sweet treat.

By Olivia Roszkowski

Chef Olivia Roszkowski (@oliviathechef) is a native New Yorker and holds a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior from Columbia University and an M.A. in Food Studies from NYU. An alum of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Chef Olivia has 14 years of professional kitchen experience. She has been teaching Plant-Based Culinary Arts at ICE since 2013.

August 3, 2023

The two key ingredients in question are unpasteurized vinegar and raw honey. Both have indefinite lifespans and are found in many home pantries. Mixing them together creates a final result that is much more palatable to consume than a plain shot of probiotic-packed vinegar on its own.

Make sure your vinegar has not been pasteurized to ensure that it has an active enzyme and probiotic profile. Raw honey also contains a plethora of antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Make it yourself:How to Make Vinegar From Home

The third ingredient in these gels is agar, a powdered version of a sea vegetable that is crucial in the setting process. Agar is not only plant-based but is also naturally rich in minerals. The recipe below utilizes the powder form of agar to speed up the dissolving process.

Replace Your Morning Apple Cider Vinegar Shot

These gels are an easy way to incorporate a portable dose of probiotics into your morning routine, and are quicker to administer than taking an apple cider vinegar shot. They are also easy to transport and can come in handy when in crowded areas such as airplanes or public transport where you think your immune system could use a boost.

The addition of honey makes these gels more palatable without adding refined sugars. If desired, the sweetener can be either omitted completely from this recipe or you can add additional amounts to make them even sweeter. Bottled probiotics can be both pricey and of questionable efficiency, so these gels are a great economical replacement to integrate these nutrition-dense powerhouse ingredients into your diet.

Chef Olivia's Recommendations

Feel free to experiment with different vinegar flavors. Aged vinegars will lend more complexity, while fruit vinegars are going to provide the most palatability.

Try a white balsamic which will emulate a subtle grape flavor, apple cider vinegar or even lemon, fig or plum vinegars.

Recipe

Probiotic Immunity Honey Gels

Ingredients

1 cup filtered water
2 tablespoons agar powder
3/4 cup unpasteurized vinegar
1/4 cup raw honey

Directions

Briefly blend together filtered water and agar powder until smooth.
Add to wide saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Turn off heat and stir in vinegar and honey until combined.
Pour into molds and set in refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.
Transfer to an airtight container and store refrigerated.