The Effect of Using Different Size Purple Carrots and Lactobacillus Plantarum on the Properties of Fermented Shalgam (Şalgam)

Şalgam (Shalgam) beverage, which is manufactured by lactic acid-ethanol fermentation, takes its name from turnip radish and its purple-reddish colour from purple carrot, is a drink with certain turbidity and sour taste. This research was carried out to determine the effect of using an autochthonous starter culture and purple carrot size in şalgam production. For this purpose, with the direct production process, purple carrot in two different sizes (4 cm horizontally cut purple carrot or 12 cm vertically cut purple carrot) and şalgam with the addition of 3% L. plantarum was produced. The added starter culture enabled the fermentation to start quickly and the maximum total acidity and LAB count was reached earlier. Besides, the addition of starter culture significantly affected the overall composition of şalgam. In the production of shalgam beverage, the use of horizontally cut purple carrot and L. plantarum as an autochthonous starter culture can be recommended.