Packed with nutrients and used for everything from cooking to medicinal purposes to scaring away vampires, garlic is a versatile vegetable. This little bulb is part of the allium family, which also includes onions, leeks, shallots, and chives – and it packs a mighty punch of both flavor and goodness.
A single clove of raw garlic includes manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, fiber, and selenium, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Garlic originated from middle Asia, and was one of the first herbs to be cultivated. For centuries, it was widely used for health and medicinal benefits by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans who took advantage of its antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
Today, garlic is still known for giving us a heap of health benefits, like lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and fighting infections. Much of its medicinal benefits are due to an active compound called allicin, which is stimulated by crushing or chopping the clove.
A culinary heavyweight
People all around the world love to cook with garlic – and no wonder. It gives a savory boost to everything from salad dressing to sauces, stews, and soups. Simply rubbing it onto toasted bread can be delicious, too. And as well as being healthy and tasty to cook with in its own right, garlic can help you reduce salt in your cooking with its lovely whack of flavor.
For a hit of garlicky goodness, you might want to try traditional Toum, a Lebanese sauce made from just garlic, lemon juice, salt, oil and water that you can use in all sorts of ways.
Top tip: If you dislike the smell of garlic lingering on your hands, just rub them on a stainless steel pot or tap under cold water, and the smell should magically disappear.
Do you have a favorite garlicky dish? Share it in the comments if so!