Simple Recipes to Use Up Leftover Garlic
Garlic is one of England’s favourite vegetables, although it has more of a Mediterranean history (it does however grow in England, including on the Isle of Wight, where there is a famous garlic farm). Try this recipe for vegan garlic Alfredo (Jessica in the Kitchen).
Garlic first arrived in England back in 1548, and was used to treat skin disease, cholera and even helped soldiers during the 1918 influenza epidemic. It fell out of favour until Victorian times, when people discovered French food.
Garlic can increase bleeding, so check medication if you have any medical conditions or are due for surgery.
Keep garlic (and all alliums – onions, leek, shallot, chives) away from pets (and foods often cooked with them, like salt and spices). Also don’t feed birds or wildfowl garlic bread, it choke or harm. Read more on food safety for people & pets.
How to Buy & Store Garlic
Soft-neck garlic is most common (elephant garlic is less strong – a type of leek).
Fortunately, garlic is one of the vegetables in supermarkets that often is not in plastic packaging, so try to buy it loose. Or visit a farm shop to buy organic garlic.
Farm shops are also more likely to sell wild garlic, which is milder in taste and delicious with pasta.
How to Prepare & Cook Garlic
Store fresh garlic in a cool dry place (not the fridge). You can chop garlic with a knife or if you’re not a natural chef, a good garlic press is a tool to last a lifetime.
Scraps from alliums (onion, garlic, shallots, chives, leeks) and citrus/rhubarb scraps could harm compost creatures, due to acids. So just bin them, to naturally break down.
How to Mince Garlic with a Knife
- First of all, invest in a good knife, that’s half the battle over!
- Once you’ve removed the skin and separated the garlic bulb into cloves, just hold the tip of your knife in one hand, and use the other to ‘rock’ the blade back and forth.
- If you prefer minced garlic, it’s best to use a garlic press (unless you’re a professional chef).
Homemade Vegan Garlic Bread Recipe
Vegan Garlic Bread (The Veg Space) is a nice treat, crusty white baguettes dripping with garlic vegan butter.
Garlic bread – it’s the future. I’ve tasted it. Brian Potter, Phoenix Nights
To simplify this recipe, just use Flora’s garlic vegan butter (no palm oil), sold widely in shops.
If concerned about garlic breath, apparently eating apples, lettuce or mint afterwards, can neutralise it. Or just have everyone eat garlic, then they won’t notice!
