Black garlic is not just another type of garlic. It is regular garlic that turned into black by going through the process of fermentation. Fermentation is natural process, which is done on high temperatures and lasts for about a month. There are no additives or preservatives used in this process, which makes black garlic very healthy food, even a superfood.
By going through a process of enzymatic fermentation, sugars and amino acids, present in fresh garlic, turn into substance called melanoidin, which gives it a black color.
Fermentation also changes the ingredients of black garlic and its taste. Generally, it tastes much sweeter than fresh garlic. It can be put in all kinds of food, so it has become very popular in restaurants and households.
Besides many health benefits, black garlic doesn’t cause bad breath. The compounds responsible for bad breath (alliin and allicin) are destroyed by the enzymatic fermentation.
Black garlic health benefits
There has been many studies that show black garlic health benefits.
Here is a list of the most important benefits of black garlic:
Black garlic has twice as more antioxidants as fresh garlic. This makes it powerful enough to decrease the risk of chronic diseases. Antioxidants act against free radicals, which damage cells leading to all kinds of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, circulatory problems, heart disease, Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases.
Antioxidants from black garlic also have many cardiovascular benefits. Black garlic helps lower the cholesterol and high blood pressure.
It decreases the risk of cancer, thanks to its ingredient S-Allcysteine.
Black garlic has anti-bacterial properties; it helps fight the infections and improves immunity.
Where to buy black garlic
Buying black garlic is not possible everywhere just now. You can buy it in better retail stores in United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Japan, China,… You can also buy black garlic online.
There are some factories that produce black garlic and have an online store, where it can be bought as well.
If you are not interested so much in using it in your own kitchen, you can try it in the better restaurants. Modern and informed chefs recognized its nutritional values and use it while preparing the food.
How to use black garlic
There is not much difference in using lack garlic compared to regular garlic. There are numerous recipes and foods that like black garlic.
Basically, black garlic can be used in following food and recipes:
Sauces and dips – black garlic will improve the taste of sauces and dips and make them much better. Tomato sauce, tomato dip or creamy cheese dip are some of the recipes that include black garlic.
Risotto recipes – almost any kind of risotto will taste great with some black garlic in it. Recipe for mushroom risotto or vegetable risotto includes a few cloves of black garlic.
Pasta and noodle recipes – pasta with vegetable and cream sauce are great with some black garlic. The taste of the noodles with vegetables and chicken is improved with black garlic.
All kinds of meat and stakes need a clove or two of black garlic to taste much better.
Stews and soups also taste well with black garlic added inside.
Black garlic recipes
Just like fresh garlic, black garlic can be put in any kind of food and used in various recipes. Sometimes it is even better to use black garlic, because it has lighter taste and is easier to digest. The food will be very delicious and most of all very healthy.
One of the easiest recipes with black garlic is this easy risotto recipe. It takes only 20 minutes to be prepared and you can eat it as light lunch or dinner.
Another recipe that goes along with black garlic is creamy cheese dip recipe.
Recipe for Mushroom risotto with black garlic
Serves 2
Ingredients
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves black garlic
- 200g/7 oz rice for risotto
- 1/2 glass of white wine
- 500ml/17 fl oz vegetable stock
- 120g/4 oz mushrooms
- 15g/0.5 oz fresh parmesan
- 15g/0.5 oz butter
- 15g/0.5 oz mascarpone
- Salt and pepper
Procedure
- Chop slightly onion and simmer it on the butter.
- Add black garlic and rice.
- Stir everything and add white wine.
- Continue to stir until the liquid is gone.
- Start adding vegetable stock one glass at the time continuing to stir.
- Put some oil in another frying pan and simmer mushrooms for about 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms to the rice and stir everything together.
- Add parmesan, butter and mascarpone.
- Put some salt and pepper.
Serve hot. Add some parmesan and fresh parsley on top of it.
Creamy cheese dip with black garlic recipe
Ingredients
- 1 creamy cheese
- 1 sour cream
- 3 cloves of black garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Mix creamy cheese and sour cream in a bowl.
- Peel black garlic cloves and chop them finely.
- Add black garlic into cheese and cream mixture.
- Add salt and pepper according to your taste.
Serve with tortillas or nachos.
There are lots of black garlic benefits, not only for your health, but also for your every day life, such as no bad breath and easier to digest. Every black garlic