Elephant Garlic

Name: Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) — a giant, mild, garlic-like bulb. Despite the name and look, it is not a true garlic but a type of leek, so its flavour is much gentler.

Description

Elephant garlic is closely related to the leek and the kurrat, and it is thought to have been developed in the Mediterranean or western Asia. It is grown in many countries, including the United States, where it became popular in the 20th century. The bulbs can be as large as a fist, with only a handful of huge cloves instead of the many small cloves of true garlic.

The flavour is mild, sweet and slightly onion-like, so it can be eaten in larger quantities and is good raw in salads or roasted whole, where it turns soft and creamy. It is less pungent and has fewer of the sulphur compounds that give garlic its punch.

Main nutrition value

Elephant garlic provides small amounts of vitamin C, manganese and fibre, and has fewer of the sulphur compounds of true garlic, so its effects are milder.

How best to be consumed

Elephant garlic is used like garlic but in larger amounts, and its mild taste suits roasting.

1. Roast whole cloves until soft and spread on bread.
2. Slice thinly into salads or sandwiches for a mild garlic flavour.
3. Use in place of garlic in stir-fries and sauces, in larger quantities.
4. Mash into potatoes, soups and dips.
5. Store in a cool, dry place, where it keeps for several months.

Overconsumption could cause…

Elephant garlic is gentle, but still an allium.

1. Allergic reactions or skin irritation in a small number of people sensitive to alliums.
2. Bloating, gas or heartburn, since alliums contain fermentable carbohydrates (fructans) that bother many people with IBS.
3. Less flavour than true garlic, so some cooks are disappointed if they expect a strong punch.
4. Possible stomach irritation in sensitive people when eaten raw in quantity.

GroupsAllium VegetablesAllium (onion family)Fresh

Related foodsBlack GarlicChinese ChivesChivesGarlicGarlic ChivesGreen Onion

Wikipedia — Elephant garlic, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_garlic