|
Black garlic is a unique ingredient that has been used in Korean, Thai, and Japanese food for some time, but is only recently coming into vogue in the United States. A cutting edge fine dining favorite, it is essentially conventional garlic that has been carefully high-heat fermented for a month, until the cloves soften and turn dark black.
There is still disagreement on how best to describe black garlic’s rich, complex flavor. It is sweet (but not cloying) with a more mild garlic aftertaste, but there are nuances that people describe as molasses, balsamic, licorice or tamarind-like flavors. It is considered to be a high umami ingredient.
From a health perspective, garlic and black garlic have long been consumed in Asia for their believed disease preventative and treatment properties. Black garlic is considered healthier than plain garlic because it contains twice as many antioxidants.
Origin: South Korea
Applications: The unique flavor of black garlic lends itself to both savory and sweet applications. Though it works well in Asian dishes, it isn’t limited to them. It can be blended into homemade vinaigrette, or seasoned oils. Try using it with Mediterranean-style dishes, either as an ingredient or mixed with extra virgin olive oil to make a delicious substitute for tapenade.
Black garlic also works well in sauces for meat and poultry traditionally paired with fruit sauces and garlic, such as kurobuta pork, duck, or venison, as well as with seafood like monkfish and scallops. It can even be integrated into desserts (try it with dark chocolate) if you’re feeling daring!
How to Store & Share: Store black garlic bulbs at room temperature for up to nine months in their unopened package. Once opened, they will keep in an airtight container in a cupboard or fridge for up to three months.
Shipping: Fedex 2nd Day
|